Locations
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Queens Hospital Center
Queens, NY
About
Bio
Director SICU
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Critical Care
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
93 Answers
260 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Pneumothorax: A chest tube is placed when the lung has collapsed. It allows the lung to re-expand. The chest tube is removed when there is no evidence of a "leak"... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Antihistamines: Claritin, dimetapp as well as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) will relieve the symptoms. Avoiding plants, areas or other inciting allergens may help as we... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Timing of medication: A medication order "4 times a day" can be taken every 6 hours or every 4-5 hours to make it possible to sleep. Try not to miss a dose to get the maxi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Exercise: As with any exercise repetitive movements over time can cause cramping tingling pain and difficulty with movement. In this high tech age with smartph... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Epistaxis: In children (as well as adults) a common cause of nose bleeds is trauma (nose picking) direct injury and rarely bleeding disorders will cause epista... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Alcohol: Every person is different. Body size liver function other medications as well as different medical conditions all effect how your body metabolizes th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
GYN: Causes can be anything from pregnancy to infection. Depending on your medical history and other symptoms an evaluation by your gyn may answer your qu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Birth control: Oral contraceptives, diaphragm as well as condoms are all effective in preventing pregnancy and when their use is stopped allows for the possibility o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Electrolytes: Potassium is an important electrolyte in the conduction system of the body. It allows for nerves to transmit their impulses and muscles to respond. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
GYN: Based on your history of ovarian cysts the pain you describe could be due to a ruptured cyst. Evaluation by your gyn and an ultrasound exam may provi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Electrolytes: Hyperkalemia can caus several ECG abnormalities. First one may see "peaked t waves". Ventricular ectopic beats (pvc's) as well as tachycardia may ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Colonoscopy: Often after colonoscopy distention and cramping may occur. During the procedure air is used to inflate the colon for better visualization. This may... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 59-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Health care provider: A nurse anesthetist also referred to as a crna is qualified to provide anesthesia for just about any procedure as well as being able to manage difficu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Beta Blockers: Yes. Beta blockers are antiarrythmic medications as well as an anti-hypertensive medication. It counteracts the effects of catacholamines like Epine... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Blood pressure: Those numbers look good. If you feel well and have no complaints keep it right where it is.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
UTI: An evaluation by your pmd and a urinalysis should answer that question. A bladder or urinary tract infection often causes burning on urination and ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Anemia: If you are anemic and feel short of breath it would be necessary to be evaluated emergently. The goal is to be treated before the situation becomes l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
ICU: Many thoracic surgical procedures require ICU admission post operatively Many procedures also result in patients remaining on a mechanical ventilato... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
838 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Infectious disease: If you still have symptoms after completing 7 days of the new antibiotic it might be beneficial to have a new culture obtained. On occasion antibioti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Training: Pacemakers are inserted by thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons. After medical school there is a 5 year surgical residency and 3-5 year fellowship. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
ECG: A "normal" ECG means that the conduction system of the heart is in proper condition. Patients who have had heart attacks have distinct variations in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Protein supplements : The values you posted are in normal ranges. Taking protein supplements while working out helps to add muscle to your body. It has less of an effect ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Cardiology: Ejection fraction is the percentage of blood in the left ventricle that is removed with each contraction. 65% is considered normal. 25 is a low numb... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Endocarditis. : What you describe is endocarditis. The vegetations harbor the bacteria that are identified when blood cultures are obtained. Sepsis, heart failure as... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
844 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
PPE and common sense: Use maximum PPE, remove and bag your clothing prior to entering your home and get into the shower as soon as you enter your home. That is what we hav... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
66 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Without knowing your medical history it is difficult to make any definitive diagnosis. In a woman of childbearing age pregnancy is always on the list... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Jul 28, 2021
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Without looking at it the best advice I can give you is have your PMD look at it to make sure there is no infection. If there is your doc will pre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Aug 23, 2021
