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Heart Health

Atrial Fibrillation

A New, Healthier Way to Treat Atrial Fibrillation
The incidence of atrial fibrillation or AFib is generally considered to be reaching epidemic numbers, especially among people over age 60. Dr. Roger Fan explains how ablation, the front-line therapy for AFib, is being made safer for patients and medical personnel by a revolutionary new technique that doesn’t use any radiation.

Is the New, Smaller Pacemaker Right for You?
Many people have heart rhythm disorders, which means that instead of beating at a regular, predictable pace, the heart beats too fast, too slow or it stalls. These disorders are often caused by a problem in the heart’s electrical system. Slow heart rhythms may be treated with pacemakers to make the heart beat correctly. Now, for people with one type of rhythm disorder called “bradycardia,” Stony Brook Heart Institute is using MicraTM, a revolutionary new type of pacemaker. Eric J. Rashba, MD, Director of the Heart Rhythm Center at Stony Brook Heart Institute, explains.

Living Your Best Life with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month and Stony Brook heart rhythm specialist Roger Fan, MD, offers a variety of tools here to help you live your best life with AFib — the most common heart rhythm disorder. And, looking beyond September, Stony Brook’s compassionate and experienced AFib healthcare team is available year-round to help navigate through any uncertainty and answer any, and all, questions you may have.

Reducing Stroke Risk for People With Atrial Fibrillation
People with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (AFib) have a five-to-seven percent increased risk of having a stroke compared to people without AFib. To help prevent strokes, blood thinners such as direct oral anticoagulants or warfarin are prescribed. Most people do well, but some experience bleeding problems or have other reasons why blood thinners aren’t the best option. Dr. Eric Rashba, Director, Heart Rhythm Center at Stony Brook Heart Institute, explains how a device called Watchman^TM, which is implanted in the heart, can offer a lifelong solution for those dealing with this problem.

What You Should Know About Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation or AFib is a type of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat – and it’s a common, serious but treatable cardiac condition. AFib affects more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. AFib makes it five to seven times more likely you’ll have a stroke than the general population. Clots caused by AFib can also travel to other parts of the body, and cause damage. Dr. Eric Rashba explains how AFib can be managed, as well as the latest treatment approaches.

Cardiac Catherization

You've Been Told You Need a Cardiac Cath Procedure. Now What?
Catheters — flexible, ultrathin tubes — have changed the way heart disease is diagnosed and treated. What once required large incisions and long recovery time can now be accomplished with tiny incisions, less pain and faster recovery. Here, Robert Pyo, MD, Director of the Stony Brook Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at Stony Brook University Hospital and Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, answers your cardiac catheterization FAQs.

Chest Pain Center

October is Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month: Why it Matters
As the third leading cause of death in the U.S., sudden cardiac arrest or SCA claims up to 450,000 American lives each year. “It is critical to raise awareness about SCA because it can strike anyone, anytime and anywhere — and is often fatal if immediate medical attention is not provided,” says nurse specialist Yvonne Leippert, RN, MS, CCRN. “Learning about SCA and how to take action could save someone’s life.” And, with October dedicated to raising SCA awareness, Leippert advises here what sudden cardiac arrest is, who’s at risk and what you can do to help prevent a death.

Timing is Everything When It Comes to Your Heart
If you have a heart attack or a sudden cardiac arrest, an accredited Chest Pain Center is ideally the place where you want to receive treatment. Both are cardiac emergencies and 911 should be called immediately. If you see someone who’s unconscious and not breathing, call 911 right away, start CPR and use an automated external defibrillator, called an AED, if one is available. And, if you haven’t taken a course in CPR, sign up today by visiting the American Heart Association website.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Support

Lifesaving Procedure for Sudden Heart and Lung Failure
When people are undergoing sudden, severe heart or lung failure, there is not enough oxygen in the body and the situation is life-threatening. With advanced technology called ECMO and the expertise of highly trained heart specialists, Stony Brook Heart Institute has been giving new hope to people needing this urgent life support.

