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

Shingles and Shingrix, Everything People Need to Know
Nearly 1 million people get shingles each year in the United States, and almost 1 out of 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime. You can get it at almost any age, but it is more common in older adults. In most cases, shingles last anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Want to know more about shingles and how you can prevent it? Read on to learn more about this common health condition and how to protect yourself.

Knowing the Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
Skin malignancies are the most common cancers in the United States. They are responsible for more than half of all new cancer cases. With those kinds of statistics, you may want to know when should a simple mole or brown spot become worrisome? With longer summer days and the lure of gardening or simple walks in the sun, here are some tips to guide you.

Routine vaccinations important, even during COVID-19
Just a few months ago, the Centers for Disease Control reported that the number of routine childhood vaccinations was dropping because parents were not returning to their doctors for well-child visits due to fears of contracting COVID-19.

Wearing a Mask Helps Fight the Spread of Coronavirus
The arrival of the novel coronavirus has introduced a cascade of concerns into modern-day society. At the forefront of these concerns is how to keep yourself safe while trying to navigate the new landscape of the world.

Use a Simple Self-Exam to Find Signs of Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of one or both testicles. It is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 34 years, and it can usually be cured.

Importance of Proper Hand Hygiene
“Wash your hands before eating dinner!” is something many of us grew up hearing from our parents. We may have grumbled, but we learned from an early age the importance of washing our hands. But what we may not have learned is exactly why hand hygiene is so important.

Maintaining Your Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
With the appearance of the novel coronavirus at the end of 2019, daily life began to change for many people around the globe. For some communities, these changes were gradual, but for others, they were more rapid. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continued to spread, and the COVID-19 pandemic landed on our shores, it completely disrupted our daily routines. The current pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of life for many Americans, including access to medical care. Unfortunately, many Americans have become ill with a COVID-19 infection, and many more may become ill in the future.

Are You Hiding Depression?
What may begin as one bad day, turns into several in a row. And a month or two later, you may realize that those “sometimes blues” have started to become your new normal. Depression can come and go, or it can hit you all at once like a freight train. It’s really different for everyone.

7 Ways to Lower your Risk of Heart Disease
There are many things that can raise your risk for heart disease. Some of them you cannot control, but there are many that you can control. Healthy lifestyle choices can lower your risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Exercising: 3 Essentials for Seniors
Exercise is important for good health at any age. Exercise can help maintain proper body weight and help regulate blood glucose and insulin levels to make the body more efficient.

Medication Use and COVID-19
As the world scrambles to contain COVID-19, a lot of information – and misinformation – is spread throughout the news and social media sites. There has been much published regarding the ways in which we can combat COVID-19, from drugs we can use for treatment (new or old), drugs we should not use, and vaccines that are being developed. There have also been assertions regarding over-the-counter remedies. Our goal is to relay evidence-based data we have available at the time of this publication and clear up some of the confusion. This is a fluid situation; the data is constantly being refined and recommendations can change on a daily, if not hourly, basis.

Answers for Expectant Mothers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
I know this is a stressful time, when instead of focusing on this joyful time before the delivery of your baby, you may have concerns or fears related to the Coronavirus pandemic. Please be assured that the OB staff at LVMC are dedicated to providing you with the best support we can during this hard time.

COVID-19: Pregnancy and Postpartum
Parents are likely experiencing a significant increase in pressure and concern while pregnant or caring for a newborn during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID and Diabetes in Latinos
COVID-19/Coronavirus is a new and serious threat to everyone, including seniors, but especially Hispanic/Latino people with type 2 diabetes if their blood sugars are high.
Fortunately, all of us can take simple steps to reduce our risk of catching COVID-19 and, if someone with diabetes develops COVID-19, there are important, practical steps to take immediately.
This website includes information in Spanish and English on what Hispanic/Latino people with diabetes should know and do about COVID-19.
Visit www.LatinoDiabetes.net and share this resource with your firends and family.

Getting Your Household Ready for COVID-19
As the nation continues to learn more about the Coronavirus and its health-related impacts, the Centers for Disease Control is urging households to prepare for outbreaks in their own communities.