HEALTH

  Beyond the Festive Glow: DOH Data Reveals Holiday Toll on Physical and Mental Well-being Everybody loves to talk about the holidays as the happiest time of the year—full of laughter, family, and celebration. But honestly, there’s a lot happening beneath all that sparkle that people don’t really see. The Department of Health just put some numbers to it, and the picture isn’t as rosy as you’d hope. During a recent monitoring stretch, the DOH tracked 127 cases of non-communicable disease complications and got 451 calls about mental health struggles. So, for plenty of people, December feels less like magic and more like a marathon. Most of the NCD cases came from folks dealing with hypertension, diabetes , and heart problems. Nobody’s shocked by this, but it’s still tough to see. Dr. Anya Rivera from the DOH put it plainly: when you pile on heavy holiday food, extra drinks, skipped medications, and zero exercise, you set yourself up for trouble—especially if you’ve already got a ...

Flu & RSV cases are on the rise this holiday season It’s the thick of the holiday season , and along with the usual cheer, we’re seeing a big jump in respiratory viruses. Hospitals across the U.S. are dealing with a surge in both the flu and RSV—basically a “dual-demic”—right when everyone’s traveling and crowding indoors. This mix makes things tough for public health and really highlights why we need to look out for ourselves and each other. Why Are Cases Spiking? Honestly, this wave didn’t come out of nowhere, but it’s hitting pretty hard. Flu cases started rising fast back in late fall and now, lots of places are seeing high numbers of people coming in with respiratory symptoms. RSV, which usually hits little kids and older folks hardest, peaked earlier than usual and is still going strong. With packed airports, family get-togethers, and holiday parties, it’s the perfect setup for these viruses to spread—mainly through droplets when people talk, sneeze, or cough. Flu vs. RSV: ...

  Staten Island flu cases off the charts, as super flu’ slams New York The situation on Staten Island is no exception as it is facing a historic number of flu cases, owing to the aggressive flu bug, which is presently sweeping through New York City and is widely termed “super flu” by health experts. Healthcare institutions across the city and Staten Island are recording historic turnout numbers, causing health capacitly concerns. As reported by local healthcare professionals, the number of flu-related emergency room visits has increased dramatically on Staten Island to the point that it has exceeded the usual figures observed during years characterized by severe influenza outbreaks.       "The waiting times in the emergency room have been extended due to the capacity constraints posed by the elevated number of people coming to emergency services with high temperatures, coughs, exhaustion, and complications with the nose and chest," said John Zebora, a Staten Island ...