Heart Health/General Information

Heart-Safe Snow Shoveling
It’s important to keep in mind that extreme winter activity such as shoveling snow — or even pushing a heavy snow blower — can cause an uptick in blood pressure and heart rate, putting stress on your heart and placing you at risk for a heart attack. Before tackling that foot-high mound of winter wonderland blanketing your driveway, take some time to read these heart-safe tips from cardiologist On Chen, MD.

How to Invest in Your Heart Health at Any Age
Every 40 seconds, an American will have a heart attack, nearly five million are living with heart failure and about five percent of the population has an arrhythmia. Yet as alarming as this may sound, the good news is that many issues leading up to heart disease are within our control. Here’s what Stony Brook Chief of Cardiology, Hal Skopicki, MD, PhD, has to say about investing in your heart health.

Taking Control of Your Cholesterol
People with high cholesterol — that’s more than 70 million Americans — have about twice the risk of developing heart disease as people with lower levels. While heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality in the U.S. and cholesterol levels are among the most important risk factors, many do not have their levels under control. The good news is that high cholesterol is a manageable risk factor. Here, On Chen, MD, interventional cardiologist and Director, Center for Advanced Lipid (Cholesterol) Management, explains.

‘Tis the season for protecting your heart
For people with heart disease or at high risk of heart disease, heart attacks are more prevalent during the holiday season, specifically, between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, than any other time of the year. What’s behind this increase are six key stressors that put us at greater risk for stroke or a heart attack. Learn what those stressors are and what you can do to steer clear of ticker trouble with these cardiologist-approved tips.

What You Should Know About Choosing a Cardiologist
Choosing a cardiologist is an important decision. After all, your heart – and your life – may depend on it. So how do you choose a doctor who’s right for you? For suggestions, we asked specialists with Stony Brook Heart Institute, the region’s leading referral center for clinically complex care. Here’s what Southampton-based cardiologists Travis Bench, MD, and Dhaval Patel, MD, had to say.

Heart Failure

What You Should Know About Heart Failure
Stony Brook’s Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center and Ventricular Assist Device Program have been widely recognized for excellent outcomes, state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment, and innovative research efforts that are helping many patients — even those with advanced conditions — feel better and live longer.

How a Monitoring Device Helps Patients with Heart Failure
Patients with heart failure are faced with many life-challenging problems. With progression of symptoms, many patients require hospitalization. To help reduce the chance of hospitalizations, physicians at the Stony Brook Heart Institute are using advanced monitoring technology, including the CardioMEMS™ Heart Failure Monitoring System to allow patients to gain control of their heart failure care. Hal Skopicki, MD, PhD, and Puja Parikh, MD, MPH, explain how the device works and how it helps improve quality of life.

Heart Valve Disease

Heart Valve Disease: Listen to Your Heart
As many as 11 million Americans have heart valve disease (HVD) and approximately 25,000 people die from the disorder each year, yet three out of four of us report knowing little to nothing about HVD. The good news: February 22nd has been designated an annual (and much-needed) National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day. Here, Stony Brook Valve Center Cardiologist, Ahmad Alkhalil, MD, helps to fill in some of the HVD blanks.

Innovative Approach to Heart Valve Disease
A new chapter in the diagnosis and treatment of heart valve disease has opened at Stony Brook University Hospital. Dr. Smadar Kort talks about valve disease and what the Valve Center offers.

Women and Heart Health

Be Your Own Best Advocate: Women and Heart Health
Despite its longtime reputation as mostly a man’s problem, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. — responsible, in fact, for nearly one-third of deaths among women. That’s more than the next seven causes combined, including all cancers. The good news: Over 80 percent of heart disease is preventable. Stony Brook cardiologist, Edlira Tam, DO, shares how.

