24 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JANUARY 3, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Most adults with chronic health conditions unaware of dangers of infl uenza
During the 2017-2018 infl uenza (fl u)
season, nearly 80,000 people died and
more than 950,000 people were hospitalized
due to fl u and fl u-related illnesses,
and less than four in 10 U.S.
adults (37.1 percent) were vaccinated
against fl u, fewer than in previous years,
according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). While
those who are vaccinated may still get
the fl u, the vaccine helps prevent serious
complications that may result in
hospitalization, loss of independence or
even death.
It is particularly important for people
with certain chronic health conditions
like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease
to receive an annual fl u vaccine,
as they are at higher risk for fl u-related
complications. In fact, 92 percent
of those hospitalized for fl u during the
2017-2018 season had an underlying
medical condition that put them at risk
for serious fl u-related complications.
In July 2018, the National Foundation
for Infectious Diseases (NFID) convened
leading medical experts from
nearly 20 national healthcare organizations
to raise awareness of the dangers
of fl u among U.S. adults with certain
chronic health conditions including
heart disease, lung disease and diabetes,
and the need for increased fl u vaccination
rates among at-risk adults.
“It is essential for everyone age 6
months and older to receive an annual
fl u vaccine,” said NFID Medical
Director William Schaff ner, M.D. “For
people with conditions like heart disease,
diabetes or lung disease, it is an
important part of managing their condition,
like taking a statin, checking
their glucose or using an inhaler.”
Surprisingly, there is low awareness of
the connection between chronic health
conditions and serious fl u-related complications.
A new survey from NFID
revealed that:
• Less than a quarter of U.S. adults recognize
that people with heart disease
(24 percent) and diabetes (22 percent)
are at greater risk for fl u-related complications,
and awareness is signifi -
cantly less for people of color than
white respondents.
• Less than 20 percent of U.S. adults are
aware that heart attack (16 percent),
worsening of diabetes (16 percent),
stroke (13 percent) and disability (10
percent) can occur as potential complications
of fl u.
Th e dangers are real. Research shows
that individuals with heart disease are
up to 10 times more likely to have a
heart attack within three days of fl u
infection and people with diabetes are
at six times increased risk of fl u-related
hospitalization.
“Flu causes infl ammation in the
body that can result in serious complications,”
said Albert Rizzo, M.D.,
Chief Medical Offi cer, American Lung
Association. “For the more than 31 million
people living with lung disease such
as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, fl u can worsen their
condition and lead to a loss of lung
function.”
More information on the connection
between fl u and serious complications
for those with certain chronic health
conditions can be found at www.nfi d.
org/fl u-chronic-health-conditions.
Courtesy BPT
Parker Jewish Institute resident celebrates 101st birthday
Mary Luniewski, one of Parker Jewish
Institute’s longest-living residents, celebrated
her 101st birthday on Dec. 18,
2018. Th is joyous occasion brought family,
friends and fellow residents together
for a birthday bash on Parker’s Sixth
Floor.
Mary was born in Brooklyn on
December 18, 1917. Despite the Great
Depression, Mary was able to fi nd work,
fi rst as a bank teller and then as a secretary
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. She met
her husband Julius and they were married
in May 1941.
Both Mary and Julius were children
of Polish immigrants that arrived in the
United States as teenagers circa 1905 on
the trans-Atlantic ships of the Red Star
Line. Julius joined the Navy and served
on a Troop Transport in the Atlantic
Th eatre from 1942 to 1946.
Aft er his Honorable Discharge from the
Navy, Julius returned to Brooklyn to the
loving arms of his beloved wife Mary, and
the Luniewskis raised a family, as many
returning Veterans did. Julius secured
a good job working for Brooklyn Union
Gas for the next 42 years. Meanwhile,
Mary took care of the home while raising
her family. She had three daughters and
one son, and was blessed with 11 grandchildren
and 12 great grandchildren!
In later years, the Luniewski family
moved to their fi rst home in Richmond
Hill. Devoted to her Catholic faith, Mary
became deeply involved with the Holy
Child Jesus Church in Richmond Hill.
Aft er her husband died in 1995, Mary
remained steadfastly independent, living
alone in her Richmond Hill home, while
receiving frequent visits from her extended
family.
Th e decades took their toll on Mary,
who came down with pneumonia two
years ago. With her loving family coming
to her aid, she was brought to the
Emergency Room at Long Island Jewish
Hospital (LIJ) and admitted there for
treatment. Aft er she was stabilized, Mary
was transitioned to Parker for long term
skilled nursing care.
Mary’s pneumonia was cured during
her stay at Parker, and she’s remained
there ever since, as she is too frail and
her legs too weak for her to live alone at
home. Despite her age, Mary has undertaken
several special projects. She enjoys
crocheting Baby Hats for preemies, which
are donated to LIJ. She created dozens of
colorful Baby Hats up until last year.
Photo courtesy of Parker Jewish Institute
Mary Luniewski, one of Parker’s Longest-Living Residents
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