Medical

The season for colds is upon us.  Many parents, unaware of alternate remedies, will reach for over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications for symptomatic relief for their children.  However, reports of deaths associated with decongestants and antihistamines in children, most younger than age two, prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a public health advisory earlier this year recommending against the administration of OTC cough and cold medications to children ages two and younger. 

Many people have tried to quit smoking and find that it really is a very difficult addiction to beat.  Some people even say that it is harder to quit than harder drugs such as heroin or cocaine.  It is important to note that acupuncture does not offer a magic cure for addiction, but it does make it far easier to quit and remain smoke free.

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.

And why shouldn’t our feet hurt?  We cram them into ill-fitted shoes with inadequate support we gain weight and expect them to carry it and we run them into the ground.  Foot pain means something is wrong and feet are more complex than you may realize.  Did you know that 25 percent of the bones in the body are in your feet? Our feet are a complex system of 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments and 38 muscles and tendons. It is no wonder that 75 percent of North Americans will experience foot health problems of varying degrees, at some point in their lives.

Cellulite is among the most disturbing and challenging skin disorders known in aesthetic medicine.  Despite multidisciplinary physical or mechanical treatments, pharmacological agents, exercise and diet regimens, cellulite signs and symptoms remain and, in most cases, are unaffected. 

We’re the lucky ones.  We’re the generation that grew up with fluorides, gum treatments and high dental health expectations.  Not that long ago, popular wisdom held that you held onto your teeth for a while, then began having the problems extracted, and finally at about 60 or so, settled into dentures.  Today we know that doesn’t have to be.

When you are fitted for contact lenses a particular lens care system is recommended -- a group of products to clean, disinfect and make your lenses safe and comfortable for wear.  Since different systems use different types of chemicals, it is not advisable to mix or substitute solutions from other systems. Doing so could lead to discolored lenses, eye discomfort or eye injury. In particular, rigid lens solutions should not be used to clean or disinfect soft lenses as the chemicals can damage the soft lens material. 

Most people have heard the word “astigmatism.”  What does it mean?  The word was first coined by an English scientist in 1849.  It derives from Greek and best translates as “no spot” or “no point.”  To explain this term we first have to talk about how light is focused in the eye.  When light strikes a point on an object, the light rays bounce off of it in all directions. 

Five months of preparation at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital came to fruition on September 19 with the Department of Health’s licensure of 27 medical-surgical beds, bringing the total number of licensed patient beds to 221.

When winter’s cold and rain arrive we see less of pollen’s typical allergic symptoms - such as sneezing, runny noses and itching eyes.  However, the effect of cold air on the upper and lower respiratory tract in allergic patients may be a problem.  The cold air stimulates the nerve ending in the nose, sinus and lungs and may cause sneezing, wheezing and nasal congestion.  Also, during the winter there are more virus and bacteria which cause colds and flu to float around.  Cold symptoms are similar to hay fever, but colds improve in five to ten days, while the nasal allergy symptoms may continue for weeks or even months.

The year is passing with the speed of light.  Holiday shopping is on our minds.  What better gift to give than a “White” healthy happy smile!  This is the gift that keeps giving, not just for the holidays, but all year long.  Tooth whitening removes surface stains, gets between the enamel rods and lightens the supporting dentin.  This leaves a result that is easily maintainable with minor “touch ups” whenever your teeth aren’t as bright as they were.  Teeth whitening is a conservative way to face lift your entire smile. 

With Christmas approaching we can almost taste the flavorful turkey, green beans and sweet pumpkin pie.  While enjoying the holiday season, the company of family and friends, and a delicious feast, save some room for something a little different this year.  I’m not referring to dessert but to knowledge.  Surely you’ll have room for that.

Holidays are a wonderful time of the year, and frequently they are the one or two times a year we are able to spend time with parents or other aging loved ones.  If we do see them daily, sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees, and may not recognize a cognitive and/or physical decline.  Regardless of whether you see someone daily or occasionally, here are some recommended “Quick Check” activities.

These days, acne is not just for teenagers.  Whether young, old or somewhere in between, acne is a definite force to be reckoned with!  There are so many products on the market today that claim to combat acne blemishes that it can sometimes become a confusing and impossible battle to wage on your own. 

In the previous issues I talked about several tooth-whitening techniques such as in-office bleaching, customer tray bleaching at home, laser bleaching, etc.  These procedures can significantly improve their appearance and have great smiles.   However, we have to be clear about the pros and cons for tooth bleaching.

Dr. Fellows, a native of Illinois, studied in both the Midwest and Southern California. He graduated magna cum laude with a psychobiology major from the University of Southern California. He then earned his medical degree from the prestigious Northwestern University in Chicago. After a five-year general surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, he returned to the University of California Los Angeles’s renowned program to complete his plastic and reconstructive surgery residency. His skill and passion for his profession is apparent as UCLA extends this honor to only three surgical residents per year.

Both the medical and scientific communities have scrutinized silicone gel breast implants more than any other medical device in the world.  There is a mountain of data that has accumulated over the last four decades, and this data has been analyzed by multiple disciplines of professionals and scientists.  Mass media, class action lawsuits, the downfall of a major manufacturer of silicone implants, and the schizophrenic response of the FDA served to both confuse the public and intensify the scrutiny of these devices. 

Got gout?  If so, a Valencia foot and ankle surgeon has a recommendation for surviving the holidays: Watch what you eat and drink.