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Many adults have hemorrhoids, which are usually only a problem if they cause bothersome symptoms, such as pain, itching and/or bleeding. Upstate colon and rectal surgeon Many adults have hemorrhoids, which are usually only a problem if they cause bothersome symptoms, such as pain, itching and/or bleeding. Upstate colon and rectal surgeon Jeffrey Albright Jeffrey Albright, MD, advises some ways to minimize discomfort. He recommends making sure your diet includes adequate amounts of fiber and limiting the amount of time spent straining on the toilet. Topical hemorrhoid creams and/or laxatives may be useful, too. Albright also explains methods for removing hemorrhoids., MD, advises some ways to minimize discomfort. He recommends making sure your diet includes adequate amounts of fiber and limiting the amount of time spent straining on the toilet. Topical hemorrhoid creams and/or laxatives may be useful, too. Albright also explains methods for removing hemorrhoids.

To mark To mark World Cancer Day World Cancer Day, , Jason Wallen, MD Jason Wallen, MD, discusses t, discusses t reatment options reatment options for lung cancer. for lung cancer. Lawrence Chin, MD Lawrence Chin, MD, and medical student Hans Kim outline, and medical student Hans Kim outline a low-carbohydrate diet that might improve the prognosis a low-carbohydrate diet that might improve the prognosis of some brain tumor patients. of some brain tumor patients. Leslie Kohman, MD Leslie Kohman, MD, explains the, explains the top lifestyle practices anyone can do top lifestyle practices anyone can do to lessen the chances of getting cancer. to lessen the chances of getting cancer.

Lifestyle modification can prevent almost half of all cancers, says Lifestyle modification can prevent almost half of all cancers, says Leslie Kohman, MD Leslie Kohman, MD, left, the, left, the Upstate Cancer Center Upstate Cancer Center 's associate director for community outreach. In this interview, she goes over the things people can do -- or avoid -- to help prevent cancer. The first is not to use tobacco, followed closely by maintaining a healthy weight. Kohman discusses diet, sun protection, immunizations and environmental factors and explains the difference between early detection of cancer and the ability for some screenings to catch cancers before they even develop. 's associate director for community outreach. In this interview, she goes over the things people can do -- or avoid -- to help prevent cancer. The first is not to use tobacco, followed closely by maintaining a healthy weight. Kohman discusses diet, sun protection, immunizations and environmental factors and explains the difference between

    Michele Caliva, left, and Lee Livermore Michele Caliva, left, and Lee Livermore A A new report on the health effects of electronic cigarettes new report on the health effects of electronic cigarettes says that while e-cigarettes may be less harmful than conventional cigarettes, they're not harmless - and vaping among youth increases the risk that they will transition to smoking traditional cigarettes. Providing an update on e-cigarette trends are administrative director Michele Caliva and public education coordinator Lee Livermore from the says that while e-cigarettes may be less harmful than conventional cigarettes, they're not harmless - and vaping among youth increases the risk that they will transition to smoking traditional cigarettes. Providing an update on e-cigarette trends are administrative director Michele Caliva and public education coordinator Lee Livermore from the Upstate New York Poison Center Upstate New York Poison Center. They caution that some vapers are filling their electronic nicoti

Infectious disease expert Infectious disease expert Jana Shaw, MD Jana Shaw, MD, gives an, gives an update on the current influenza update on the current influenza season. Palliative care specialist season. Palliative care specialist Silviu Pasniciuc, MD Silviu Pasniciuc, MD, explains, explains what that type of care involves what that type of care involves. Chest surgeon. Chest surgeon Mark Crye, MD Mark Crye, MD, describes, describes surgery done with tiny incisions and robotic assistance. surgery done with tiny incisions and robotic assistance.

Larry Chin, MD, left, and Hans Kim Larry Chin, MD, left, and Hans Kim The chief of neurosurgery at Upstate and an aspiring oncologist will examine whether The chief of neurosurgery at Upstate and an aspiring oncologist will examine whether a a low-carbohydrate diet during radiation therapy can improve the prognosis for someone with glioblastoma, the aggressive brain tumor that U.S. Sen. John McCain has. low-carbohydrate diet during radiation therapy can improve the prognosis for someone with glioblastoma, the aggressive brain tumor that U.S. Sen. John McCain has. Larry Chin, MD Larry Chin, MD, who leads Upstate's neuro-oncology program, says patients will be able to choose whether to follow a ketogenic diet while they are receiving treatment for their brain tumor. Treatment may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. A ketogenic diet is low in carbohydrates and high in fats, meaning patients would not eat bread and pasta. Fourth-year medical student Hans Kim says a ketogenic diet is designed to prompt

