Latest news with #NYULangone
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Beach days benefit mental health and well-being as visits provide 'sea therapy'
With summer travel kicking off in full swing, many Americans are seeking sunshine and waves. Aside from enjoying rest and relaxation, beachgoers will also be reaping the mental-health benefits of "sea therapy." Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health in New York City, told Fox News Digital that "sea therapy is a real concept." "The beach allows for mindfulness because it facilitates being more present when you are watching the ocean," said Gallagher, "as it is repetitive and allows for greater connection to the present moment while keeping us engaged." She added, "It can also be an escape from our busy lives and can allow us to see into the distance, which can be compelling and relaxing." Gallagher said that "sea therapy" is often referred to as thalassotherapy or blue space therapy. It taps into the healing properties of coastal environments. The rhythmic motion of water can help regulate Americans' nervous systems and supports cognitive restoration. "Spending time at the beach can have profound effects on mental well-being," said Gallagher. Benefits can include stress reduction, mood boost, cognitive restoration and improved sleep, she said. The beach can help visitors recover from mental fatigue, promoting attention restoration. Gallagher said exposure to "negative ions in sea air has been linked to improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression." Sun exposure also helps the body produce vitamin D, which is essential for bone health, immune function and mood regulation, Gallagher added. Travel expert Francesca Page of New York told Fox News Digital that "sea therapy" is not news to her. She went on a "post-winter rut" cruise through the British Virgin Islands, Page said. "Even just cruising on the water, when not island-hopping or snorkeling, definitely gave me my fix mentally and physically," she said. Gallagher warned that potential drawbacks could be sunburn, dehydration, pollution, allergies and water safety concerns — which people seeking "sea therapy" should be cognizant of ahead of time. "While swimming has additional advantages, simply being near the ocean — walking, listening to waves or breathing in sea air — can promote relaxation," said Gallagher.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Miley Cyrus' 'brutal infection' has doctors discussing possible causes
After filming a music video on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Miley Cyrus said she was recently hospitalized with a knee infection, prompting doctors to weigh in on how certain environments can expose people to harmful bacteria. On a Thursday episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Cyrus, 32, recalled the moment she filmed her "Something Beautiful" visual album and then landed in the ICU. "I filmed this video in October [2024] by November at Thanksgiving, I was put in the ICU for a moment — just for a moment," the singer said. Cyrus described rolling on the sidewalk as part of her shoot, and shortly after, she developed symptoms that required intensive medical attention. "I caught something," she remarked. "My leg began to disintegrate ... around the kneecap area. And then the doctor goes, 'Do you have any idea why you would have such a brutal infection on your kneecap?'" While the singer did not disclose a specific diagnosis, medical experts say her case is a reminder of how everyday public spaces can present hidden health hazards. "Strep or staph bacteria are common causes of skin infection like cellulitis." Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News senior medical analyst, noted that extremely aggressive bacteria are not common in urban settings. "Flesh-eating bacteria on city streets is very rare," Siegel, who did not treat Cyrus, told Fox News Digital. "Rat urine can cause leptospirosis, a bacteria that causes flu-like symptoms." The doctor said he believes the likely cause was a more typical bacterial infection rather than something exotic, although common bacteria can cause serious skin reactions. "Strep or staph bacteria are common causes of skin infection like cellulitis," said Siegel. "Bacteria can be found [on streets], like E. coli, shigella and enterococci, which are from fecal matter, and may get onto the bottoms of shoes," he added. These infections do not typically originate from the street itself, the doctor said, but can develop when skin comes in contact with bacteria, which can happen during close exposure to surfaces like sidewalks. The risk of infection often increases when the skin is broken or irritated, allowing bacteria to enter the body more easily. Even minor cuts and scrapes can become gateways for infection when exposed to contaminated surfaces, according to Dr. Ken Perry, an emergency medicine physician in Charleston, South Carolina. "For most patients, these infections are contracted from open wounds in the skin or some other breach in the skin barrier," Perry, who also did not treat Cyrus, told Fox News Digital. Such infections are usually easily treated with common antibiotics, according to the doctor. Cyrus' shoot put her in close contact with one of the busiest sidewalks in the country, which doctors say can heighten the danger. "In the case of Miley Cyrus, she states that she contracted this after rolling around on the ground during the filming of her music video," said Perry. "The foot traffic could easily contaminate the area with bacteria from animal or even human sources," he hypothesized. "For the majority of the population, rolling around on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is not common behavior, but even casual interaction could put an individual in contact with harmful bacteria," Perry added. Doctors agree that basic hygiene is one of the best ways to avoid infection, especially in public spaces. "The best way to keep this from happening is to be fastidious with hygiene," said Perry. "We know to wash our hands after being in public to keep from possibly transferring bacteria to the mucus membranes of our eyes, or even ingesting bacteria." Experts recommend covering wounds and washing them as soon as possible if exposed to public environments. "If the cut or scrape occurs while out in public, make sure to wash with soap and water," Perry advised. "If an individual has a cut or some break in the skin, it is best to keep it covered, especially when out in public." For more Health articles, visit It is important to seek medical care if there are signs of redness, swelling or drainage, as these could be signs of a worsening bacterial infection, the doctor cautioned.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Shoulder inflammation hampering key Yankees hurler
Guillem Gonzalez-Lomas, MD, a Sports Orthopedic Surgeon for NYU Langone's Sports Medicine Center, joins Brandon London for the weekly 'Injury Report' segment to provide insight into the shoulder inflammation that's afflicting Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz. Watch the full video:
