Medical

How come every house isn’t a dull, square functional structure?  Isn’t the purpose of a house to shelter a family?  How come every high rise doesn’t look alike?  Shouldn’t a high rise simply provide office space?  Who cares what it looks like?  Isn’t it vain to care about the physical beauty of a building?  Why do you care what your car looks like?  Isn’t it supposed to simply get you safely from point A to point B?   Why would someone care what their jacket or sweater look like? 

In past articles, I have pointed out the connection between your oral health and your overall health.  Scientific research is showing how periodontal disease increases the probability and complications of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature and low birth weight babies.  With the mounting evidence of the correlation between oral hygiene and systemic diseases, it makes perfect sense that the Veterinary medicine community has started to highlight the connection as well.

Happy New Year everyone!  Did last year seem to just fly by again?  Where does time go?  As a new year begins, most people get motivated to change or pick up a healthy habit, such as exercising or eating better.  So what happens by the time April comes along?  Where does that motivation go?

Over 50 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease; an autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue.  Autoimmune disorders include Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid disease, Addison’s disease, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and Guillain–Barré syndrome.  Due to the complexity of treating autoimmune disorders, integrative medicine solutions including acupuncture and Oriental medicine have received much attention as successful therapies in their treatment.  Acupuncture is specifically noted for its use in pain relief, regulating the immune system, managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

Preparation is knowledge, and knowledge is power!  In the quest to help people to be empowered, informed and prepared when faced with decisions of caring for an aging loved one, or as we are confronted with decisions regarding our own path, I will be taking the opportunity to host a new radio show on our local station AM 1220 KHTS called Aging with Power, Tuesdays at 11 a.m. 

Each month I highlight a workshop that weSPARK offers to enhance the lives of cancer patients, their friends and families.  Michael Watson of Valencia Martial Arts teaches Tai Chi on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m.  Using the flowing and graceful movements of Tai Chi is very beneficial for your mind and body.  It reduces stress, improves balance and coordination, enhances memory and concentration, improves circulation, relieves joint stiffness and increases flexibility.  One weSPARK guest Candi Sisk says, “doing tai chi forces me to be in the present moment.  I find it peaceful and meditative.  Thanks so much to Michael for his continued dedication to weSPARK.”

The Mobile Solutions Van from the Braille Institute will be available for the visually impaired at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5 as well as Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

I would like to thank you for all that you have done for me.  As you know, when I first came to you a few weeks ago, I was on the verge of tears while explaining to you my frustration with my state of being.  I was deeply depressed, something I was certainly not used to, and my weight issues mostly caused it.  I had literally tried everything, and acupuncture was pretty much my last hope although I never thought of treating weight problems with acupuncture.  My cravings for sweets were way out of control. 

What’s your New Year’s resolution?  This year make the decision to take charge of your health for the future.  The foods you eat, the amount of water you drink, and your activity level today will impact your life in later decades.
Eating the right foods and the right amount can help you live a longer, healthier life.  Many illnesses and conditions such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes can be prevented or controlled by eating right.  A healthy diet also provides the vitamins, minerals, and anti oxidants that slow down the aging process and help you feel younger.

To Reach Out to Those Suffering from Obesity

Dr. Marc Lussier, the medical director of Town Center Surgery, a practice offering plastic surgery and weight loss surgery in Valencia, is launching a brand new website geared toward educating the community on new surgical solutions that can combat obesity.  Dr. Lussier says the new site is equipped with state-of-the-art tools of the internet that help reflect his philosophy of care and the treatments available to help people lose weight and start living healthier lifestyles.

Helm Vision Group is pleased to announce the arrival of the latest technology in laser vision correction here in the Santa Clarita Valley.  We now have the Alcon Wavelight Allegretto laser system here at the Laser Vision Center of Santa Clarita.  The German designed and engineered ALLEGRETTO WAVE™ 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.  Studies have found the ALLEGRETTO WAVE™ to be one of the first lasers in which patients reported a reduction in postoperative glare compared to their preoperative vision. 

People often ask what the benefits are of an infrared sauna.
Well there are many, many benefits!  First of all, the main difference between infrared saunas and a conventional sauna: conventional saunas create a higher heat that heats the air and infrared saunas use a lower temperature that heats the skin directly.
Infrared Saunas:

Happy New Year!  This is the time when we make our resolutions.  “I’m going to quit smoking,” “I’m going to lose 20 pounds,” “I’m going to learn how to eat right,” “I’m so tired of feeling stressed all the time, I’m going to fix my life this year and feel better,” “I’m going to make it to the gym, run three miles a day and use my exercise videos,” or “I’ll get pregnant this year.”  What resolutions have you made for 2010?

When you were a kid you could get through the day without any neck or back pain. When you slept at night you didn’t wake up with neck pain and you could sit for long periods without suffering from back pain. But, as you have aged you realize that your posture is not what it used to be and you suffer from daily neck, and back pain.  Your body is trying to tell you something is wrong.

Ryan is a most gifted 10 year-old athlete, breaking records set years before him by older kids.  Whether he’s on the basketball court, football field, or swimming pool, Ryan excels and rises above the competition.  One of his coaches promised to give one member of the team a Wii game as a price for the most improved and the athlete with the best attitude.  It was no surprise that Ryan was selected by the coaches.
The head coach called Ryan’s dad one day before the banquet and told him that Ryan will be getting the prize. 

The death of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s facilities director Robert Knoblauch from cancer on December 8 sent waves of sadness throughout Henry Mayo. Known as Bob, Knoblauch passed away at the hospital he loved and worked at for more than 30 years.
“Bob fought the courageous and difficult fight against cancer the last few months, but chose not to share the details of that fight with his closest friends and colleagues. Instead, Bob kept that battle personal while he contributed to our hospital, even though he was not always able to be here physically,” said Roger Seaver, president and CEO.

Every child deserves a healthy start in life, but when it comes to oral health, many children face significant challenges.  Children in low-income families tend to have higher rates of tooth decay and have greater difficulty accessing ongoing basic dental care. Some key points that highlight the severity of the problem include:

The key to aging gracefully is captured in a single word—exercise.  Trouble is those who like to exercise do, those who do not, don’t.  And, as we age, our feelings about exercise, especially the negative feelings, just magnify.  Done regularly however, the experts say, exercise can help you prevent a number of illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease.  It can reduce arthritis pain and lift your depression.  So, maybe the real key is finding, and doing, exercises that are easy and fun.