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
It would uncommon to hit an artery. Rarely a small vein may be injured. If a hematoma (black and blue swelling) appears a vein may have been injured.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Jun 27, 2021
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
The first thing I would suggest would be for you to get a pregnancy test Regardless if the test is positive or negative your next stop should be at ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Jul 19, 2021
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
ICU Pharmacist: A critical care pharmacist is a pharmacist who specializes in the critical care or ICU where the needs of the patient are different than the regular f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Prior: Prior to strength training, get evaluated to make sure cardiac and pulmonary functions can handle it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Clot: It is important to determine if the clot is in the coronary artery causing ischemia/infarction or another artery. He needs to be hospitalized immedia... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Toenail: You might be describing old blood from trauma to your toe. A visit to your podiatrist will repair the nail and explain exactly what it is.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Pulmonary disease: Emphysema, chronic bronchitis (COPD) and asthma are often treated with steroids in the acute setting with a tapering dose after the acute phase has re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
GI: Yes. Carafate (sucralfate) is one of the medications used to treat "heartburn". Mylanta, maalox, Tums and Pepcid are some of the others you may have ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Ophthalmology: While it may happen spontaneously it can happen after an injury to the eye. Eye protection if you are in a situation where injury is possible.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Lactic acidosis: Lactic acid is an end product of "anerobic metabolism". Normally cells use oxygen as a substrate for metabolism however if there is not enough oxygen ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
836 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Pulmonary: An arterial blood gas will give you that information. However if you are not short of breath or have other respiratory symptoms it is likely that all... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Hematology: Eosinophils are usually elevated when there is an allergic reaction in the body and with certain infections. When the offending allergen or infectio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Extremity pain: What you describe may be symptoms of peripheral arterial disease. This is a reduction in blood flow thru the artery. When walking pain develops wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
ENT: Have your doc look in your ears to make sure the drum is intact and there is no visible obstruction. Chewing before and during takeoff and landing he... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Weight loss: One of the most difficult things to do is lose weight and keep it off. If you had a physical exam and blood work that showed no abnormalities the pla... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Stress test: A stress test may create chest pain or shortness of breath. The continuous ECG tracing may reveal changes that can occur without pain and would be co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
GI Distress: The ICU is a breeding ground for bacteria viruses and fungi. It would not be unheard of for visitors to become ill from being exposed to the "atmosph... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Anaphylaxis: An anaphylactic reaction can be a life threatening emergency. Rapid treatment with Epinephrine steroids fluids and removing the offending agent if po... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Blood pressure: High blood pressure is often idiopathic meaning we don't have a reason for it. Cardiovascular disease renal disease and some endocrine diseases can c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Tachycardia: If the ECG was sinus tachycardia you needn't worry about ventricular tachycardia. Svt is usually faster. A rate of 150 is often aflutter with 2:1 bl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Infection: What you describe sounds like an infection. It should be evaluated by your physician and if needed antibiotics will be prescribed.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Allergies: For seasonal allergies like hay fever antihistamines are the usual treatments. There are several non sedating ones that are good to take when working... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mark Saffordanswered
Critical Care 37 years experience
Diet and exercise. : In order to work out as you do you need enough "fuel in your body to run the engine". Carbs are the primary energy source we use. Inadequate carbohy... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
150
Thank you notes
Jun 6, 2013
Dr. Safford has a talent for explaining even complex physiological processes in engaging, easy-to-follow terms. If Dr. Sanjay Gupta ever needs a stand-in, he'll do well to get Dr. Safford in front of ...Read More
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Safford is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Safford is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thank you. I do have an appt. tomorrow for my 6 wk. check up after having a baby. I was wanting to go in prepared though. Again thank you.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! He will have an echo tommorrow and an appt with cardiologist. I wanted to know if he can still play basketball
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I can swallow my food but there is pressure and hours after that my throat fills tight.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
American univ of the caribbean
Graduated 1986MD
Residency
St Vincents Hospital and Medical Center of NY
Awards
Thought Leader, Second Place, East Long Island Region, NY - Summer
2013
Top Critical Care Specialist , First Place, National - Summer
2013
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