Women and Heart Disease: What You Can Do Today
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., claiming the lives of almost one in three every year. However, more than half are not aware of the risks that heart or cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses to their health. Here, Stony Brook cardiologist, Neda Dianati Maleki, MD, shares what every woman should know today about CVD and their heart.

HIV and AIDS

What You Need to Know About AIDS Today
At Stony Brook we work every day of the year to raise awareness, promote testing, provide early intervention, offer the latest treatments, and serve as Suffolk County's premier resource for children, adults and women who are pregnant with HIV and AIDS.

Huntington's Disease

Are Huntington's disease and chorea the same thing?
Huntington’s disease is a rare, genetic (inherited from a parent) disorder that affects the brain. It’s estimated that three to seven people out of 100,000 live with Huntington’s disease. And in its advanced stages, a person can die from complications from it. While there is no cure, there’s an increasing amount of research devoted to finding one. There are also treatments that can provide hope and help a person’s quality of life.

Low-Dose Imaging

What You Need to Know About Low-Dose Imaging
Most imaging studies involve the use of radiation ions in order to peer into the human body and make a diagnosis. However, radiation exposure carries potential risks. Now, thanks to changes in technology and techniques, lower dose procedures are available. Dr. Mark Schweitzer, Chairman of the Department of Radiology for Stony Brook Medicine, talks about what this means and how it works.

Kidney Transplant

What You Should Know About Stony Brook's Kidney Transplantation Program
Wayne C. Waltzer, MD, Director, Kidney Transplantation Services and Professor and Chair, Department of Urology, who has been part of the program from the beginning, discusses the program.

Laryngology

Listen to What Your Voice Is Telling You
Your voice is invaluable — to basic communication, to your occupation, to self-expression, to your identity. You can help keep this vital gift in good health by treating your voice kindly and staying alert to changes that may signal a problem. Here are suggestions from voice specialists Melissa M. Mortensen, MD, Elliot Regenbogen, MD, and Marilyn D. Baricevac, MS, CCC-SLP.

Lyme Disease

What Parents Need to Know About Children and Lyme Disease
When warmer weather arrives, so does tick season, and the threat of Lyme disease. With Suffolk County in the heart of one of the country’s highest risk areas, parents need to be aware of the risks of tick-borne disease in children. Dr. Christy Beneri, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, offers this advice.

Mechanical Thrombectomy

What You Should Know About Treatments for Ischemic Stroke
Iscemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, occurring in about 80 percent of cases. A major new recommendation from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is for selected acute ischemic stroke patients to receive mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure to remove clots that block large vessels, as the standard of care.

Melanoma

It's Good for Your Health to Know about the Dark Side of the Sun
Skin cancer — including melanoma and basal and squamous cell carcinomas — is the most common of all cancer types. The rates of melanoma have been rising for the last 30 years. Tara L. Huston, MD, assistant professor of surgery and dermatology, and leader of Stony Brook's Melanoma Management Team, explains what can be done to help prevent skin cancer and how to detect its early signs.

Men's Health

The Future Is Here: New Guidelines, Diagnostics and Approaches to Prostate Cancer
June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, which is the ideal time to get the word about the dramatic changes in the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated. Stony Brook urologist Dr. Wayne Waltzer explains these major medical advances and what they mean for you.

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery: Less Pain, Faster Recovery
Today, many routine as well as complex obstetric and gynecologic (OB/GYN) surgeries can be performed using minimally invasive techniques. OB/GYN surgical specialists Todd Griffin, MD, and William Burke, MD, describe some of the latest innovative surgical treatment options available at Stony Brook Medicine for both benign and cancerous conditions.

Movement Disorders

I can’t stop blinking. Do I have Tourette’s?
Our experts explain the difference between tics and Tourette’s disorder and why it’s important to seek treatment from healthcare providers who are specially trained in these disorders.

Why do my hands shake?
Movement disorders can be debilitating and significantly impact one’s quality of life. An accurate diagnosis and treatment by a neurologist who specializes in these often challenging and complex disorders is key.

