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By Chandra Wilson It’s American Heart Month, and there’s no better time to raise awareness of the signs of hypertensive heart disease (HHD), which is better known as hypertension, or elevated blood pressure. Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because, as reported by the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly half of all Americans have hypertension, and many don’t even realize it. The facts are clear. HHD is the leading cause of death for all Americans. For African American men and women, the risk for developing HHD is even higher, as roughly 40 percent are estimated to have high blood pressure. The condition increases with age, and if not properly managed can lead to heart failure, coronary artery disease, kidney failure, and other serious health issues.  However, with early diagnosis and proper treatment, hypertension is reversible. Ruth Caballero, RN, a public health nurse with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York for more than two decades, provides home...

Tennant advocates rally outside Manhattan Civil Court, Dec. 11, 2021. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY By Rachel Holliday Smith, THE CITY  This article was  originally published  on  Jan 14 at 9:52am EST  by  THE CITY With no indication that Albany lawmakers will move to extend the state’s pause on most evictions, New York’s pandemic-era moratorium is set to sunset on Saturday. That means that the nearly 200,000 city eviction cases against New Yorkers currently pending in Housing Court will begin to move forward once again as early as Tuesday. Muriel Robbins is among them. The 54-year-old tenant lives in a Pelham Bay apartment with two cats, Garfield and Patchie Poo, and supports herself on Social Security, she said. She got sick in the month before the pandemic, and remained hospitalized for several months as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, recovering from a ruptured gallbladder and other organ issues, she said. “I wasn’t thinking straight really, m...

Governor Kathy Hochul delivers remarks at the first meeting of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns in East Greenbush. -Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul New York State Police, NYPD, ATF and More Than 50 Multi-State Law Enforcement Representatives Met to Share Data and Resources to Stop the Flow of Illegal Guns   NYSP Will Also Convene Local Law Enforcement Agencies Across New York As Part of Collaboration    Governor Hochul led the first meeting of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns.  The multi-state consortium convened to share intelligence, tools, tactics, and strategies to combat gun violence, especially as it relates to the trafficking of firearms between states. Among other things, the State Police discussed the latest tools and technologies available as well as analysis of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and other data sources in furtherance of this endeav...

Walking in a Winter Wonderland: What you need to know about exercising outside Subscribe in a reader Tweet By Sonia Rappaport, Physical Therapist and Rehabilitation Instructor, The Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) Partners in Care The cold weather is back! Between plunging temperatures and limited sunlight, it’s no wonder some of the most devoted of exercisers hang up their fitness gear and stay inside – whether it’s to hit the couch or the elliptical.   It should come as a surprise to no one that exercise boosts metabolism and mood. But did you know that exercising outdoors, particularly in the winter, can increase those benefits? Believe it. According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, exercising in the cold weather increased participants’ metabolism and their muscles’ capacity to use oxygen – not bad! Meanwhile, a 2017 study found that climbing outdoors, compared to both exercising indoors on a treadmill and...

Subscribe in a reader By Chandra Wilson   Veterans Day is a time to pay respects to the brave service men and women who have served our country and  reflect upon the heroism of those who died in service. We owe a debt of gratitude to those among us who have served and continue to serve and protect our American freedom. It is important to remember our “vets” not just on November 11 th , or during November’s Military Appreciation Month , however—they need our support every day of the year. At the not-for-profit Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), veterans receive special care with two programs aimed at helping veterans navigate the complex world of healthcare benefits and services that those who’ve served our country are entitled to and so richly deserve. Led by Director Joseph Vitti, himself an Army veteran, the VNSNY Veterans Programs provide veterans and their loved ones with a skilled veteran liaison, who is available to assist and guide them with a...

Yoav Gonen, THE CITY This article was originally published on Nov 2 at 9:15pm EDT by THE CITY On Jan. 1, the 61-year-old ex-NYPD captain will become the second Black man to assume the top slot in City Hall. Now he’s charged with leading a metropolis of 8.8 million residents out of the ravages of the pandemic. He won’t be lacking for challenges. Eric Adams gives his mayoral victory speech in Downtown Brooklyn. | Hiram Alejandro Durán/ THE CITY New Yorkers elected Eric Adams, a retired police captain, former state senator and two-term Brooklyn borough president, as the city’s 110th mayor on Tuesday — hoping he can lead a metropolis of 8.8 million residents out of the ravages of the pandemic. After a competitive Democratic primary in June where Adams eked out a victory by just 7,197 votes , he handily defeated Republican radio host and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa in the general election. The Associated Press called the race shortly...

Tweet By Chandra Wilson As the pandemic continues, home health care is magnified as an essential bridge from the hospital to home. Highly trained physical therapists and occupational therapists play a vital role in helping New Yorkers recover and regain stability following surgery, illness and many of the physical changes associated with aging.  At the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), highly trained physical therapists and occupational therapists work with patients daily to develop goals for treatment and coordinate with other medical providers—like doctors and nurses—to deliver a plan of care that meets their individual needs to help them get safely back on their feet. Physical therapists (PTs) work on improving a patient’s major motor function—things like walking, stair-climbing, and balance.  Occupational therapists (OTs) address the practical functions involved with activities of daily living. They may help a neurological patient learn to...