Chanel Beard, left, and Kim Nasby. Chanel Beard, left, and Kim Nasby. Doctors, nurses and social workers from Upstate are working to reduce the rate of repeated violent trauma in the community through the Violence Education Prevention Outreach Program (VEPOP). This program helps connect victims of street violence with resources that can lead to a nonviolent lifestyle. Resources may include housing, education, employment and primary medical care, explains social worker Chanel Beard. She and trauma injury prevention coordinator Kim Nasby discuss how the program aims to help victims stop feeling like victims. For more information on VEPOP, call 315-414-6070. Doctors, nurses and social workers from Upstate are working to reduce the rate of repeated violent trauma in the community through the Violence Education Prevention Outreach Program (VEPOP). This program helps connect victims of street violence with resources that can lead to a nonviolent lifestyle. Resources may include housing, education, employment and pr

Rehabilitation specialist Rehabilitation specialist Claudine Ward, MD Claudine Ward, MD, and rehabilitation psychologist, and rehabilitation psychologist Brian Rieger, PhD, Brian Rieger, PhD, discuss concussions discuss concussions and the degenerative brain disease and the degenerative brain disease CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Dermatologist. Dermatologist Ramsay Farah, MD Ramsay Farah, MD, tells, tells how to care for skin as one ages. how to care for skin as one ages.

With widespread flu activity reported across the United States this winter, Upstate pediatric infectious disease expert With widespread flu activity reported across the United States this winter, Upstate pediatric infectious disease expert Jana Shaw, MD, Jana Shaw, MD, left, reminds Central New Yorkers that it's not too late to get vaccinated. She says this year's influenza vaccine offers some protection against the H3N2 strain, which is circulating this season. Shaw offers advice about treatment for flu symptoms and when to seek care at a hospital.  left, reminds Central New Yorkers that it's not too late to get vaccinated. She says this year's influenza vaccine offers some protection against the H3N2 strain, which is circulating this season. Shaw offers advice about treatment for flu symptoms and when to seek care at a hospital. 

People with the irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation have an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to a stroke. Most blood clots in these patients form in a small pocket of the heart, explain invasive cardiac electrophysiologist People with the irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation have an increased risk of blood clots, which can lead to a stroke. Most blood clots in these patients form in a small pocket of the heart, explain invasive cardiac electrophysiologist Jamal Ahmed, MD Jamal Ahmed, MD, right, and nurse Scott Davis, left, who both work in the, right, and nurse Scott Davis, left, who both work in the Upstate Heart and Vascular Center. Upstate Heart and Vascular Center. Davis is Davis is the Watchman procedure the Watchman procedure coordinator, which refers to the procedure now offered to prevent clots from escaping that pocket, known as the left atrial appendage. coordinator, which refers to the procedure now offered to prevent clots from escaping that pocket, known as

Upstate University Hospital will Upstate University Hospital will open an eight-bed inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit open an eight-bed inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit in early 2019. That was one recommendation from a Youth Mental Health Task Force, says in early 2019. That was one recommendation from a Youth Mental Health Task Force, says Wanda Fremont, MD, Wanda Fremont, MD, left, Upstate's chief of child psychiatry and medical director of its left, Upstate's chief of child psychiatry and medical director of its Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic. She says the new unit will have eight private rooms, plus a lounge and visiting area, for patients 12 to 17 years old. Patients will be admitted through the emergency department for hospital stays of five to seven days. Fremont says officials continue to work with community partners on some of the other recommendations to improve mental health services for young people in Central New York. She says the new unit

When a cure is not an option, some patients with cancer may opt for palliative care, which Upstate offers to outpatients as well as patients who are hospitalized, says When a cure is not an option, some patients with cancer may opt for palliative care, which Upstate offers to outpatients as well as patients who are hospitalized, says Silviu Pasniciuc, MD. Silviu Pasniciuc, MD. Palliative care, sometimes called supportive care, focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness with a goal of improving the quality of life for the patient and his or her family. Pasniciuc explains how palliative care differs from hospice care, and how patients and their loved ones can decide whether palliative care is right for them. Palliative care, sometimes called supportive care, focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness with a goal of improving the quality of life for the patient and his or her family. Pasniciuc explains how palliative care differs from hospice care

Nurse Michele Dwyer talks about Nurse Michele Dwyer talks about breast-feeding breast-feeding. Thoracic surgeon. Thoracic surgeon Jason Wallen, MD Jason Wallen, MD, describes, describes how to repair a sunken chest birth defect how to repair a sunken chest birth defect. Hand surgeon. Hand surgeon Michael Schreck, MD Michael Schreck, MD, discusses, discusses hand pain causes and treatments hand pain causes and treatments. .

