Medical

Headaches occur in nearly all ages and walks of life. There are many types of headaches from sinus to migraines to toxic to the most common type, the tension or “stress” headache, which accounts for about 90 percent of all headaches. Headaches are one of the most common complaints people have- some estimates suggest 25 percent of the population have one right now! The commonality of headaches make many believe that they are a normal part of life, but in actuality they a warning sign that there is a problem.

With over 95 years of family tradition Dr. Unruh continues to strive to bring the most innovative and advanced diagnostic tools to his patients. At the Unruh Spine Center he has expanded his commitment to patient wellness by offering Santa Clarita’s Only Integrated Health Center. This state of the art facility takes an alternative and traditional approach to all your medical needs offering: Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, and General Medical services, including:

Summer is over and the kids are back to school, now it’s time to take care of you.  A busy vacation filled with beautiful weather usually leads to increased sun exposure.  But once that tan starts to fade, the ugly truth of the damage that was done starts to show up in the form of brown spots, blotches and uneven color.  But do not despair… repair!

Even a subtle change in your smile can make a dramatic difference in the way you look, feel and on your social outlook!  Dental Veneers are an excellent cosmetic remedy for a variety of dental conditions that affect the appearance of the front teeth.  Durable and color-stable, veneers are, in many cases, the perfect way to restore the natural function and beauty of your teeth, so you can smile with confidence!

Androgens may be called “male hormones,” but don’t let the name trick you.  Both men’s and women’s bodies produce androgens, just in different amounts.  In fact, androgens have more than 200 actions in women.  One of the main purposes of androgens is to be converted into the female hormones called estrogens.
The main androgens in the body are testosterone and androstenedione.  They are present in much higher levels in men and play an important role in male traits and reproductive activity. 

There are times in our lives where things feel too overwhelming.  When this occurs, we tend to revert back to what I call “automatic pilot brain programs” from the past.  
These are thoughts that run around in our heads, keeping us from moving forward and making appropriate choices or decisions based upon present circumstances.  These thoughts create feelings that keep us stuck in the past, making up stories about possible outcomes or a future that is often negative, limiting, defeating and even hopeless.
Health and wellness are physical as well as mental, emotional and spiritual.  Mastering our minds is like working out a muscle. 

For the past four years weSPARK Cancer Support Center has had the privilege of serving cancer patients and their families and friends in the Santa Clarita Valley.  Like so many non-profit organizations, weSPARK is experiencing a period of funding challenges during this economic downturn.  In order to be able to continue servicing the Santa Clarita Valley, we are transitioning from our present facility to other community locations.  This will allow us to continue our dedication to our mission of enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients, their families and friends.

In my previous article, I discussed braces and specific tooth problems that braces can correct such as crooked or crowded teeth, uneven spacing due to missing teeth, overbites, overjet, incorrect jaw position, and disorders of the jaw joints.
Your dentist can provide a detailed treatment plan for you including diagnosis, examinations, and some orthodontic procedures.  During the period of bracing, the interconnecting wires are tightened at each visit, bearing mild pressure on the brackets or bands to shift teeth or jaws gradually into a desired position. 

We all have a “story” about relationship.  This “Once Upon a Time” tale begins with the relationship with our family and carries into every relationship we have from then on. Things happen in our early family experience.  We interpret those events and create stories about ourselves and our world.  These stories become part of our belief system and become the lens through which we see our world. They can often interfere with having our ideal life and relationships. 

This year’s medical mission trip led me to many patients suffering from knee pain and back pain.  It seems as though these problems come from the environment.  The patients live in a mountainous area that is 7,000 feet above sea level and due to bad road systems, walk a lot.  I want to discuss back pain, which was one of the main things that the patients in the area were dealing with.  In one case, a 74 year-old woman came into the clinic with a cane almost unable to walk on her own because of back pain that tortured her for two years. 

Keratoconus is a corneal disease that affects approximately one in 2,000 people.  The condition usually first appears in the late teens or early twenties.  The cornea which is the front window of the eye becomes distorted and irregular.  As the condition progresses the vision becomes more difficult to correct with glasses.  Patients typically report that their vision has significant ghosting and glare, which is worse at night.  As the condition continues to progress the cornea becomes thinner and eventually scars.

As the term suggests, smokeless tobacco describes a variety of tobacco products that are not smoked by the consumer. These products, which include snuff, dip and chewing tobacco, are less harmful than smoking, but are still extremely hazardous to your health.
1. Smokeless Tobacco Contains Harmful Chemicals
Smokeless tobacco is known to contain 28 carcinogens, including very high levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). TSNAs are known to be some of the most potent carcinogens present in chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco smoke.
Other cancer-causing substances in smokeless tobacco include: formaldehyde, arsenic, cadmium and radioactive polonium-210.

If you’re like so many patients, the lingering numbness of local anesthesia is something you’ve become used to, but never comfortable with.  It’s not easy getting on with your day when part of you is still not feeling or looking normal. Are you ready for a new possibility?  It’s about time for OraVerse.
OraVerse is the first and only product of its kind to rapidly reverse the effects of your local dental anesthetic so you can feel, speak, smile, and drink normally in approximately half the time.  It is scientifically proven to accelerate the return of normal sensation and function following routine dental procedures.

Thanks to the commercials for Gardasil, the vaccination against HPV (human papillomavirus), more women of all ages know of its connection to cervical cancer.  But do they realize that eight out of 10 adults will have HPV at some point in their lives?  Or that cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer in women worldwide, despite the fact that the Pap test has been available for over 50 years?  With the knowledge that high-risk types of HPV are the causal agents of cervical cancer, the recommendations for screening have changed to sometimes include testing for HPV DNA.

Your eyes are the most intimate part of your facial appearance.  As we age, certain changes occur that principally affect the way our eyes look.  Most people notice that the upper lids tend to “sag” or in some cases get hollow, while the lower lids may form “bags” or hollow as well.  This not only makes us look older, but often people think we are tired, angry or sad because of this uncontrollable facial appearance around our eyes. 

There are many concerns that come to mind when visiting the dentist; one frequently expressed concern is that of possible over exposure to radiation from dental x-rays.  What many patients do not realize is that the benefits of having x-rays taken regularly greatly outweigh the risk of the minimal exposure to radiation.  X-rays allow dental professionals to see areas of decay, periodontal disease, bone loss and abscesses to name just a few. 

Are you taking care of yourself?  Any goal, any desire you may have for this life starts with you.  Even altruistic endeavors require that we take time to care for ourselves so that we may be able to truly nurture others.  Is stress, bad habits, fears, lack of sleep, or the sometimes overwhelming routine of life getting the best of you?  If it is, maybe you should take time just for you.  Don’t you deserve it?

Helm Vision Group is pleased to offer the latest technology in laser vision correction right here in the Santa Clarita Valley.  We have the Alcon Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q Excimer Laser, engineered by WaveLight here at the Laser Vision Center of Santa Clarita.  The German designed and engineered laser is the first vision correction system in the world specifically built to preserve the natural shape of the cornea, resulting in clearer vision, in both daylight and low light conditions.