What You Should Know About Movement Disorders
Movement disorders are a group of chronic neurological disorders that can be debilitating. Dr. Hanna Czarkowska and Dr. Chuck Mikell are specialists skilled and knowledgeable in assessing and treating complex movement disorders.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Devic's Disease: It Acts Like MS, But it's Not
Dr. Patricia Coyle is the founding director of the Stony Brook Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center. She is an expert in neuroimmunology, which is the diagnosing and treatment of neurological disorders caused by inflammation or autoimmune conditions in the nervous system.

Multiple Sclerosis: Who’s at Risk and How Is It Treated?
Internationally recognized MS expert Patricia K. Coyle, MD, Founder and Director of Stony Brook's MS Comprehensive Care Center, explains what MS is, how it's managed and how Stony Brook can help.

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Children and Teens
Laura Krupp, MD, Program Director, National Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center at Stony Brook, explains what MS is, how to manage the condition in children and teens, and the unique resources available at Stony Brook Children's Hospital.

What's the Difference Between Neurologic Lyme Disease and MS?
Hearing the words “you have Lyme disease” or “you have MS (multiple sclerosis)” can be quite unsettling. And to complicate matters, when Lyme disease affects the central nervous system, the symptoms can be very similar to MS. Dr. Olga Syritsyna is a neurologist with subspecialty training in neurologic Lyme disease and MS.

Neuropsychology

What Every Parent Should Know About Our Neuropsychology Services
Neuropsychology is an area of psychology that focuses on the relationships between the human brain, behavior and mind. Often, in the aftermath of a life-altering illness or brain injury, a referral to a neuropsychologist is critical in helping a child or adolescent improve their emotional wellbeing and helping to ensure that the right accommodations are in place for school, extracurricular activities, work and home.

New Treatments for Stroke

What You Should Know About Treatments for Ischemic Stroke
Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, occurring in about 80 percent of cases. A major new recommendation from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is for selected acute ischemic stroke patients to receive mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure to remove clots that block large vessels, as the standard of care.

Obesity

What You Should Know About Bariatric Surgery
Dr. Aurora Pryor shares what is involved in bariatric surgery, Stony Brook's approach and procedures offered.

What You Should Know About Diabetes and Obesity
Aurora Pryor, MD, talks about the relationship between diabetes and obesity.

Open MRIs

What You Need to Know About Open MRIs
Do you know the difference between a traditional MRI and an open MRI? When would you use one over the other? Does it matter? Stony Brook Medicine Radiologist Dr. Matthew Barish explains the differences as well as other key information about imaging testing.

Orthopaedics

How To Keep Kids Safe and In The Game
Regular sports activity is great for kids, but their growing bodies can make them more susceptible to sports injuries than adults. Sports injuries can occur due to lack of conditioning, poor technique or overtraining. Here, Dr. Barsi discusses how to keep your kids safe while active in their chosen sports. Dr. Barsi is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and specializes in all pediatric orthopaedic care including scoliosis, fractures and growth plate injuries, as well as pediatric sports medicine.

Pain Management

Seeking Relief for Pain: A Variety of Options at Stony Brook
When pain – whether short term or chronic – begins to interfere with someone's daily functions or activities, getting proper treatment by a pain management specialist can be life changing. Dr. Marco Palmieri discusses the different types of pain that may benefit from specialized treatment, as well as some of the traditional and alternative treatment options available today.

A Breakthrough Therapy for Chronic Pain
Patients are finding new hope for relief of chronic, nerve-related pain with Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) therapy, a newer, FDA-approved treatment. Stony Brook Medicine pain expert Marco Palmieri, DO, trained in this therapy, explains how it works and who may benefit from it.

Pediatric Arthritis

What Parents Should Know About Arthritis and Children
Although most people associate arthritis with aging, the fact is, one in 1,000 children is diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. As part of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, Pediatric Rheumatologist Dr. Julie Cherian addresses the most common questions from parents – and discusses what they can do if they suspect their child may have arthritis.

