When to Cut the Cord
When parents are preparing their birth plan, one of the questions often asked is about the umbilical cord. "How soon after the baby is born is the cord cut?" Waiting a few minutes after delivery to cut the umbilical cord is best for your baby's health. When your baby is born, this cord continues to function, providing your baby not only with blood and oxygen but also time - time to transition to air breathing. Delayed cord clamping also reduces the risk that your baby will have iron deficiency anemia. Just a three minute delay can boost a baby's blood volume by a third. As a result, babies with delayed clamping have better iron levels at four months of age and are far less likely to suffer newborn anemia. Researchers estimate that, for every 20 babies that we delay clamping, one case of iron deficiency could be prevented.
SCV Birth Center, Inc. 254-3000 www.reneethemidwife.com
Pyllo Anesthesia System
AND Pain During Hair Transplants
In research about hair transplant patient attitudes toward hair transplant procedures, it was recognized that clients' fear of pain was a huge factor in whether or not they decided to have a hair transplant procedure. Further, pain was the single greatest reason people did not return for a second hair transplant procedure, even though they needed it. In conjunction with leading anesthesiologists, a system of dermatophoretic induction anesthesia was developed called the Pyllo Anesthesia System to address these concerns about pain. It makes the hair transplant procedure almost completely painless. Using the Pyllo System, clients were asked to rate the pain of their hair transplant procedures on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the worst. To date, no one has rated the pain higher than a two. Many say it's painless. Consider the following actual, unedited comments on the day of his hair transplant procedure from one hair stylist: "Pain was a non-event. Maybe a 1. Under a 1. Really more like a half. I've had clients [who had procedures at places other than Hair Loss Treatment Center] tell me I should get gassed before doing the procedure. They said it hurt like heck. I haven't had any pain. It's been nothing. I can recommend my clients to you guys knowing the pain is a non-event. I'm blown away," Craig Nadel, owner of The Barber Shop.
Hair Loss Treatment Center 294-6880 www.hltcnow.com
Creating Hope and
Building Healthier Futures
Founded in 1901, Children's Hospital Los Angeles is the oldest freestanding children's hospital in California. Every aspect of the hospital's 317-bed Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion, the newest inpatient facility in the state, has been designed with families in mind. Licensed for 603 beds, Children's Hospital can care for more kids than any other pediatric hospital in the state.
From the everyday scrapes and illnesses of childhood to complex medical cases like transplants, organ failure and pediatric cancer, we treat kids better. The hospital is also home to The Saban Research Institute, one of the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States, and is one of America's premier teaching hospitals through its affiliation with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles ranks fifth in the nation on the 2012 U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll of children's hospitals - one of only 12 children's hospitals in the country, and the only one in California, to make the prestigious list. One of only 10 children's hospitals designated a "Top Hospital" for 2011 by The Leapfrog Group, the hospital is also designated a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center - an honor held by only 7 percent of hospitals nationwide.
The same expert physicians caring for children at the nationally-renowned Children's Hospital Los Angeles are now seeing patients in a new outpatient center in the Santa Clarita Valley. Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Valencia offers convenient access to a wide variety of board-certified and board-eligible pediatric specialists for initial evaluation and follow-up care in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology and oncology, imaging services, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, pediatric surgery, plastic and maxillofacial surgery, pulmonology, rheumatology and urology.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Valencia
362-1240 www.chla.org/valencia
Container Gardening and Senior Health
Gardening has long been declared by healthcare professionals as an activity that can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and alleviate depression. The physical aspects of gardening promote greater mobility as well as fine motor coordination, which is important for seniors as they grow older. Many people think of gardens in terms of large, dirt-filled plots of land, which may be inappropriate for most seniors. However, gardening in containers of various shapes and sizes has become the trend. People of all ages grow shrubs, flowers, trees and even herbs and vegetables in containers rather than planting them in the ground. Container gardens are more manageable for those who have limited time and space, but who enjoy the aspects of gardening. Container gardening is perfect for seniors, as it requires less strenuous work, while offering the health benefits of spending time outside as well as the colorful fruits of one's labor. When helping seniors shop for container gardening supplies it is important to choose items conducive to the senior's outdoor space and appropriate for their physical abilities.
Comfort Keepers 287-4200 www.comfortkeepers.com
Study Finds Nearly Half of
People with Stroke Symptoms Not Calling 911
In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center said their research highlights the need for even more education about strokes. According to Dr. Hooman Kamel, "People do not always recognize the seriousness of stroke symptoms, or instead of calling 911, they may call their primary care physician for an appointment and lose valuable time as the damage becomes irreversible." The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says a 911 call should be made if any of these symptoms are experienced: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; sudden, severe headache with no known cause. "We have drugs and surgeries that can minimize brain damage from a stroke,'' says Dr. Kamal, "but they can be used only within a few short hours to be truly effective."