People with a degenerative brain injury called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, have a history of repeated blows to the head. The condition is diagnosed through an autopsy of the brain, after a person has died. A cure is not available, even if CTE could be diagnosed while the person was still alive, say People with a degenerative brain injury called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, have a history of repeated blows to the head. The condition is diagnosed through an autopsy of the brain, after a person has died. A cure is not available, even if CTE could be diagnosed while the person was still alive, say Claudine Ward, MD Claudine Ward, MD, left, and, left, and Brian Rieger, PhD Brian Rieger, PhD, right, who direct the, right, who direct the Upstate Concussion Center. Upstate Concussion Center.

A century ago, people diagnosed with lung cancer had few options. Surgery meant cutting open the patient's chest and removing an entire lung. While sometimes that type of procedure is still necessary today, surgeons are much more likely to operate through tiny incisions to remove just a lobe or a segment from the lung. Thoracic Oncology Program Medical Director A century ago, people diagnosed with lung cancer had few options. Surgery meant cutting open the patient's chest and removing an entire lung. While sometimes that type of procedure is still necessary today, surgeons are much more likely to operate through tiny incisions to remove just a lobe or a segment from the lung. Thoracic Oncology Program Medical Director Jason Wallen, MD Jason Wallen, MD, left, discusses treatment options for patients with the most prevalent type of lung cancer. He explains the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach and the factors that influence the treatment decision: the cancer's size and location, as well as the pat

Brain rest is crucial for someone who has sustained a possible concussion, say experts from the Brain rest is crucial for someone who has sustained a possible concussion, say experts from the Upstate Concussion Center Upstate Concussion Center. Medical Director. Medical Director Claudine Ward, MD Claudine Ward, MD, left, and Program Director, left, and Program Director Brian Rieger, PhD Brian Rieger, PhD, right, explain that most people fully recover from a concussion, if they are treated properly afterward. One key is to take care not to sustain a second head injury during recovery. They recommend brain rest, especially for the first 24 to 48 hours after injury. This is not the same as bed rest. People can be physically active, as long as they are not taxing their their brains., right, explain that most people fully recover from a concussion, if they are treated properly afterward. One key is to take care not to sustain a second head injury during recovery. They recommend brain rest, especially for the first

Robotic thoracic surgery offers a minimally invasive option for some patients who require chest surgery, explains Robotic thoracic surgery offers a minimally invasive option for some patients who require chest surgery, explains Mark Crye, MD, Mark Crye, MD, left, an assistant professor of surgery at Upstate. Instead of opening a patient's chest, surgeons make small incisions, which means patients heal more quickly and go home from the hospital faster. Crye says early research indicates minimally invasive procedures can remove cancer just as safely and efficiently as open surgeries and with less blood loss. left, an assistant professor of surgery at Upstate. Instead of opening a patient's chest, surgeons make small incisions, which means patients heal more quickly and go home from the hospital faster. Crye says early research indicates minimally invasive procedures can remove cancer just as safely and efficiently as open surgeries and with less blood loss.

Psychiatrist Psychiatrist Christopher Lucas, MD, Christopher Lucas, MD, discusses discusses cellphone addiction cellphone addiction. Pediatrician Jane Oski, MD, shares her research on the. Pediatrician Jane Oski, MD, shares her research on the health of Native American children health of Native American children. Otolaryngologist. Otolaryngologist Charles Woods, MD Charles Woods, MD, talks about, talks about Meniere's disease. Meniere's disease.

Skin becomes thinner and drier as we age, but there are some steps seniors and their caregivers can take to keep skin healthy. Skin becomes thinner and drier as we age, but there are some steps seniors and their caregivers can take to keep skin healthy. Ramsay Farah, MD, Ramsay Farah, MD, left, chief of dermatology at Upstate, discusses what to expect for skin care in the later years. He also explains the importance to seniors of moisturizing, washing in lukewarm water with mild soaps and continuing to use sunscreen. left, chief of dermatology at Upstate, discusses what to expect for skin care in the later years. He also explains the importance to seniors of moisturizing, washing in lukewarm water with mild soaps and continuing to use sunscreen.

Luna Bhatta, MD Luna Bhatta, MD, talks about, talks about stereotaxis to treat specific heart problems stereotaxis to treat specific heart problems. . Leslie Kohman, MD Leslie Kohman, MD, provides an, provides an update on cigarette smoking and electronic cigarettes update on cigarette smoking and electronic cigarettes. . Margaret Formica, PhD Margaret Formica, PhD, explains, explains how firearm violence is a public health issue. how firearm violence is a public health issue.