Health Quest 14
1. CLEAN FREQUENTLY. Vacuum carpets every three to four days and dust and wash
bedding weekly to keep animal dander and dust mites at bay. Use high-quality air
filters in your heating and ventilation system, as well, to help reduce dust.
2. WATCH FOR MOLD. "Mold commonly develops in moist bathrooms and
basements," says Dr. Timothy Collins, pulmonologist with the Health Quest
Medical Practice Division of Pulmonary Medicine. "In individuals with mold
allergies, exposure to spores can trigger breathing difficulties and a general sense
of feeling unwell."
e U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping the humidity in
your home set to between 30 and 50 percent.
3. MANAGE YOUR FLU RISK. Cold, dry air and close proximity to others allow germs
to circulate freely during winter months. Get your flu shot and use hand sanitizer to
protect yourself from the flu and other respiratory infections.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and a bad knee were among the many
reasons Valentino opted for bariatric surgery. In addition, he felt uncomfortable on planes,
trains, in movie theaters and on the job as a bus driver.
"I've always been heavy," says the Mahopac resident. "It was time to improve the quality of
my life."
On Sept. 17, Valentino underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a surgical weight-loss
procedure in which the stomach is reduced by 85 to 90 percent. His surgery was performed
at PHC, where a team from Advanced Surgeons, which includes Drs. Anthony Maffei, omas
Cerabona, Ashutosh Kaul and Jonathan Giannone, runs a successful weight loss surgery program
and has performed more than 360 surgeries.
Within a month of his procedure, Valentino had lost 40 of his original 377 pounds.
"I feel great," he says. "I feel less pressure on my knee. It's easier to get up from a chair."
Valentino wants to lose a minimum of 100 pounds and is certain he'll surpass his goal.
"I've had no complications, no problems, no pain," he says. "I've been telling all my friends and
colleagues that it's worth it."
LET PHC'S WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY PROGRAM HELP YOU REGAIN YOUR LIFE. LEARN MORE AT
HEALTH-QUEST.ORG/WEIGHTLOSSSURGERY.
3 TIPS
Sealing up your home
during winter months
keeps you toasty, but
accumulating dust and
other pollutants can
exacerbate asthma and
allergies. Help your family
breathe easier with the
following tips.
For 64-year-old Louis Valentino, weight loss surgery at Putnam Hospital Center was the kick start he needed to
get his life, and his health, back on track.
Louis Valentino went back to work as a bus
driver for Putnam County about two weeks
after having weight loss surgery.
for Cleaner Indoor Air
A BRIGHTER FUTURE WITH FEWER POUNDS
