Medical

I often get calls from family members about their loved ones who are being discharged from the hospital today and they’re desperate for answers, how can I care for them, what kind of help will they need, who can I talk to?  A few suggestions:
First, talk to the case manager and/or discharge planner at the hospital or care facility as soon as possible.  This key person should be aware of the patient’s status and what the plan of care should be once discharged. 

When the diagnosis is cancer, you want the best – the best physicians, the best treatment and the best overall care.  Providence Holy Cross Cancer Center offers all that in the heart of Santa Clarita where state-of-the-art treatment includes the latest in radiation and oncology. And it’s close to home.

Many patients tell me they would love to have whiter teeth, however in the past, after a whitening procedure they experienced quite a bit of tooth sensitivity, which is the main reason why whitening is no longer an option for them. The question then: “Is there a way to get whiter teeth without the sensitivity?”  The answer is easier than you would expect.

Orthodontics is the specialty that is concerned with the correction of malocclusions or improper bites. It not only improves patient’s lives from an esthetic standpoint but also from a functional one (chewing, speaking, oral hygiene).  Even though there is no specific age to start treatment it is recommended that a child sees an orthodontist as early as seven years of age. 

Dentistry does not have to be painful or scary.  Oral sedation dentistry, relaxation dentistry, and anxiety-free dentistry describe a way for you to get the care you want while you remain comfortable.  Most fears develop in childhood.  As a result you may avoid receiving care and your dental health deteriorates.

As a facial plastic surgeon with over 30 years of experience, I have performed thousands of nasal surgeries.  Rhinoplasty (nose job) is one of the most common, yet difficult cosmetic procedures to perform.  This operation also carries with it the burden of a prolonged and, sometimes painful, recovery period.  Patients are often quite swollen, black and blue, and have a bloody, stuffed nose.  Many times packing is necessary from three to seven days and removal can be uncomfortable. 

Imagine taking care of all your family’s healthcare needs on a weekend or after work/school.  Imagine only waiting a few minutes in the reception area because you have downloaded the forms from our website and filled them out in your home. Imagine a professional and caring medical assistants taking you to one of our nine spotless exam rooms.

Every day in my office I speak to patients about their lives and unfortunately the theme seems to be the same: Recession.  This is why in my office we try to reduce the “Recession talk” while we treat.  We want everyone’s time spent in our office to be a positive, relaxed, healing event for each and every patient.  As a result, I started thinking about the little things that my patients can do to save money and stay healthy.

The current fiscal crisis and its widespread repercussions on our economy have most of us concerned with spending wisely.  Some unnecessary expenses can simply be eliminated in an effort to live conservatively; other expenditures, like healthcare, are not so easily dismissed.  Heightened financial awareness has brought a new and unprecedented emphasis on evidence-based healthcare; the primary objective being greater cost-effectiveness and a major reduction in overall costs.

What is a bunion?  A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe that forms when the bone or tissue at the big toe joint moves out of place.  Since this joint carries a lot of the body’s weight while walking, bunions can cause extreme pain if left untreated.

Many injuries with the muscles and joints can begin with athletics.  High school, college, and professional athletes are sidelined with injuries that could be avoided.  Some athletes sit on the bench because their injury does not respond to ordinary treatment.  Still others are playing, but with limitations, simply because their muscles and joints are not working properly.  Progressive coaches, athletes, and doctors are realizing that pain-killing drugs are not the answer.  They merely cover up the symptoms, making the athlete at risk for further injury. 

I am 64 years old and I had a miracle happen in my life.  I was in a lot of pain in my lower back for many years and I didn’t know that I had two herniated discs.  One day I was looking through a magazine and I saw an advertisement for Dr. Bowne (DC) and the DRX 9000 and wondered if he would be able to help me. 

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!

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.

Imagine that you’re a patient at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. You’ve just had some tests done, and the doctor has just told you that you’re going to be here for a while. It’s noontime. Friends and family come to visit, but they can only come at certain times for a short visit. They can’t stay all day. Nurses and doctors come in and out of the room, but mainly to give you medicine or check your vitals. No one really has any time to talk because everyone is so busy. What happens when your friends and family leave? You’ve got a long day in the hospital.

If you’ve always wanted to improve your smile, but can’t handle your fear of a dentist’s chair, do we have great news for you!

The good habits of effective daily brushing, diet, and use of fluoride will help the aging person adapt to changing conditions.  Reduced salivary flow and addition of medications will affect oral health dramatically.

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.  In the morning cortisol levels in the body are high to provide the energy needed to be productive throughout the day.  During the evening and nighttime cortisol levels in the body are low.  Cortisol has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s fight or flight response to stress.