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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 07 January 2026

Hyperparathyroidism, a hormonal disorder caused by overactivity in one or more of the body’s four parathyroid glands, affects about 100,000 people in the U.S. each year. Though it can occur at any age, the condition is three times more common in women than in men, with menopause being a key risk factor, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The disorder raises calcium levels, which can cause symptoms such as bone and joint pain, osteoporosis, kidney stones, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, and depression—symptoms often mistaken for normal aging. Hyperthyroidism can also increase the risk of developing long-term heart disease.

Westchester resident Carine Feist, MPH, began noticing joint pain, severe heartburn, and fatigue last fall. “After a full night’s sleep, I’d still be physically exhausted and ready for a nap by 10 a.m.,” she says.

A medical research reviewer with a background in public health, Feist has been proactive with her medical care and was already monitoring her bone density due to a history of osteopenia. When her symptoms persisted, she went to her family physician, who found her calcium levels to be abnormally high. Further blood tests confirmed hyperparathyroidism.

She was then referred to Dr. Kaare Weber, an endocrine surgery specialist who is Chief of Surgery and Associate Medical Director of Surgical Services at White Plains Hospital. “He exuded confidence and exceptional ability,” Feist notes. “He told me, ‘We will get you better.’ That’s what you want to hear when you’re having a procedure.”

Dr. Weber, who has performed more than 1,000 hyperparathyroidism surgeries, says modern imaging has revolutionized treatment. “We can now localize the parathyroid glands before surgery using tools such as high-resolution ultrasound, sestamibi scans (an imaging test for overactive parathyroid glands), or 4-D CT,” he says. “This precision allows minimally invasive outpatient procedures with very low risk, faster recovery, and significant improvement in quality of life.”

In Feist’s case, the imaging showed that only one gland needed to be removed. Following her March 2025 surgery, she experienced life-changing improvements overnight. “I didn’t have fatigue, and I didn’t have to rely on Tums anymore,” she says.

An avid traveler, she’s now planning a trip to Iceland with her 93-year-old mother—a journey that seemed impossible just months ago.

“Seeing patients regain their energy and return to their passions is one of the most rewarding aspects of treating hyperparathyroidism,” Dr. Weber says.

Need a physician? To find the right provider for your needs, visit our online physician directory.

Health Matters
The original version of this article was published in Health Matters, a White Plains Hospital publication.

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Written by: Dr. Fara Bellows

Category: Health

Published: 25 December 2025

Submitted by Dr. Fara Bellows, Urology at White Plains Hospital
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates that more than 300,000 men will develop the disease – and nearly 36,000 will die from it – in 2025.

Screening is of utmost importance, as most men show no symptoms before being diagnosed. The best way to check for possible prostate cancer is through a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, which can be ordered by your primary care physician (PCP).

PSA is an enzyme that gets released from the prostate gland, with blood levels of PSA high in cases of prostate cancer; that said, the PSA test is not 100% accurate, as is explained by the National Cancer Institute here.

Your physician may also perform a digital rectal exam, where they insert a finger into your rectum to feel the prostate for tumors. Prostate cancers tend to grow in the area next to the rectum, called the peripheral zone, so this physical exam can be helpful.

When Should You Start Screening?

Although prostate cancer usually affects men in their 60s and 70s, there have been cases of men developing the disease in their 50s and even 40s.

Opinions differ on when you should begin screening. The American Cancer Society recommends that men start at age 50, while others usually say between 45 and 55 depending on the circumstance.

In addition:

• Those at high risk (including being of African descent and having a first-degree relative – father or brother – who were diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65), should begin screening at 45.
• Individuals at very high risk (having more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer before reaching 65) should start screening at 40.
• Depending on what their blood test levels look like, their PCP may want to recheck the PSA every 1-4 years.
Symptoms of prostate cancer – regardless of age – may include:
• Urinary issues, including frequent urination (especially at night); difficulty starting or stopping urination; a weak or interrupted urine flow; pain or burning during urination; blood in the urine or semen
• Pain in the lower back, hips, pelvis, or rectum
• Unexpected weight loss

No matter your age and health, if your physician finds your PSA is elevated, they may want to have it rechecked a few weeks later to confirm its level or might refer you to a urologist. The urologist may recommend additional lab tests or may recommend an MRI of the prostate.

White Plains Hospital offers a wide range of cancer treatments, including some of the most recent breakthrough technologies, including aquablation.

Be proactive about your health. If you are of the proper age – and even if you are not experiencing the above symptoms – discuss screening with your PCP or a urologist as soon as you can.

Dr. Fara Bellows is a board-certified urologist and urologic surgeon at the WPHPA center in Scarsdale/Eastchester. To make an appointment, call 914-949-7556.

Health Matters
The original version of this article was published in Health Matters, a White Plains Hospital publication.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Category: Health

Published: 18 December 2025

Submitted by Dr. Claire Smigiel, Allergy & Immunology at White Plains Hospital

While autumn’s many natural wonders can fill us with a sense of awe and beauty, it can also fill allergy sufferers with a sense of dread. Fortunately, there is help available for even the most violent sneezer.

What to Watch For
Besides various pollens, which have pretty much run their course by this point in the fall, there is the year-round issue of mold. Mold spores can be nearly everywhere, and mold allergy sufferers can experience everything from sneezing and itchy, watery eyes to more serious complications if they have other respiratory conditions. Keep in mind that while some molds grow and thrive in wet and rainy conditions, others tend to be more prevalent on dry, windy days.

Most sources estimate that there are more than 100,000 different types of molds – not all of which cause allergy symptoms, thankfully – with a variety of fungi called aspergillus being particularly noteworthy. The resulting condition, aspergillosis, is usually found in people with weakened immune systems due to anything from chemotherapy and AIDS to respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic lung disease and cystic fibrosis.