Pediatric Brain Tumors

What Parents Should Know About Brain Tumors in Children
After leukemia, brain tumors represent the most common type of cancers in children. In 2013, there were over 4,000 newly diagnosed pediatric brain tumors in the United States; over 3,000 occurred in children under the age of 15. Dr. Chesler, a fellowship-trained expert on childhood brain tumors, is one of fewer than 200 actively practicing pediatric neurosurgeons in the United States.

Pediatric Cleft Palate

Something to Smile About - A Premier Cleft Palate Team
You probably know someone born with a cleft lip or palate - it's among the most common types of birth defects. But did you know that one of the nation's premier cleft palate teams is as close as Stony Brook Children's Hospital? Here, plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Dagum and orthodontist Dr. Leon Klempner talk about what kids with clefts need over the course of their childhood - and how Stony Brook helps them.

Pediatric Diabetes

What You Need to Know About Diabetes in Children
Diabetes is not just an adult disease. Diabetes can affect people of all ages, including infants and children. There are two primary forms: Type 1, which is an autoimmune disease, and Type 2, which is associated with increased body weight. Pediatric endocrinologist Jennifer Osipoff, MD, discuss diabetes in children and the treatments available at Stony Brook Children’s Service.

Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat

What Parents Need to Know About Tonsillectomy
Wasyl Szeremeta, MD, a pediatric otolaryngologist and Division Chief of Pediatric ENT at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, wants parents to be more aware of tonsillectomy, the third most common surgery in the U.S. for children. Here, he talks about when and why a child should have a tonsillectomy and why specialized pediatric expertise is so important.

Pediatric Emergency Care

Common Questions About Pediatric Emergency Care
Parents need to know what type of emergency care is available for their children if they become acutely ill or injured. Carl Kaplan, MD, Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, provides some important information about pediatric emergency care.

Pediatric Food Allergies

Questions About Food Allergies in Children
Today, more and more infants and children are being diagnosed with asthma, eczema, hay fever and food allergies. Food allergies are of particular concern, because reactions may be severe and even fatal. Currently, one in 13 children has a food allergy. Here, Dr. Susan Schuval talks about the rising incidence of food allergies in children, and what parents need to know.

Pediatric Heart Condition

When Your Child Has a Heart Condition… Here’s What Matters
When your child has a heart condition, expertise and state-of-the-art care count, but so do other factors, like compassion, communication and accessibility. Pediatric Cardiologist Laurie E. Panesar, MD, and Nurse Practitioner Marybeth Heyden, who holds a doctorate in nursing, talk about Stony Brook’s unique approach.

A Heartfelt Talk About Pediatric Cardiology
It can be frightening and confusing for parents to hear their child may have a heart problem. Fortunately, Long Island is home to one of New York’s most renowned academic medical centers and the only children’s hospital in Suffolk County. Pediatric cardiologists at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital answer your questions about childhood heart disease.

Pediatric Hypertension

Pediatric Hypertension: A Growing Problem with Long-Term Health Risks
People rarely think that children can have high blood pressure. But the reality is that hypertension is becoming a growing problem among children and teens. Dr. Robert Woroniecki, Division Chief of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension, and Dr. Katarina Supe-Markovina, Director of the new Pediatric Hypertension Center at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, discuss what every parent needs to know.

Pediatric Nephrology

Kids and Kidneys: What Parents Should Know
What should you know about your child’s kidneys and when should you seek help? The pediatric nephrologists (children’s kidney specialists) at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital offer comprehensive services for kidney problems of all kinds — with an emphasis on accurate and early identification of potential issues. Dr. Robert Woroniecki, Division Chief of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension, and Dr. Katarina Supe-Markovina, Director of the new Pediatric Hypertension Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, discuss what every parent needs to know.

