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Is It Catching? is a quick, friendly, easy-to-use reference guide that's designed to help keep your family healthy. Is It Catching? answers all your questions to over 100 common and uncommon infections, from flu, strep, and ear infections to AIDS, anthrax, meningitis, bird flu, Lyme disease, SARS, West Nile Virus and E. Coli. See details, read an excerpt, and buy it now.

Visiting Nurse Service Schedules Free Flu Shots at Community Centers in Five Boroughs

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) has scheduled free flu shots throughout New York City for residents over the age of 50, health care workers, and people at risk, including those with chronic asthma, HIV-AIDS, and diabetes. Flu shot clinics will be held beginning this week through early December.

Preparing for the Flu Season

While there is always a normal amount of flu virus in the community all year round, the incidence of flu usually goes up from December through March.

Effects of the Flu

The flu is an infection of the respiratory tract, affecting the nose, throat, and lungs, and is definitely a disease to be concerned about.

VNSNY Free Flu Shots

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York supports vaccination in all the communities we serve.

VNSNY Benefit Gala To Raise Funds for Its Children and Services Programs
September 25, 2006

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York 2006 Benefit, “Investing in Children, Strengthening Families,” will be held on November 9, 2006 at The Waldorf = Astoria.

Fruit and vegetable juice may ward off Alzheimer's
September 5, 2006

Drinking fruit and vegetable juices frequently could help stave off Alzheimer's disease in individuals at risk for developing the disease, research suggests.

Ill effects of West Nile infection may linger
September 5, 2006

More than a year after being diagnosed with a West Nile virus infection, nearly half of the patients have ongoing health issues including fatigue, memory problems, headache, depression and tremor, a new study shows.

Initiative helps minority heart failure patients
August 15, 2006

Diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions appear to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but drugs that help regulate blood sugar may help patients with dementia as well, researchers report.

Finding may lead to skin test for Alzheimer's
August 15, 2006

A nurse-led program can improve functioning and reduce hospitalizations among African-American and other minority patients with heart failure, a study shows.

Diabetes treatment may also benefit dementia
July 17, 2006

Diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions appear to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, but drugs that help regulate blood sugar may help patients with dementia as well, researchers report.

Protein may help detect Alzheimer's - study
July 11, 2006

Sampling spinal fluid for a protein that makes up the plaques that clog the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients may help diagnose the mind-wasting disease, researchers said on Monday.

Apathy often a part of Parkinson's disease
July 10, 2006

Patients with Parkinson's disease may exhibit apathetic behavior without being depressed, a group of clinicians report. They suggest in the medical journal Neurology that apathy may therefore be a "core" feature of the disease.

Healthier lifestyles may reduce women's stroke risk
July 10, 2006

Women who abstain from smoking, drink alcohol moderately, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight for their height and eat a healthy diet are less likely to experience a particular type of stroke than those with less healthy lifestyles, new study findings indicate.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may cut cataract risk
June 20, 2006

Taking a 'statin' cholesterol-lowering drug may be good for the eyes as well as the heart.

Nonprofit health care often better, study says
June 20, 2006

For-profit nursing homes and hospitals on average provide an inferior quality of care compared with their nonprofit peers, according to an extensive review of studies published on Tuesday.

Diabetes device said to simplify patients' lives
June 13, 2006

A new device that monitors blood sugar constantly and lets the patient administer insulin right away if needed might greatly simplify life for people with diabetes, experts told a meeting on Monday.

Tremor that develops in old age linked to dementia
June 2, 2006

Essential tremor (ET) that starts after 65 years of age is associated with an increased risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, according to a large study conducted in Spain. However, when ET onset is earlier, there appears to be no increased risk.

Moving to an Upward Spiral: VNSNY Helps Patients Cope with COPD
May 31, 2006

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is on the rise. The disease predominantly affects people who have smoked for many years, but it is also traced to occupational dust and chemicals, and to air pollution. COPD is also an expensive disease: Medicare costs for COPD patients are more than twice those of people with other diseases. In spring 2004, VNSNY launched a multi-pronged program to help patients with COPD better manage this debilitating disease and live more active, happier, and healthier lives.

