Weight Loss Gets You More Than Just Summer Ready—It Can Save Your Life
With the many responsibilities of daily life, personal health can easily be shifted to the backburner.
One of the most visible ways we notice this detrimental shift is our weight. Ever so slowly the scale creeps upward, and clothes fit ever tighter.
Like much of the nation, many Brooklyn residents struggle to maintain a healthy diet and weight. In fact, in West Brighton and the surrounding Coney Island area, 31 percent of residents are overweight, according to the most recent NYC Department of Health Community Health Profiles report. The leading causes of death — heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes — are all linked to being overweight. As time goes on, if not addressed, this can cause serious consequences and tremendous disruptions to our personal lives.
According to Yelena Iskhakova, MD, primary care and internal medicine specialist at NYU Langone Medical Associates – West Brighton, a new facility that opened earlier this year, “The risk for many of these conditions can be greatly minimized by families making simple lifestyle changes that contribute to overall health. These include eating a healthy diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting sugar intake – one easy way to do this is to replace soda with water – and getting regular exercise.”
It is also very important to get regular checkups that include blood pressure screenings and tests to determine cholesterol and blood sugar levels. “So many patients only see a doctor when they’re sick, but an annual visit is quick and easy,” says Dr. Iskhakova. “We take a personal and family medical history, blood pressure, weight, and a small blood sample to make sure things like cholesterol are at a healthy level. We monitor these levels over time, which makes it easier to catch any issues early on.”
Treatment is tailored to the individual. “There is no one–size–fits–all approach,” says Dr. Iskhakova, who cares for a variety of adult patients to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.
“Working with the patient, together we come up with a treatment plan that best suits them, such as nutrition counseling, exercise, and lifestyle modification.”
Dr. Iskhakova says she meets with her patients on a regular basis – sometimes weekly – to monitor their progress and provide regular feedback as patients adjust to their new lifestyle.
“Patients are so excited when they see the progress they are making,” says Dr. Iskhakova.
She helps patients on their weight loss journey by providing specific advice and recommendations, such as how to read and understand nutrition labels as well as calorie counting and meal planning. Other resources she discusses with patients are helpful mobile apps and stress reduction techniques.
If patients need more specialized treatment, Dr. Iskhakova is able to seamlessly refer them for support through NYU Langone’s Weight Management Program, one of the most highly regarded comprehensive centers of its kind.
Dr. Iskhakova, and the multidisciplinary care team at NYU Langone Medical Associates – West Brighton are interconnected through NYU Langone Health’s electronic health record system, called Epic, giving all members of a patient’s care team access to up-to-date medical records and test results. Patients can also manage appointments, communicate with physicians, and remotely refill prescriptions through Epic’s patient portal, MyChart.
According to Dr. Iskhakova’s patient Rafael, “Dr. Iskhakova is a very patient, caring, and thorough medical professional. Now I feel I am more in control and able to change my lifestyle thanks to the advice given to me.”
Dr. Iskhakova and her colleagues are committed to caring for the needs of the community—in fact they all speak both English and Russian—and take an individualized approach to creating care plans that consider patient beliefs, expectations, and culture. In many cases, same day appointments are conveniently available.
NYU Langone Medical Associates – West Brighton is located at 2857 West 8th Street. To make an appointment call 929-455-3060.
This post was sponsored by NYU Langone Health. If you would like to reach our readers, please contact us.