Pediatric Neuropsychology

Pediatric Obesity

What Parents Need to Know About Their Child’s Weight
Today, one in three children can be classified as overweight or obese, which puts them at risk for serious health problems. Rosa Cataldo, DO, MPH, Director of the Healthy Weight & Wellness Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, discusses what parents can do now to keep their child at a healthy weight and get them on the road to a healthy life.

Pediatric Orthopaedics

Pediatric Scoliosis

Scoliosis: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine and back with scoliosis curves sometimes following an “S” or a “C” shape. Scoliosis typically occurs in adolescents between 10 and 18 years old and is relatively common, affecting as many as 2 to 3 percent of the population. Dr. James Barsi shares his expertise in scoliosis diagnosis and treatment.

Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric Surgery: Why It's Different
Children are small. They need smaller instruments, different medications, a very different way of communicating, and they are likely to live much longer than adult patients. Dr. Richard Scriven, Pediatric Surgeon and Pediatric Trauma Medical Director, explains how pediatric surgery and care is unique.

Pediatric Weight & Wellness

Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Why do I have a constant prickly-tingly feeling in my arm?
Courtney Pendleton, MD, a neurosurgeon who is fellowship trained in peripheral nerve disorders, explains what peripheral nerves are, problems that can arise with them and how they can be treated.

Pituitary Tumors

What You Should Know About Pituitary Tumors
A pituitary tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in the pituitary gland, which is a small, pea-sized organ located in the center of the brain, behind the nose and eyes. Endocrinologist, Igor Kravets, MD and Neurosurgeon, Raphael Davis, MD, discuss the different types of pituitary tumors, the symptoms and various treatments available at Stony Brook Medicine's Pituitary Care Center.

Post COVID

Still experiencing symptoms after a COVID-19 diagnosis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that 7.7 to 23 million people are currently living with longer-term symptoms and health complications from COVID-19. The Post-COVID Clinic, was created to provide specialized care and assessment for patients with long-term effects of COVID-19. Here, Dr. Rajupet shares more information about the Clinic and Post-COVID care.

Pregnancy and Prematurity

What You Should Know About Premature Birth
Shanthy Sridhar, MD, Chief, NICU Medical Director, Fellowship Director discusses prematurity and neonatal and perinatal care.

Leading the Fight Against Premature Births
In the United States, one in eight babies is born too soon, translating into more than a half million premature births a year. Not only is prematurity the number-one cause of newborn death, but it also puts surviving infants at risk for severe health problems and lifelong disabilities. Drs. J. Gerald Quirk and Shanthy Sridhar discuss the depth of resources Stony Brook offers the community — and why those at risk for premature birth are referred or transferred to Stony Brook.

Pulmonology

Diagnosing and Treating Lung Cancer with Interventional Pulmonology
Advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed by interventional pulmonologists. Stephen Kuperberg, MD, Interventional Pulmonologist on the Lung Cancer Team at Stony Brook Cancer Center, explains how cutting-edge advances in interventional pulmonology are taking lung and airway cancer diagnosis and treatment to the next level.

Research Study

Should my child join a research study?
Research is the lifeblood of medicine and helps us move the practice of medicine forward. Dr. Sharon Nachman, an expert in infectious diseases and an active researcher for clinical trials and promising medicines, helps parents gain a better understanding of what’s important to know before making the decision to participate or have your child participate in a research study.

Safety and Nutrition for Young Athletes

What You Should Know About Preventing Children's Sports Injuries
James Penna, MD, Assistant Professor, Orthopaedics, answers questions on this topic.

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer Prevention: Sun Safety

Summer Sun Safety: What You Absolutely Need to Know Now
Maribeth Chitkara, MD, a pediatric hospitalist with Stony Brook Children's Hospital, discusses summer safety and skin cancer prevention steps you can take today to keep yourself, your family and your children safe all summer long.

Skull Base Tumors

Skull Base Tumors: What They Are and What to Do About Them
As neurosurgeon Raphael P. Davis, MD, explains, a skull base tumor can be life-threatening, but there are new options for treatment.