Although aspergillosis is not an officially reported disease, the CDC estimates that aspergillosis diagnoses in the U.S. increased annually by 5% between 2013 and 2023.

What You Can Do
As mold spores are so widespread, you can never be completely safe from mold spores. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize their presence in your home:|

• Control moisture by fixing leaks and otherwise eliminating dampness – ideal mold-growing habitats.
• Increase ventilation, which will help dry out those damp areas.
• Clean regularly to prevent mold spores from settling and growing on surfaces.
• Get rid of it! If you find mold growing, clean it up quickly. If you have particularly large areas of mold (think basements and even damp, poorly ventilated attics), you may want to contact a professional.

Allergy sufferers will be familiar with common, over-the-counter oral antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra. In my experience, those self-treating may often still experience some symptoms.

Regardless of the source or your allergy and your anti-mold activities, you may still feel the effects of “brain fog” – sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, and general malaise. (And you may still be sneezing!) That’s where an allergist comes in.

Visiting an allergy doctor can have many benefits. We can test for specific allergic sensitivity, either via blood tests or skin prick testing. Once culprit allergens are identified, patients are given an individualized treatment plan and booked for a follow-up visit to ensure relief or to change course if symptoms persist.

Allergy doctors focus on lifestyle and allergen avoidance as well as medications. When over-the-counter or prescription medications are not working, allergy shots may be an option. Allergies can have a major negative impact on your quality of life, so if you are suffering, do not hesitate to reach out and make an appointment with a specialist as soon as possible.

Dr. Claire Smigiel is a board-certified allergy and immunology physician with WPHPA of Scarsdale. To make an appointment, call 914-974-2574.

Health Matters
The original version of this article was published in Health Matters, a White Plains Hospital publication.

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Written by: Tony Mathews

Category: Health

Published: 09 December 2025

(Submitted by By Tony Mathews, MD, MPH)

In Scarsdale, we plan meticulously for the future. We manage our portfolios, our estates, and our children’s education with a long-term strategy. Yet, when it comes to the asset that underpins everything else—our physiology—many of us are flying blind.

Most high-performing individuals rely on an annual physical to gauge their health. If the standard labs come back “normal,” we assume we are safe.

However, as a physician practicing at the intersection of Endocrinology and Preventive Cardiology, I often see a disconnect between “normal” blood work and true longevity. Standard physicals are designed to detect active disease, not to map the silent trajectory of risk.

To manage your health more like an asset, you often need to look beyond the basic panel. Here are three silent metrics that rarely appear on a standard report but are critical for predicting your future health span.

1. Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT)

We are conditioned to focus on weight or BMI, but these are blunt instruments. Two people can weigh exactly the same yet have vastly different risk profiles based on where that mass is stored.

Visceral fat is the hidden fat stored deep inside the abdomen, wrapping around the liver and pancreas. Unlike subcutaneous fat (the kind you can pinch), visceral fat is metabolically active. It acts like a toxic organ, releasing inflammatory cytokines that drive insulin resistance and vascular damage.

You can have a “normal” BMI and still have dangerous levels of visceral fat—a pattern sometimes called “skinny fat” or metabolically obese normal weight. Advanced body composition analysis is the only way to track this metric accurately.

2. VO₂ Max: The Engine of Longevity

Often viewed as a metric for elite athletes, VO₂ max is actually one of the strongest predictors of all-cause mortality. It measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilize during intense exercise.

Think of it as the horsepower of your cardiovascular system. A higher VO₂ max is associated with a significantly lower risk of heart disease, dementia, and certain cancers.
If you don’t know your number, you can’t manage it. Integrating clinical fitness testing into your medical plan moves exercise from a generic suggestion (“go to the gym”) to a precise prescription based on your current capacity.

3. Insulin Sensitivity, ApoB, and Lp(a)

A standard lipid panel gives you LDL, but often misses the nuance of particle number. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) provides a more accurate count of the atherogenic particles driving plaque formation.

Similarly, a fasting glucose test only reveals your blood sugar at that moment, not how hard your pancreas worked to keep it there. Measuring fasting insulin and estimating insulin resistance (for example, with HOMA-IR) can uncover metabolic dysfunction years before prediabetes appears.

Finally, lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), can reveal inherited cardiovascular risk that does not show up on a standard panel. Lp(a) is largely genetically determined and, when elevated, is associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Knowing your level helps your physician tailor the intensity of your risk-reducing strategies.

From Annual Checkups to a “Family Health Office” Mindset

The human body is an interconnected system. Hormones affect lipids; muscle mass affects insulin; inflammation affects the heart. Treating these in silos—or checking them only once a year—is a reactive strategy.

Some physicians use the term “Family Health Office” to describe a more integrated approach, where a medical team looks at cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine risks together over time. In this mindset, metrics like visceral fat, VO₂ max, insulin sensitivity, ApoB, and Lp(a) are not “extra tests,” but tools for understanding long-term risk.

You don’t need a new label to benefit from this approach. If you’ve never measured these metrics, ask your physician if these evaluations are appropriate for you. The goal is to catch subtle patterns early, when targeted treatment and lifestyle changes can still meaningfully shape your future health span.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Always discuss specific testing or treatment decisions with your own physician.

Dr. Tony Mathews, MD, MPH, is dual fellowship–trained and quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Obesity Medicine, and Clinical Lipidology, with over 12 years of clinical experience. He has spent the past three years caring for patients in Bronxville, Scarsdale, and the surrounding Westchester communities.

He practices at Sequoia Medical 360 (116 Kraft Ave, Suite 4, Bronxville, NY, 914-292-0300), a physician-led practice that uses a “Family Health Office” model to organize long-term cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine care. Sequoia Medical 360 participates with Medicare and most private insurance plans.