42 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Surprising secrets and tips to reignite that relationship spark
With our busy schedules, it’s easy to forget
to make time for sex, which may help
with mood and intimacy within a relationship.
So, with all these positives, why
should women want to give up one of life’s
most pleasurable pastimes? Because they’re
too tired, not in the mood or too dry to try.
Facts about vaginal dryness:
• Vaginal dryness can aff ect women of all
ages due to childbirth, menopause, cancer
treatment and a host of other issues,
which can cause painful sex, irritation,
itching, burning and soreness and can
worsen over time.
• Regular intercourse even into the 80s
and 90s can help maintain vaginal elasticity
and lubrication.
• Cigarette smoking can lower estrogen
levels, contributing to vaginal dryness in
peri-menopause.
• Sex can be made more enjoyable aft er
menopause by treating dryness with a
vaginal moisturizer.
• Allergy medications with antihistamines
can dry out mucous membranes,
including those in the vaginal wall.
• While local vaginal estrogen is safe and
eff ective, some women don’t feel comfortable
using hormone therapy and
seek alternatives or a companion product
like Replens.
• Avoid using vinegar, yogurt, douches,
hand lotions, soaps and bubble baths.
Th ey will only irritate the sensitive tissue
of the vagina and vulva and exacerbate
dryness.
• Sjogren’s syndrome can lead to vaginal
dryness.
• Diuretics like caff eine and alcohol can
exacerbate vaginal dryness.
According to clinical studies and published
in scientifi c journals, Replens
is considered an eff ective solution for
women suff ering from vaginal dryness.
Th e New England Journal of Medicine
published, “In a randomized trial, a polycarbophil
based vaginal moisturizer available
over the counter (Replens) provided
relief of vaginal (dryness) symptoms that
was equivalent to that of vaginal estrogen,”
stated the article titled “Management
of Menopausal Symptoms,” by Deborah
Grady, M.D., M.P.H.
When used twice weekly, the Replens
Long-Lasting Vaginal Moisturizer’s
unique bioadhesive binds directly to vaginal
cells, thickens tissues, increases elasticity
and reduces the incidence of vaginal
dryness by attaching to dry cells and
delivering continuous moisture - hydrating
and rejuvenating vaginal tissues for
three full days. Replens is fragrance-free
and compatible with natural rubber, latex,
polyisoprene and polyurethane condoms.
Th e Replens family of hormone-free
products work together to provide a complete
solution to vaginal dryness and discomfort.
Replens Long-Lasting Vaginal
Moisturizer helps relieve internal dryness
for up to three days, leaving tissues hydrated
by replenishing moisture and rejuvenating
dry internal vaginal cells, while Replens
Moisture Restore External Comfort Gel
addresses vulvar dryness or outside skin.
Replens Silky Smooth silicone personal
lubricant supplements the body’s natural
lubrication when applied just before sex to
help ease penetration, decrease discomfort
and enhance intimacy.
Lauren Streicher, M.D. in her book, “Sex
RX,” concludes, “In spite of claims from
dozens of products that call themselves
‘long-acting moisturizers,’ Replens vaginal
moisturizer has been proven in scientifi
c studies to actually thicken vaginal
walls, increase lubrication and decrease
painful intercourse.”
So, with all the simple OTC products
and solutions available right at the neighborhood
drugstore, make sure you’re not
too dry to try. While some women may
require a prescription product, fi rst try a
good moisturizer and lube regimen and
communicate with your partner to reignite
that relationship spark.
Courtesy BPT
Far Rockaways hospital recognized for exceptional stroke and heart failure care
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
In August, the American Heart
Association and American Stroke
Association recognized St. John’s
Episcopal Hospital for its outstanding
care.Th
e Far Rockaway Hospital received the
organization’s Get With Th e Guidelines-
Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award
and the Heart Failure Silver Plus Quality
Achievement Award. According to SJEH
Vice President and Chief Quality Offi cer
Delburt Joiner, it is the third year the
organization recognized the hospital for
stroke diagnosis and treatment and the
fi rst year for heart failure management.
AHA and ASA evaluates hospitals on
the proper use of medications and ensure
that other stroke and heart failure treatments
align with the most up-to-date, evidence
based guidelines. Th e organization
also ensures hospitals educate patients on
managing their health and schedule follow
up visits prior to discharging them.
“St. John’s Episcopal Hospital is extremely
dedicated to improving the quality of
care for our patients with heart failure
and stroke,” said St. John’s CEO, Gerard
Walsh. “Implementing the American
Stroke Association and American Heart
Association’s Get with the Guidelines initiatives
provides the tools and resources
we need to track and measure our success
in meeting the evidence-based clinical
guidelines developed to optimize patient
outcomes.”
Th e AHA and AHA lists stroke as
the fi ft h leading cause of death and a
leading cause of adult disability in the
United States. On average, someone suffers
a stroke every 40 seconds and almost
795,000 have new or recurrent strokes
according to the organization’s data.
Joiner said that improving SJEH stroke
care involved collaborating with EMS to
expedite treatment for stroke victims.
Th e process involves administering an
emergency CT scan to fi nd out what
type of stroke a person is experiencing.
From there, hospital personnel can give
the patient thrombolytics or clot-busting
drugs within 60 minutes of their arrival.
Th e process also involves providing evidence
based medication, smoking cessation
education, aphasia screenings and
using the National Institue of Health’s
Stroke Scale Assessment.
SJEH has provided thrombolytics within
60 minutes of the patient’s arrival in 95
to 100 percent of cases over the last three
years. Th e Stroke Gold Plus Achievement’s
standards require that the time-sensitive
stroke treatment be administered in a
timely fashion only 75 percent of the time.
More than 6.5 million Americans live
with heart disease, which is one of the
leading causes of premature death in the
Rockaways. SJEH implemented a Heart
Failure Task Force to ensure that heart
failure patients get key assessments and
treatments documented by care providers.
According to SJEH, 90 percent of its
heart failure patients get this care within
the fi rst day of admission.
Treatment involves that those at risk for
blood clots receive anti-coagulants, vaccinations
for pneumonia and other illnesses,
smoking cessation counseling, and
60 minutes of heart failure education,
in addition to advanced care classes if
needed. Th e task force allows the patient
care to remain consistent amongst residents,
attending physicians and nurses
while lowering the length of stay, which
decreases risk of infection and other complications.
“Attaining the Gold-Plus award for the
third consecutive year illustrates the tireless
eff orts and commitment of St. John’s
team members to successfully integrate
the Get With the Guidelines criteria and
metrics for heart failure and stroke care
into our clinical practice to achieve the
best possible outcomes for our patients,”
said Joiner.
Photo courtesy of SJEH
SJEH exterior
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