Sinus

What You Need to Know About Sinusitis and Sinus Surgery
When a patient is diagnosed with chronic sinusitis that has not responded to medication, surgery may provide needed relief. Ghassan J. Samara, MD, a leader on the rhinology team of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Division at Stony Brook Medicine, discusses the problems of sinusitis and the minimally invasive surgical treatments for it, including the novel Propel® stent, available at Stony Brook.

Sinus Surgery

Sleep Disorders

What You Need to Know About Sleep Disorders
Avram R. Gold, MD, Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center, provides information about sleep disorders and how to get a better night's sleep.

Sleep Disorders in Children
According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 69 percent of children age 10 and under experience some type of sleep problem, and of these, about half might need medical attention. Catherine Kier, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist and pediatric sleep specialist, discusses sleep disorders in infants and children, and what measures you can take to promote better sleep.

Spine

When spine surgery makes sense and when it doesn't
Spine surgeons help patients with problems from their neck to their lower back. These conditions can include trauma, bone degeneration and cancer. Dr. Harry Mushlin, a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who specializes in complex spine conditions and deformities of the spine, explains why he and his colleagues take a conservative approach when it comes to recommending spine surgery to their patients.

Sports Medicine

Stroke

What If I Think I'm Having a Stroke?
While we hope that you or someone you love never have to experience a stroke, it’s important to know what to do if it does happen.

What You Should Know About Treatments for Ischemic Stroke
A major new recommendation from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) is for selected acute ischemic stroke patients to receive mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure to remove clots that block large vessels, as the standard of care.

Why Having 24/7 Access to Advanced Stroke Care Matters
Recently, Stony Brook University Hospital became the first hospital in Suffolk County to achieve advanced, Comprehensive Stroke Center certification by The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Dr. Michael Guido and Dr. David Fiorella, co-directors of the Stony Brook University Cerebrovascular and Comprehensive Stroke Center explain why having a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in your community matters.

Why Having a Mobile Stroke Unit Program in the Community Matters
Stony Brook Medicine recently rolled out Long Island’s first Mobile Stroke Unit program. Mobile stroke units have successfully reduced stroke disability and improved survival rates in other major metropolitan areas across the country.

Suicide Prevention

Are suicidal thoughts common?
Suicide refers to a death caused by someone injuring themselves with the intent to die. And it’s occurring at an alarming rate in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, the United States had the highest number of suicide deaths ever recorded. Among American adults under the age of 45, suicide is the second leading cause of death.

Sun Safety

Tic Disorders

Tonsillectomy

Trauma

If Trauma Happens: What Should You Do and Where Should You Go?
Traumas come in many forms: automobile accidents, burns, falls, serious injury and other unplanned events. What they all have in common, however, is that they need immediate, expert treatment. How do you know where to go? Trauma surgeon Dr. James Vosswinkel shares his perspective on how to make such a critical decision.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

What You Should Know About Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia, or tic douloureux, is a devastating facial pain syndrome from which millions of Americans suffer. However, as Chuck Mikell, MD, a neurosurgeon who is an expert in treating this syndrome explains, with proper diagnosis, treatment is available, and there is no reason to live with the pain of trigeminal neuralgia.

Vascular Disease

PAD Affects 1 in 20 Americans Over the Age of 60
September is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, and while PAD affects nearly 10 million in the U.S., many know little about this dangerous disease that is often referred to as the “silent killer.” Here, Stony Brook Medicine board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeon Angela Kokkosis, MD, FACS, is bringing awareness and attention to the risk factors of peripheral arterial disease, diagnosis and treatment, and why it’s so important to get treated sooner rather than later.