Depression ups risk for nursing home admission
May 15, 2006

Consistent feelings of sadness or depression may predict later nursing home admission among seniors, study findings show.

Men more vulnerable than women after stroke
May 8, 2006

Among stroke sufferers, men are typically younger than women but they don't fare as well.

Middle-age Americans sicker than UK counterparts
May 2, 2006

Despite greater health care expenditures in the United States, middle-age Americans have a higher prevalence of diseases than residents of the United Kingdom, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Eye ailment tied to cognitive decline
April 11, 2006

Worsening of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a degenerative eye disorder that is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, appears to be associated with some cognitive impairment, according to a report by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group (AREDS).

Vitamin K deficiency linked to osteoarthritis
April 11, 2006

Study findings support an association between low blood levels of vitamin K and an increased prevalence of hand and knee osteoarthritis -- the most common form of arthritis, occurring mainly at older ages, in which the cartilage cushioning the joints breaks down over time, leading to pain, stiffness and, often, limited mobility.

BP control curbs dementia risk in older men
April 10, 2006

In elderly men with high blood pressure (hypertension), the duration of anti-hypertensive treatment is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and cognitive decline, according to a report.

Patient's perceptions may delay stroke treatment
March 14, 2006

People who think they can control their dizziness, speech disturbance or other symptoms that suggest they have had a stroke are less likely to seek immediate medical care, a team of Israeli researchers reports.

Men need more info on prostate cancer options
March 14, 2006

When it comes to treating localized prostate cancer, treatment decisions frequently do not appear to reflect patient preferences, investigators report in an upcoming issue of Cancer.

Blood pressure drugs may combat Alzheimer's-study
March 14, 2006

Medications used to combat high blood pressure appear to be linked to a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published on Monday.

Dramatic drop seen in baby walker-related injuries
March 14, 2006

A combination of public education and re-design of infant walkers has resulted in a 76 percent decrease in emergency room visits for walker-related accidents between 1990 and 2001 in the United States, according to researchers from the Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Stroke deaths dropped after folate added to food
March 13, 2006

After folic acid fortification of enriched grain products was fully implemented in 1998, deaths due to strokes dropped rapidly in the US and Canada, according to a report in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

Lowering homocysteine doesn't protect heart: studies
March 13, 2006

Levels of the amino acid homocysteine may be high in people destined for a heart attack or stroke, but lowering them with B vitamins and folic acid does not reduce the risk, two studies show.

"Walking" therapies good for spinal cord injury
February 27, 2006

Body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) or conventional over ground mobility therapy seem to provide comparable improvements in walking for patients with mild to moderate impairment following an acute incomplete spinal cord injury, according to a new report.

Alzheimer's decline faster in more educated people
February 22, 2006

The rate of mental decline seen with in patients with Alzheimer's disease is directly related to the educational level of the affected individual, according to a report in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.

Diet alone of little benefit in preventing ills
February 7, 2006

Postmenopausal women see little change in their risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease or stroke, after changing their diet to reduce fat content and increase fruit, vegetable, and grain intake, researchers report.

Alzheimer's highly inherited, twins study finds
February 7, 2006

The largest study to date of twins and Alzheimer's disease indicates that inheritance may play a role in nearly 80 percent of cases, researchers said on Monday.

Many US children don't get adequate calcium -report
February 6, 2006

Many American children do not consume enough milk or other calcium-rich foods like yogurt and cheese that build strong bones, a report said on Monday.

Self-monitoring benefits patients on blood-thinners
February 3, 2006

Self-monitoring by patients taking anti-clotting drugs is safe, effective and could lead to fewer deaths, researchers said on Friday.

Boss key to return to work after breast cancer
January 31, 2006

Research indicates that the vast majority of working women who develop breast cancer return to their job after treatment and it helps to have an accommodating employer.

