Medical

For more than 30 years, critically ill and injured patients have received life-saving care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.  These patients and their families are faced with an intense, emotionally charged, sometimes touch-and-go experience—so profound that for however long it lasts, it becomes the focus of their lives.

The common cold is a viral infection of the lining of the nose, sinuses, throat and large airways. Rhinoviruses cause most spring, summer and fall colds. Influenza (Flu) viruses and respiratory syncytial viruses cause colds in the late fall and winter. Rhinoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses are air-borne, but most likely by direct contact with infected secretions carried on the fingers.

Author John Schaar had great insight when he stated, “The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating.  The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination.”  Everything that you are doing now creates your future.  Are you creating the future that you want your life to be?  Or are you finding yourself stuck—stuck in the same old choices, behavior patterns, issues, and habits that you’ve always had?  Does the thought of being in the same or similar place five, 10, 15 or more years from now scare you?  Just making the decision to change that begins to create a different future.

Millions of people get nervous just thinking about going to the dentist for different reasons, including worrying about the effectiveness of localized anesthetic and feeling like the dentist is rushed or neglecting your concerns, anticipation of pain, the cost of the procedure, and even the sterile smell of the dental office.

Your vision is the most highly developed and utilized of the all senses.  Yet, most people overlook the importance of maintaining healthy eyes until there is actually a problem.  To give you an idea, less than 50 percent of Americans get their eyes examined at least every two years despite the fact that most adults consider vision their most important sense.  Visual impairment has been identified as one of the four most significant contributors to lost independence among older Americans (Alliance for Aging Research).  People see the pediatrician or the family doctor for physicals, on a regular basis, but neglecting the eyes can have serious ramifications.

I am writing this article because I constantly see designer eyewear advertised for ridiculously cheap prices especially on the Internet.  The increase of designer eyeglasses has lead to an increase in criminals trying to sell fake designer eyewear.  This costs you the taxpayer money, leads to higher frame prices and cost the economy billions of dollars a year.  A study in Brazil said that 48 percent of eyeglasses were counterfeit!

Common symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, weight gain and depression can be signs of adrenal fatigue.  Cortisol is an important hormone released by the adrenal glands and involved in many functions of the body such as regulation of blood pressure, blood sugar maintenance, immune function, inflammatory response and thyroid function.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular operations in cosmetic surgery.  However, a significant number of patient experience hardening of their implants.  This is called capsular contracture.  It results from scar tissue forming around the implant and confining it to a tight space.  The breasts can feel firm, be distorted and even painful. 

There are people who go through their entire lives with the blessed ability of eating whatever kind of foods their heart desires.  There are others, however, who must be very keen on the foods they are digesting, due to various allergies.  There is now an allergy that causes people to react against the protein gluten.  Often connected to Celiac disease (an inherited, autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins), people who cannot eat gluten become very limited in their choice of foods.

As families prepare for flu season and the release of vaccines for both the seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine flu), Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s Lactation Services Team urges mothers and healthcare professionals to promote, support, and encourage breastfeeding, which provides infants with antibodies that can help fight illness and disease.

We all know how good it feels to get a compliment.  Our self-esteem rises and we generally feel more positive.  This has a remarkable effect on mental health and even transfers to our physical health by releasing endorphins.
When we eat right and exercise, our body releases the same hormones that improve our mental health, plus we get the added satisfaction of more energy and a smaller waistline, resulting in compliments!

Do you take some sort of medication for your problems?  Including life problems?
We, unfortunately, live in a “fix it now, fix it fast” society, yet not everything has a quick fix.  Every day we are bombarded with prescription drug commercials that promise to solve your problems in a jiffy, but if you listen to all the quickly blurted “fine print” of the side effects, it becomes clear that they could also cause more problems than they solve.

How’s your track record when it comes to relationships?  How do you feel about choices you’ve made?  Do you know what qualities to look for in a partner?  Do you know how to develop and nurture a healthy relationship?  We’re not born with the knowledge of how to choose a partner and develop and keep a relationship new and alive.  Being a reaction to our parents may not work for us.  Have you taken the time to learn the simple, basic skills that make relationships more effective and enjoyable?  Whether you’re seeking a partner or looking to enhance your existing relationship, do you feel you’re prepared to succeed?

Glaucoma is a the name used for a group of diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve.  “Open angle glaucoma” is the most common type and is usually associated with elevated pressure inside the eye.  This causes a gradual, painless loss of vision, beginning with peripheral vision.  Because it happens so slowly, a person usually doesn’t recognize that there is a problem until the central vision is affected.  Because of its lack of symptoms, it is recommended that a screening examination for glaucoma be performed on anyone 40 years of age or older.

I remember going to the dentist every six months when I was a kid.  My mom was very diligent about taking my brother and me.  I always loved going and I always had to go first.  I’d be so happy to report to my mom and of course brag to my brother that I had no cavities.  My mom also made sure that we brushed our teeth at least twice each day.  When I was older the dentist suggested that I see an orthodontist because my eyeteeth were impacted. 

Happy Thanksgiving!  As the cool fall weather starts to take over I’m excited about heating up the oven and baking up a storm.  I like to think of the oven as a multi-functioning appliance.  Not only does it bake up yummy foods, but it also keeps my house warm and fills the air with comforting aromas.  But when I bake I always make sure to make the most efficient use of my oven.  Here is what I’m doing for dinner tonight (with leftovers to spare).

Want a break from your nerve-wracking routine, but don’t have time?  Want to be healthier, revitalized, refreshed, but can’t find the time to join a spa or gym?  Don’t despair—there is hope.  For the price of one belt-stretching champagne brunch for two, you can have all of this without the hangover.  A one-hour colonic (or colon hydrotherapy), provides a terrific boost to your health and overall sense of well-being.

Got gout?  If so, a Valencia foot and ankle surgeon has a recommendation for surviving the holidays: Watch what you eat and drink.
Changes in diet, including overindulging in certain foods and beverages, can cause gout attacks this time of year, says Dana Lavian and Leslie G. Levy, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S.  Lavian and Levy are members of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons ACFAS with offices in Valencia and Northridge.