expert type icon EXPERT

Dr. Rashid A. Chotani

Preventative Medicine Specialist

Dr. Rashid A. Chotani is a top Preventative Medicine Specialist in Silver Spring, . With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to their specialty, Dr. Rashid A. Chotani is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through their designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. Rashid A. Chotani is a prime example of a true leader in healthcare. As a leader and expert in their field, Dr. Rashid A. Chotani is passionate about enhancing patient quality of life. They embody the values of communication, safety, and trust when dealing directly with patients. In Silver Spring, Maryland, Dr. Rashid A. Chotani is a true asset to their field and dedicated to the profession of medicine.
Dr. Rashid A. Chotani
  • Accepting new patients

Can you tell me more about flu shots?

Use of injectable influenza vaccines (including inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines). The nasal spray flu vaccine has a live attenuated influenza READ MORE
Use of injectable influenza vaccines (including inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines). The nasal spray flu vaccine has a live attenuated influenza vaccine.

The flu vaccine causes antibodies to develop in your body about two weeks after you get it. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

More info: https://www.medicinenet.com/flu_vaccination/article.htm#influenza_vaccine_flu_shot_facts

Should I get the flu shot during pregnancy?

Flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in healthy women who are not pregnant. Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant READ MORE
Flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in healthy women who are not pregnant. Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant women (and women who have given birth during the past 2 weeks) more prone to severe illness from flu, including illness resulting in hospitalization. In addition, studies have shown that vaccinating a pregnant woman also can protect a baby after birth from flu. (Mom passes antibodies on to her developing baby that will protect against flu for the first several months after birth.)

CDC recommends that pregnant women get a flu shot during any trimester of their pregnancy to protect themselves and their newborn babies from flu. There is a lot of evidence that flu vaccines can be given safely during pregnancy, though these data are limited for the first trimester. The nasal spray vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women. To learn more about flu and pregnant women, please visit Pregnant Women & Influenza (Flu).
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htm

Is it absolutely necessary to go in for newborn screening?

Yes. If you don't have insurance, you can get it done for free at many places.

I am planning to travel to Africa for work in the next month. Do I need to get vaccinated?

Below is a list of vaccine-preventable travel-related diseases that are not covered by routine adult vaccinations: Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Typhoid and paratyphoid fever Meningococcal READ MORE
Below is a list of vaccine-preventable travel-related diseases that are not covered by routine adult vaccinations:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
Meningococcal disease
Yellow Fever
Rabies
Japanese Encephalitis

Can I take a chickenpox vaccine at 30 years of age?

This vaccine is recommended for you unless your health care professional tells you that you do not need it or should not get it.please click on the link to get the CDC recommendations. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-schedule-easy-read.pdf READ MORE
This vaccine is recommended for you unless your health care professional tells you that you do not need it or should not get it.please click on the link to get the CDC recommendations.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-schedule-easy-read.pdf

Every winter my son ends up with a nasty cold. Are there any preventive measures he can do?

1. Hand washing 2. Not touching your eyes 3. Coughing between the elbow 4. No smoking exposure 5. Using disposable items if family member is infected 6. Keeping sinks, faucets, READ MORE
1. Hand washing
2. Not touching your eyes
3. Coughing between the elbow
4. No smoking exposure
5. Using disposable items if family member is infected
6. Keeping sinks, faucets, other handles clean - keeping the house clean
7. Cleaning the toys
8. Using paper towels
9. Throwing away tissue after use
10. Healthy diet
11. Vitamin C Supplement

Hope this helps.

Can cancer be prevented?

1. Don't use tobacco: Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidney. Chewing tobacco READ MORE
1. Don't use tobacco: Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidney. Chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas. Even if you don't use tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke might increase your risk of lung cancer.
2. Eat a healthy diet: Although making healthy selections at the grocery store and at mealtime can't guarantee cancer prevention, it might help reduce your risk. Consider these guidelines:
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid obesity.
• If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation.
• Limit processed meats.
3. Maintain a healthy weight and be physically active
Maintaining a healthy weight might lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney.
Physical activity counts, too. In addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity on its own might lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer.
4. Protect yourself from the sun
Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable. Try these tips:
• Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
• Stay in the shade. When you're outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible. Sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat help, too.
• Cover exposed areas. Wear tightly woven, loosefitting clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. Opt for bright or dark colors, which reflect more ultraviolet radiation than pastels or bleached cotton.
• Don't skimp on sunscreen. Use generous amounts of sunscreen when you're outdoors, and reapply often.
• Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. These are just as damaging as natural sunlight.
5. Get immunized
Cancer prevention includes protection from certain viral infections. Talk to your doctor about immunization against:
• Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for certain high-risk adults — such as adults who are sexually active but not in a mutually monogamous relationship, people with sexually transmitted infections, intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men, and health care or public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical and other genital cancers as well as squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls and boys ages 11 and 12. It is also available to both men and women age 26 or younger who didn't have the vaccine as adolescents.
6. Avoid risky behaviors
Another effective cancer prevention tactic is to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to infections that, in turn, might increase the risk of cancer. For example:
• Practice safe sex. Limit your number of sexual partners, and use a condom when you have sex. The more sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the more likely you are to contract a sexually transmitted infection — such as HIV or HPV. People who have HIV or AIDS have a higher risk of cancer of the anus, liver and lung. HPV is most often associated with cervical cancer, but it might also increase the risk of cancer of the anus, penis, throat, vulva and vagina.
• Don't share needles. Sharing needles with an infected drug user can lead to HIV, as well as hepatitis B and hepatitis C — which can increase the risk of liver cancer. If you're concerned about drug abuse or addiction, seek professional help.
7. Get regular medical care
Regular self-exams and screenings for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the skin, colon, cervix and breast — can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Ask your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you.