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I am well-known among family and friends for my experimentation with recipes in the kitchen. For as long as I’ve been cooking, I’ve always sought ways to improve recipes and make them healthier and better tasting for myself and others.

We all know someone that has waited for the anticipated due date to come so they can meet the child they have carried for the past nine months. But when that often-discussed due date comes and goes -- and there still is no baby to hold --some things change.

Did you know that unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s strong ultraviolet rays in as few as 15 minutes? You know that feeling – your skin starts to get warmer and warmer, and suddenly is looks redder than when you went outside. If you reach that point, it’s time to get out of the sun to avoid any more skin damage.

Unless you’ve experienced them yourself, you may not realize there are more than 10 types of migraine headaches.

Though it’s not a statistic anyone wants to hear, the stark truth is that on average, men die about five years earlier than women.

When most people hear the word “calcium,” the immediate reaction is to visualize a large glass of chilled dairy milk. For some, that may not be an appetizing way to increase the most abundant mineral in the body. Don’t worry – you can find calcium in foods like sunflower seeds, figs, edamame, tofu and even sardines.

Imagine you’re on the basketball court or soccer field. You’re moving the ball, hoping to score for your team. You make a tight pivot, twisting your knee and you feel a popping sensation and sudden sharp pain in your knee.

The numbers may seem staggering – more than 5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. While it’s a frightening number, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer.

Stroke is the leading cause of death in the U.S. behind heart disease and all forms of cancer combined. According to recent accounting, stroke kills approximately 140,000 Americans each year. If you put that into a context that we can more easily understand, that means that 1 out of every 20 deaths in our nation is attributed to stroke. 

California law allows adults 21 and older to use, carry and grow cannabis, although federal law prohibits its use. As of Jan. 1, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act details where California residents can use cannabis, how much can be possessed per individual and the penalties for illegal use.

It’s something most of us would prefer not to think about. We seem to plan so many aspects of our lives, yet we would rather avoid the issue when it comes to health care decision-making and end-of-life decisions. Few people take a proactive approach to their medical decision-making -- perhaps because getting sick is a fear for many of us, and ignoring such a thought makes it feel less likely to happen. Whatever the reason, as a medical social worker, I find that more patients don’t have an Advanced Directive than do.

Did you know that one of the most common reasons given why new mothers discontinue breastfeeding during the first few weeks is due to sore nipples? Breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt but the fact is, most mothers will experience some degree of soreness during the early stages of breastfeeding.

Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC) is now offering an Outpatient Lactation Service available to all breastfeeding mothers. Appointments may be made at Lompoc Valley Medical Center:Hospital, 1515 E. Ocean Ave. The service, by appointment, is available to all breastfeeding mothers, regardless of where the baby was delivered.

As an orthopedic surgeon, I understand that total joint replacement patients are eager to get up and start using their new knee as soon as possible. During your treatment for this major surgery, we’ll talk about how you should recover, what your range of motion will be, and how you can prevent complications while building your strength after surgery.

Nutritionists will tell you a simple truth: the foods you choose can make a difference in your life. It may sound simple, but for National Nutrition Month, learning about the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits is the main focus.