Cutting calories slows aging of heart
January 20, 2006

Sticking to a low-calorie diet over the long term slows the decline in heart function that normally occurs with aging, according to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Obesity linked to Alzheimer's disease protein
January 10, 2006

As body fat increases, so do blood levels of a protein fragment linked to Alzheimer's disease, a new study shows, which may begin to explain the recently reported association between obesity and the brain-wasting disease.

Vitamin D during pregnancy affects kids' bone mass
January 6, 2006

The children of mothers who had low levels of vitamin D during their pregnancy have reduced bone mineral content during childhood, potentially increasing their risk of osteoporosis in later life, British investigators report.

VNSNY to Open First Manhattan Hospice Residence
December 19, 2005

Visiting Nurse Service of New York is set to open Manhattan’s first hospice residence in January. It will be located on one floor of the Carnegie East enriched housing facility for senior citizens on Second Avenue between 95th and 96th Streets. Designed to accommodate up to eight people, the homelike residence will offer studio and two-bedroom apartments with private bathrooms, with housekeeping and meals provided by VNSNY Hospice Care.

Heart disease risk tool fails in women: study
December 19, 2005

A commonly used method for assessing heart disease risk appears to underestimate women's risk for significant atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) when they have a family history of early heart disease, investigators at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions report.

Chemo-related hearing loss a problem for kids
December 19, 2005

Hearing loss may be more common than previously reported in children with cancer who have undergone chemotherapy with highly effective platinum-type drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin, researchers report.

Dementia cases could rise to 81 mln by 2040: study
December 16, 2005

The number of people suffering from dementia is expected to double every 20 years and could reach more than 81 million worldwide by 2040, health experts predicted on Friday.

Ibuprofen may curb risk of Parkinson's disease
December 16, 2005

Regular use of the pain-relieving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) may delay or prevent the onset of Parkinson's disease, according to data from roughly 147,000 U.S. men and women enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutritional Cohort.

New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit
December 9, 2005

From November 15, 2005 through May 15, 2006, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to enroll in the new Part D Medicare Prescription Drug benefit. Given the magnitude of this new program, it is expected that you may be confused and confronted with many questions from patients and your own family members about the new benefit. For example, what plan is best for me? How do I know if my medications will be covered? How much will my out-of-pocket expenses be? Should I stay with my employer retiree coverage or switch to Part D? Will EPIC continue to pay for my prescriptions? How do I get information if I don't have a computer?

Micronutrients helpful for heart failure patients
December 6, 2005

Micronutrient supplementation improves heart function and quality-of-life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure, according to a report from investigators in Germany and the UK.

Wrist splint can help rheumatoid arthritis patients
November 29, 2005

Using a wrist splint can improve performance of some daily activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to Canadian researchers, but for some tasks splints can be a hindrance.

Blood tests may help predict stroke
November 28, 2005

Testing for high blood levels of two proteins involved in inflammation -- Lp-PLA2 and CRP -- may help identify people who are at increased risk for stroke, new research suggests. Ultimately, measuring these proteins could help guide preventative strategies or they may even serve as targets for new drugs, according to the report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Alcohol can act like blood thinner
October 24, 2005

A few drinks of alcohol per week impairs the ability of platelets -- elements in the blood involved in clotting -- to turn on and clump together to form a clot, new research indicates. These findings support previous research and may be the reason why moderate alcohol use has been linked to a decreased risk of heart attack.

Diet reduces Alzheimer protein, in mice
October 24, 2005

Experiments in mice genetically engineered to develop a form of Alzheimer's disease show that a diet high in saturated fats and low in carbohydrates reduces levels of the protein amyloid-beta in the brain, which is thought to be one of the key factors in the diseases Previous studies have suggested that diets rich in saturated fats increase the deposition of amyloid-beta and increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's, Dr. Samuel T. Henderson and colleagues note in their report in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism. However, those studies did not investigate the effect of a high-fat diet that's also low in carbohydrates.

Free Flu Shots to NYC Seniors
October 15, 2005

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York wants you to stay as healthy as possible this winter. That's why we urge you -- especially if you're 50 or older or if you suffer from a chronic health problem -- to get a flu shot now.