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
A conductor gained 40 pounds in a matter of weeks. It took open-heart surgery to learn why
Conductor John Mauceri is no stranger to health struggles. He was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2017, then chronic lymphocytic leukemia and interstitial lung disease in 2019. Medication treated the conditions and sent the cancer into remission, but he has remained on the lookout for recurrence. In December 2024, Mauceri, then 78, contracted COVID-19. He struggled to climb the stairs and developed a "troublesome" cough. He went to the emergency room at NYU Langone, where he has previously received medical care. An X-ray found viral pneumonia and severe lung disease. Doctors removed three liters of liquid from his right lung. The only relief, he said, was that there was no trace of cancer. He left the hospital about a week later. Within weeks, new symptoms quickly emerged. First, his left ankle swelled. Then the swelling continued up his leg. As the weeks passed, the swelling entered his abdomen and inched down his right leg. At one point, Mauceri was gaining a pound every day. He was also dealing with fatigue and shortness of breath. He couldn't conduct. "I was wearing somebody else's body, at least from my waist down. I couldn't wear normal clothes," Mauceri said. "Putting shoes on was hard. I couldn't walk through my house." John Mauceri at his 55th college reunion at Yale University in 2022. John Mauceri No one on his care team could identify what was causing the symptoms. "I had an oncologist, I had a pulmonologist, a rheumatologist. I had a lot of doctors, and they all thought it was somebody else's domain," Mauceri said. Searching for a diagnosis Dr. Adam Skolnick, a cardiologist at NYU Langone and one of Mauceri's doctors, said the team first looked for more common causes for the swelling. Mauceri underwent MRIs and other tests. An exam found his lymph system was working normally. Cardiac catheterization, where a thin tube is guided through the heart, found no signs of heart disease. There were no signs of blood clots, cancer recurrence or other likely conditions. Meanwhile, the swelling was beginning to strain Mauceri's body, putting him at risk of multi-organ failure. While studying the images of Mauceri's heart, Skolnick began to form a theory. But "the only definitive way to fully diagnose and treat Mr. Mauceri would be through surgery to open the chest," the doctor said. What is pericardial constriction? Skolnick thought Mauceri might have pericardial constriction, which occurs when the sac around the heart, or the pericardium, is thickened by scarring. That prevents the heart from fully opening. It can create pressure, resulting in swelling in the legs and abdomen. It's a rare condition that is usually acquired because of a prior illness, Skolnick said, including viral infections like COVID-19. Since there are no tests that look at the pericardium specifically, Mauceri would have to undergo open-heart surgery to confirm the diagnosis. The condition would also be treated in that same surgery. After Mauceri's care team eliminated all other possible options, they decided it was time to go into the operating room in June 2024. From left: Cardiology surgeon Dr. Eugene Grossi, cardiologist Dr. Adam Skolnick, John Mauceri, and rheumatologist Dr. Jonathan Samuels. Haley Ricciardi Mauceri was nervous about the prospect but it seemed like his only option. "There was no alternative," he said. "I said, 'Well, let's just do it.'" A high-risk surgery Dr. Eugene Grossi, a cardiothoracic surgeon and leader of NYU Langone Heart's robotic surgery team, performed Mauceri's surgery. When he opened the conductor's chest, he found that Mauceri's "heart was trapped" inside a thick shell of scarring. Typically, the pericardium is like a paper bag. Mauceri's was like shoe leather, Grossi said. "You don't think about it, but your lungs expand with every breath you take. Your chest wall opens. Your lungs expand. The heart does also, because it has to be able to accept the blood that's coming back from your arteries and veins. And his was just trapped," Grossi explained. That entrapment leads to fluid retention, creating swelling, Grossi said. Under the scarring, Mauceri's heart was functioning well. With the diagnosis made, Grossi and the surgical team had to scrape the pericardium and attached scar tissue carefully off the heart. Removing the pericardium creates no lasting health issues, but the procedure, called a pericardiectomy, is a delicate one. "It's almost like the heart is a hard-boiled egg, and we're peeling off the shell," Grossi said. Mauceri's procedure went smoothly, his doctor said. Once the pericardium was removed, Mauceri's urine output bag began to fill, proving to the surgeons that the pressure was off and blood was pumping smoothly. "Every day is a miracle" After Mauceri was released from the hospital, he quickly began losing weight. He said he feels like he's in the best shape he's been since college. "This is extraordinary because not only did I survive it, but I'm stronger than ever as a result of it," Mauceri said. John Mauceri at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral after returning to conducting. John Mauceri His health struggles didn't end immediately. Shortly after the heart surgery, he was hospitalized again for a blockage of the small intestine. That was quickly treated, again at NYU Langone, but it slowed his recovery. It wasn't until December 2024, more than a year after he was diagnosed with COVID-19, that Mauceri was able to conduct an orchestra again. Mauceri conducted back-to-back performances in London and Paris, getting used to being onstage again. In May, he traveled to Japan to conduct in Tokyo. The 13-hour flight and long performance days felt like the first test of his endurance after his illnesses, he said. The performance was a raging success. John Mauceri conducts in Tokyo, Japan. Takayuki Shimizu Mauceri said he has no plans to slow down now that he's back to work. In between spending time with his family in New York City, he plans to travel the country for other concerts, including at the Hollywood Bowl in September, shortly after his 80th birthday. "I was conducting as if I wasn't on the cusp of being 80 anymore," he said. "I was allowed to do that because my doctors gave me this added time in my life where I can do that. So every day is a miracle. Every day I'm grateful for what they did."
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
How will Knicks monitor OG Anunoby's hamstring?
Ariana Lott, MD, a Sports Orthopedic Surgeon with NYU Langone, joins Brandon London for the weekly 'Injury Report' segment to discuss how the Knicks will need to monitor OG Anunoby's left hamstring in the Knicks' Eastern Conference Finals matchup against an Indiana Pacers squad that loves to play at a fast tempo. Watch the full video:
