Medical

Astigmatism is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregular shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light sensitive surface at the back of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance.

As an eye care practitioner, it is my job to know what to look for in infant and toddler visual development.  As a proud new parent, I thought it would be a good editorial to list the expected visual performances of infants and toddlers for parents.
Birth to six weeks:

We are proud to announce that Santa Clarita School of Dental Assisting (SCSDA) is celebrating the four-year anniversary in the Santa Clarita Valley.  SCSDA is an accelerated dental assisting program where people can embark upon a new career in dentistry in 10 weeks (Saturdays). 

Addictions can come in many forms and are often intertwined.  For example eating disorders have shown many similarities between addictive conditions such as alcoholism, smoking, gambling, sex and drug addiction.  Though some people can be predisposed to addictive behaviors, the behavior typically originates as a coping mechanism from boredom, stress, anxiety or severe trauma – a temporary escape into a euphoric state of mind where life seemingly becomes more manageable.

Heel/Arch pain is one of the most common foot ailments affecting millions of people on a daily basis.  Unfortunately, this affliction is left untreated by a majority of the population, figuring that it will go away, or accepting that the pain is typical with excessive standing or walking.  Eventually, this ailment becomes chronic in nature, often manifesting with First Step pain when getting out of bed or after a period of rest, usually dissipating after a few minutes of walking, then eventually returning later in the day.

What is Purification?  Purification, also known as detoxification, is merely the internal cleansing and detoxification of your body.  Think of it as spring cleaning for your insides.  This program helps you make new, healthier choices for yourself.  You will learn to refrain from eating fast foods, processed convenience foods, and sugar laden snacks, which place an unnecessary load on your body.  At the end of the program, most people naturally turn to whole, unprocessed preservative-free foods, increased pure water, tasty shakes, and whole food supplements. 

In the past, a patient suffering from disc problems usually was given pain medications, instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred for physical therapy, and when they weren’t progressing they were sent for spinal surgery.  Conservative chiropractic care proved very helpful in many cases, yet there have been some cases when surgery seemed to be the only other option, until now.

Whiplash is a non-medical term used to describe injury caused by a rapid jerking of the neck either forward and backward or side-to-side.  It is most often associated with motor vehicle accidents, but can also occur from falls, blows to the head, or sports accidents to name a few.  The sudden, forceful movement with whiplash causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of motion. 

Frank Schlueter was outside a convenience store in June when he suffered a heart attack.  He was rushed to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills where he spent several days in intensive care.  By December he had donned his Santa Claus suit, ready to play the role for family and friends.

All our healing programs are designed to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients, their families and friends.  This month we are teaching Qigong (pronounced “chee-gung”), an ancient (5000-7000 years old) internal Chinese meditative practice which often uses slow graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques to promote the circulation of qi within the human body to enhance overall health.  Qi is considered “the fundamental life energy responsible for health and vitality.”

Free Consumer Lectures and Clinics Offered in February, 2010

On Wednesday, February 10: “Stroke Prevention” will be the subject of a presentation by Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital health care professionals from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Activity Rooms 1 and 2 of the SCV Senior Center, 22900 Market Street. 

National Children’s Dental Health Month in February serves as a reminder to all of us of the strong link between oral health and overall general health. Getting children used to taking care of their teeth helps to start them on the road to good dental health.

To understand Spinal Decompression you must first understand the importance of your discs.  Located between each vertebra is a cartilage disc.  This disc is to act as a spacer to keep the vertebrae apart.  It also acts as a rubber bushing, providing a spinal shock absorber.  They also provide a specialized surface for each vertebra to mechanically move on.  This movement is necessary to nourish the discs.

If you had a bleeding sore on the back of your hand, you’d want to see a doctor soon, right?  You should feel the same way about swollen or bleeding gums.  It’s serious.  Researchers are linking the infection of bleeding gums to heart disease.  Healthy gums are the natural starting point for any great smile.

Smoking affects the long-term health of smokers and nonsmokers alike, and has been identified as the number one health risk in California. That’s why Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital is urging smokers to heed the advice of physicians and the Surgeon General and make smoking a thing of the past.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  We’ve all heard it before, but so few of us actually act on it.  What you feed your body in the morning can be the difference between staying alert and energized throughout the day, or feeling tired and lazy.  It can be the difference between staying focused at work, or finding yourself mentally drifting off not able to concentrate on the job at hand.  It could be the difference between staying full until lunch, or constantly snacking throughout the day. 

Many of the estimated 70 million obese Americans are trapped in a life-threatening vicious cycle:  Obesity aggravates foot problems, like heel pain and flat feet; sore feet make it hard to exercise and lose weight; and without exercise, obesity worsens and exacerbates progression of diabetes, heart disease and other serious health threats.  Today, a Valencia foot and ankle surgeon urged obese adults to seek immediate treatment for chronic, activity-limiting foot and ankle problems to foster compliance with physician-directed exercise programs.

Beginning Thursday, January 7, 2010, Samuel Dixon Family Health Center’s Newhall location will be offering pediatric services to patients from throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
Pediatric services had been offered at the organization’s Canyon Country location for the past few years.  Patrick Robbie, MD, SDFHC’s pediatrician, will be moving pediatric services to the Newhall Health Center, located at 23771 Newhall Avenue.