Blog

The Lompoc Valley Medical Center Board Room was named Thursday in honor of outgoing Board President Raymond F. Down Jr. Mr. Down served on the Board of Directors for 47 years.

We asked some our staff "What is a special or unique December holiday tradition in your family?” Our Outreach Coordinator Karen Ortiz had this to say:

Don't take your lungs for granted. They are essential for life even if you don't think about them. That's why it is crucial to prioritize your lung health. These helpful recommendations can help you breathe easier and keep your lungs healthy.

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.

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.

This week our CEO updates the Lompoc community about Covid Vaccines, Covid Positive Hospitalized Patients, Tier Status Figures, and this year's Flu Season. 

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.

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.

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. 

This week our CEO updates the Lompoc community about the new Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Lompoc Covid-19 Workgroup, Lompoc Valley Covid Cases, California Covid Mortality Trend, and Covid Positive Hospitalized Patients.

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.

Physicians at Lompoc Health North — H Center and Lompoc Health — North Third Center are taking a special pledge to prescribe antibiotics only when it is deemed medically necessary for patients. 

Diabetes is a disease of altered insulin secretion and or peripheral resistance that results in hyperglycemia, or abnormally high blood glucose. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common health problem worldwide. In the United States, 8 percent of the population-- or 17.9 million -- people have been diagnosed with DM.  Despite such high numbers, the disease is under-diagnosed and it is estimated that 5.4 million people have undiagnosed diabetes. It is important to learn about diabetes, as it is estimated that 182,000 deaths annually are attributed to diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Epilepsies are a group of neurological (central nervous system) disorders in which brain activity becomes disrupted or abnormal to cause symptoms including seizures, loss of consciousness, and temporary paralysis. Epilepsy affects an estimated 3.4 million people in the U.S.—13.8% of whom are children. Living with epilepsy can be difficult, given a seizure can happen at any time. However, epilepsies can be successfully managed and treated using medications, surgery, and a number of proven therapies. 

Dear Lompoc Valley Community:

What happened on this date in history?

1869 – The first U.S. college football game was played: Rutgers 6; Princeton 4.
1947 - NBC's "Meet the Press" debuted—the United States’ longest-running TV show.
1968 - Richard Nixon won a close contest for president over Hubert Humphrey and became the 37th president of the United States.