Home Instead Senior Care for Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valleys 254-8701 www.homeinstead.com/618
Antelope Valley Hospital
Receives Stroke Achievement Award
Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines -Stroke Bronze Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes AVH's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally-accepted standards and recommendations. To receive the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Bronze Quality Achievement Award, AVH consistently followed the treatment guidelines in the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program for 90 days. These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
Antelope Valley Hospital 949-5000 www.avhospital.org
$500 Down for Traditional Braces for Teens
Improve your child's confidence and health by investing in their oral care. Right now, Valencia Dental Arts is offering traditional braces for teens for only $500 down, on approved credit. Call for details.
Valencia Dental Arts 799-9989 www.valenciadentalarts.com
Oral Health for "Back to School"
When preparing your checklist for back to school, make sure your child visits their dentist for a routine oral health examination. Second to the common cold, tooth decay is the most prevalent childhood disease. It accounts for many hours of school time lost each year and is one of the biggest health issues among our children. A chronic dental problem can lead to difficulty in eating, speaking and concentrating in school. Routine dental exams can help find cavities when they are small and easier to treat. This can prevent future painful, chronic problems that require more time and money to fix. As we require children to wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of bacteria, frequent flossing and brushing can help minimize the bacteria that cause tooth decay. So be sure to schedule your child's dental check-up before their calendar is filled up with after-school activities and homework.
Everbright Family Dentistry 296-3300 www.everbrightfamilydentistry.com
Exercise is Key to Prevent
AND Control Type 2 Diabetes
What is insulin resistance? It's when insulin is not able to lower blood glucose as it should primarily because the receptors in the muscle and fat cells for insulin are no longer sensitive to the insulin.
Many studies have shown that exercise is key to preventing or controlling Type 2 diabetes but that can be challenging to squeeze in during the day for some. Strong evidence has also found that "unplanned" activity is also very helpful, especially for those who have sedentary jobs. This type of activity can be taking the stairs instead of the elevator. One study done at a university hospital setting found employees who took the stairs increased maximal aerobic capacity by 9 percent while lowering LDL cholestrol, BMI and blood pressure. A little exercise a day can really go a long way. If you need help getting started with your exercise program, see a personal fitness trainer.
Total Woman Gym & Day Spa 286-0229 www.totalwomanspa.com/valencia
Adrenal Fatigue is the
21st-century Stress Syndrome
Adrenal fatigue is very often the cause of a patient feeling run down and tired; it is usually attributed to a hectic lifestyle and is underdiagnosed. The causes of adrenal fatigue is some kind of stress: physical, emotional, psychological, environmental, infectious or a combination of these. Adrenal fatigue is associated with many symptoms. Do you often need to use coffee, colas and other stimulants to get through the day? Is your fatigue not relieved by sleep? In more serious cases it may be difficult to get out of bed. Some of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue are: feeling tired for no reason; having trouble getting up in the morning even with adequate sleep; feeling rundown or overwhelmed; having difficulty bouncing back from stress or illness; craving sweet or salty foods; feeling more awake, alert and energetic after 6 p.m. than in the morning; weight gain for no apparent reason. There are some diseases that are associated with having an adrenal component, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic and recurrent respiratory infections, Lupus and many autoimmune disorders. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis. Then, have hope! Compassionate treatment is available.
GYN Center for Women 284-6997
Henry Mayo NICU Now Open
Henry Mayo's first-ever neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is now open and serving families.The new 4,400-square-foot Level II NICU includes 11 infant beds, and two of those rooms are allocated for multiple births. All of the NICU rooms will include special neonatal beds, space for families and state-of-the-art monitoring systems. The NICU is led by a board-certified neonatologist and a team of nationally-certified nurses who will oversee the specialized care and monitoring of our tiny patients. These experts, in collaboration with respiratory care specialists, social workers, pharmacists and occupational therapists, will provide a full continuum of care and support for newborns and their parents. The completion of the state-of-the-art facility, funded in part by a generous donation from Kim and Steven Ullman, is an important part of the hospital's expansion plan as they grow to serve the community. The new unit solidifies Santa Clarita as a destination of choice for young families and strengthens our entire community by keeping mothers, fathers and their newborns together at a most critical time.
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital www.henrymayo.com