Medical

Dr. Dana Lavian and Dr. Leslie G. Levy are members of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons with offices in Valencia and Northridge.  They remind residents with diabetes that following simple foot care tips can reduce their risk of toe, foot or leg amputations.

Mark, 38, was shocked at his check-up to find out he was prediabetic. The news brought back memories to him of his father’s own diabetes, which ultimately caused blindness and a partial foot amputation. His healthcare provider told him that losing a few pounds could potentially help stave off the disease, and by making a few lifestyle changes; this did prove to be the case for him.

Nearly two-thirds of all breast cancer patients in the United States are treated at community hospitals as opposed to larger teaching institutions. Yet few studies have ever been done comparing the care and outcomes in these settings.
Now, a seven-year study on breast-conserving surgery at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, appearing this month in the The Breast Journal, reports high-quality patient outcomes, comparable to large teaching institutions, can be achieved in the community setting.

Our minds and bodies function optimally in homeostasis (a state of balance).  The biggest threat to our well-being is stress.  We all feel stress in our lives and a certain amount of it is actually healthy.  However, when we feel imbalanced and overwhelmed, stress becomes destructive permeating all areas of our life.  Stress constricts our arteries, increases our blood pressure and blood sugar, causes muscular tension and discomfort, causes our adrenal glands to overact and become fatigued, it can induce unhealthy habits such as overeating, overworking, smoking, etc.  Stress affects our physical energy, our mental focus, our ability to deal with others, and our sleep patterns to name a few. 

In the fast-growing business of home healthcare, Accessible Home Care has made quite an impact on the Northwest Los Angeles area.  Accessible Home Healthcare has been providing home healthcare nationally for nine years and has been growing ever since.
Accessible has considerable experience in home care and working with seniors as well as those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

I received many phone calls after the segments discussing hormone replacement therapy were aired on the Oprah show.  Each woman is unique and there isn’t a “one size fits all” answer.
Menopause is a time for a woman to focus on herself.  Many of us have been busy for many years focusing on others.  Menopause is “our time” to really listen to our bodies and make adjustments to be more in balance.

The vertebrae of the spinal column are separated by disks made of cartilage.  Each disk has a strong outer layer and a softer inner part that acts as a shock absorber to cushion the vertebrae during movement.  If the disk degenerates, for example following an injury or with aging, the inner part of the disk can bulge or rupture through the outer layer (herniated disk).  The ruptured inner part of the disk can compress or irritate a nerve root and may even injure it.

The surgery day is all about you: your comfort and your health.  Once your doctor marks you, you will be taken to the operating room and you will gently fall asleep until the surgery is completed.  The doctor will utilize a special cauterizing device to create the space under the pectoralis muscle with the least risk of bleeding.  This is done under direct vision when the periareolar or inframammary incision is utilized.  When the axillary incision is utilized, a video camera is required to visualize the surgery on a closed circuit television.  This actually magnifies the view, allowing the doctor to more precisely cauterize blood vessels, minimizing bruising and, therefore, post-operative pain.  Your surgery typically takes between one and one and a half hours to complete.  You will awaken in the recovery room in minimal to no discomfort.

It’s the beginning of the year, and we are all organizing our schedules.  Our children take top priority!  It is the perfect time to get their teeth cleaned and examined.  We have noticed that there are a lot of questions regarding children’s dental care.  Let’s see if we can answer them.

• A child’s first dental appointment should be between 1 to 2 years old.  This first appointment should be easy and fun!  We show them our “Mr. Slurpy” straw, tooth mirror, squirt gun, and count their teeth.  The goal is to make this a stress-free visit where they leave with a positive feeling of accomplishment.

The next time you feel like you’ve endured a long day at work, think about the following description of a “typical day” for Joanne, one of the millions of Americans, known as “The Sandwich Generation,” who are caring for an elderly parent or loved one, while also caring for their own children and family:

Breast reduction traditionally has been performed by cutting away excess breast tissue and strategically preserving enough tissue to supply blood to the remaining breast including the nipple and areola.  But because large breasts usually have an abundance of fatty tissue, a relatively new approach is to reduce breast size by liposuction.
One advantage of liposuction compared to traditional breast reduction is that it involves virtually no scarring because the liposuction instrument can be introduced through two or three tiny incisions.  Another benefit of removing fat by suction rather than by excision is that there is less chance of losing blood supply to the nipple and areola.  And because liposuction is quicker and easier than traditional breast reduction, the cost is less and recovery easier.

More than 80 percent of us at some point in our lives will be affected by acne.  To better treat acne, first we have to understand acne. 
Acne is caused by infected oil glands.  Normally the oil glands provide necessary moisture to the outer layer of the skin by covering the skin with a fine layer of oil called sebum, but when this oil becomes too thick and sticky, it cannot be efficiently discharged through the pores.  When this occurs the sebum begins to accumulate under the skin at the base of the hair follicle where it hardens restricting the natural flow of oil.  This hardened sebum is a great place for bacteria to accumulate causing an infection.  The hardening of the sebum is often caused by normal hormone level variations as occurs in teenagers and with menstrual cycle changes.

While studying about shoulder aches, I discovered that TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint, or simply, the jaw) plays a large role in overall health.  An unbalanced TMJ causes pain in many different body parts including the shoulders.  With the knowledge of TMJ’s importance in keeping a healthy and pain-free body, I went to Korea to learn how to fix the problems that have to do with the unbalance of TMJ.

Our society promotes uniformity.  When we’re different, we fear negative judgment by others, so we hide our differences.  What happens when we recognize that we need help, but fear exposing those differences?  Do we face our fears or avoid the help?  People ask me whether what they’re doing is right or normal.  I ask them whether it works for them.  If they say yes, then I confirm that what they’re doing is perfectly fine.  If they say no, then I’ll help them to explore other alternatives that might be more effective for them.  It isn’t my place to judge people based on either my standards or societal standards. 

Spring is early this year and so is the allergy season.  The trees have started budding and there has been an explosion of pollen.  We have 35 species of evergreens, 60 species of oak, olive, eucalyptus, sycamore and box elder trees all pollinating in this area.  Include into that equation grass pollens and spring flowers coming into bloom and you have the prime allergy season.  Even people without allergies are sneezing because of increased particulates in the air, being blown everywhere by the wind.  Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, coughing and sinus headaches are the cardinal symptoms and main complaints of patients who suffer from allergies.

In my previous article, I discussed braces and what tooth problems braces can correct such as crooked or crowded teeth, uneven spacing due to missing teeth, overbites or underbites, incorrect jaw position, and disorders of the jaw joints.
Your dentist can provide a detailed treatment plan for you including diagnosis, examinations, and some orthodontic procedures.  During the period of bracing, the interconnecting wires are tightened at each visit, bearing mild pressure on the brackets or bands to shift teeth or jaws gradually into a desired position. 

“When first diagnosed with cancer I was scared and very apprehensive about talking. I’m so glad I took that first step. With weSPARK I have found a close-knit family with support, comfort and care. With so many diverse classes and support groups, weSPARK has given me hope!” 

FDA-approved Latisse 0.03 percent a new topical drug conveniently packaged for a 30-day supply.  Each 30-day supply consists of 60 single use sterile applicators manufactured by the cosmetic/plastic surgery titan Allergan Corporation based in Irvine, California.  The product is easily applied to the upper lash line and can begin to produce noticeable thickening, darkening as well as increased lash length of the upper lash line for which it was approved in approximately eight to 10 weeks with full results usually achieved by 16 to 18 weeks.  Sometime this spring, Allergan Corporation will release this product by prescription only.