
Blog
Lompoc Valley Medical Center's publishes health news, personal stories and expert advice meant to guide and inspire healthy diets, relationships and lives.

The Signs and Symptoms of Dysphagia
Many medical conditions can result in Dysphagia, including stroke, dementia, respiratory illness, and more.

Snoring in Children
It may be a bit unsettling for parents to hear the sounds of snoring coming from the bedroom of a small child. While there’s often no need to worry about snoring that happens occasionally, parents might want to listen in for more frequent or severe snoring. That can be the sign of a problem and disturbed breathing during your child’s sleep.

Cheer for Your Team – Safely
If you’re getting ready to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday, be sure to follow simple tips to reduce your chances of getting or spreading COVID-19.

Learn about Rheumatoid Arthritis
Though February 2 is widely known as Groundhog Day, a group of people suffering from autoimmune and inflammatory disease also mark the date. The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation created Rheumatoid Awareness Day on Feb. 2 each year, to raise awareness for the people who daily live with the pain and side effects of the disease.

Understanding Glaucoma and Your Risk Factors
Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for people older than 60 – but it can often be prevented with early awareness and treatment. Glaucoma damages the eye’s optic nerve when fluid builds up in the front part of the eye. The extra fluid adds pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 3 million Americans have glaucoma, and it’s the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Glaucoma can also occur in one or both eyes.

Your Thyroid - A Tiny Yet Powerful Gland
It’s hard to imagine a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland being such a powerful force in our bodies. But the thyroid gland is just that – a critical link that controls many of the body’s major functions.

How Vaccines Work
Vaccines are essential to achieving herd immunity and can protect people of all ages against dangerous, deadly, and contagious diseases and infections.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare – and at Home
The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic presented everyone, including LVMC, with an unprecedented set of circumstances. Everyone – from healthcare to education to commerce — had to react without the benefit of prior experience. To say that Covid-19 has impacted healthcare delivery in the U.S. would be a complete understatement.

Marijuana Exposure and Your Baby
Marijuana use while breastfeeding may cause long-term child development issues for a baby.

Collect and Share Your Family Health History
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new look for many families celebrating Thanksgiving this year. With health experts suggesting avoidance of large, in-person gatherings, many families will instead celebrate “Zoomsgiving” using the popular video conferencing platform or other social distance means to visit with one another.

Talking Turkey About Safe Food Preparation
Though many people complain about the feeling of being “as stuffed as a turkey,” overeating isn’t likely to land you in the Emergency Department on Thanksgiving. It’s more likely you could end up needing medical care for a common accident such as slicing your finger while carving the turkey, or burning your hand while pouring gravy.

What to Know About Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
In the US, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. For those of African descent, the number is more startling — 1 in 5 men are projected to develop the disease.

Quitting Smoking Is Hard But Worth It
Lung cancer comes from many different sources that can trigger a mutation. Some sources come from the environment, such as exposure to Radon. Some sources are byproducts of fossil fuels. Some come from smoking cigars, cigarettes, and second-hand smoke. Knowing your surroundings and keeping your distance from potential carcinogens can help reduce the risk of contracting many different forms of cancer.

Healing Heartburn: More Important than You Think
When most people get concerned about their health, they tend to think about their risk of acquiring high blood pressure or diabetes as examples. They may focus on the potential for having a heart attack or stroke. These concerns are appropriate and justified, however, there is likely a disease that is just as common and being overlooked completely.

The Link between COVID-19 and Obesity
The COVID-19 global pandemic has been taxing on all of us. By the time of writing this, approximately 10 million Americans have been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and 238,000 have lost their lives. And to make matters worse, beyond the immediate health impact of this virus, one cannot ignore the socioeconomic consequences. 7.5 million small businesses have become at-risk for closing, and 22 million Americans have lost their jobs.