Preventing Strokes for People with Carotid Artery Disease
Patients with advanced carotid artery disease have an increased risk of having a stroke that may significantly decrease their quality of life. To help reduce the incidence of stroke, vascular surgeons at Stony Brook Vascular Center are using an advanced procedure called transcarotid artery revascularization — TCAR. This is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that can give patients a future without strokes. Angela Kokkosis, MD, a vascular surgeon, explains.

What You Need to Know About Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a common condition that many people may not be aware of. Though a DVT can have serious and sometimes life threatening complications, it can be prevented. Here, Dr. Kokkosis explains the signs and symptoms of DVT and how the Center for Vein Care at Stony Brook can treat these and other vein diseases.

What You Should Know About Vascular Disease
Apostolos Tassiopoulos, MD, Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, talks about three major vascular conditions that can jeopardize your health, and why it’s best to identify and treat underlying causes before symptoms appear.

Vehicular Safety – Child and Teen

What Parents Need to Know about Child and Teen Car Safety
The facts couldn’t be clearer: Car accidents are the number-one cause of accidental deaths in children ages 0-19 nationally. And in New York State, Suffolk County has the highest teen death rate from auto accidents. Motor vehicle accidents are also responsible for an alarming proportion of disabling injuries. The experts at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital want you to not only be aware of this problem, but also to take action to keep your children and teens safe.

Vein Disease

Vein Disease: When Self-Help Measures Aren't Enough
More than 80 million American individuals suffer from vein disease. The Center for Vein Care at Stony Brook provides patients with a unique combination of expertise, experience, innovation, individualized options and convenience. Here, Dr. Tassiopoulos discusses the most common types of vein disease, identifying symptoms and how to get help.

Voice

Water Safety

Summer Water Safety Advice to Save Lives
Long Island’s beaches and pools are the ideal places for summertime fun. But along with swimming, body surfing or paddling around come real dangers — including the risk for drowning. Dr. Jaqueline Bober and Kristi Ladowski, both advocates for drowning prevention, discuss steps you can take to keep yourself, your family and friends safe all summer long.

Summer Safety: How to Prevent Pool Drownings
Right now families are spending even more time together at home. With summer here, that can mean lots of pool time and, sadly, preventable drownings. Kristi Ladowski, our injury prevention specialist, offers sound advice that can help keep your family safe.

Women's Health

Are fibroids causing my heavy periods?
Many women suffer from heavy periods, which can be caused by a range of hormonal or structural conditions. Uterine fibroids are also commonly determined to be the cause. As part of Fibroid Awareness Month, we’re taking a deeper look at this condition that affects millions of women.

Teens Need Gynecologists Too
Dr. Stefanie Cardamone completed her training in Obstetrics and Gynecology before taking specialty training in
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. She talks about how this relatively new discipline helps teenage girls navigate gynecologic concerns.

Treatment Options for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 10% of women of childbearing age. It is a chronic condition, similar to blood pressure or diabetes, and requires long-term management. While sustainable lifestyle changes are the most effective way to manage PCOS, there are also medical interventions that can significantly help.

Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately 60,000 women in Suffolk County. It’s a hormonal and metabolic condition that impacts a woman’s quality of life, reproductive and overall health.

What care do midwives provide?
Whether you’ve just entered puberty, are expecting a baby, desire contraception or have journeyed to or through menopause, midwifery can provide a full range of care with an emphasis on placing your needs and desires first, while maintaining a safe environment in which to birth or to receive other women’s healthcare services.

For more information, call HealthConnect^® at (631) 444-4000.

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All health and health-related information contained in this article is intended to be general and/or educational in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a healthcare professional for help, diagnosis, guidance, and treatment. The information is intended to offer only general information for individuals to discuss with their healthcare provider. It is not intended to constitute a medical diagnosis or treatment or endorsement of any particular test, treatment, procedure, service, etc. Reliance on information provided is at the user's risk. Your healthcare provider should be consulted regarding matters concerning the medical condition, treatment, and needs of you and your family. Stony Brook University/SUNY is an affirmative action, equal opportunity educator and employer.

Last Updated

06/27/2022