Monthly archive

Winter coats worn in car seat pose hidden danger

Parents are learning of a risk they may unknowingly be taking every time they buckle their baby or toddler into a car seat wearing a winter coat, as a national news story is catching quite a bit of attention. In this demonstration video shown on NBC’s Today Show, a child wearing a thick winter coat becomes a projectile object in the car during a collision.

Better hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of the flu

There is no getting around: we are in the throes of flu season. You may already have a friend or family member who has come down with something unpleasant by now. It can be hard to avoid getting sick, but proper hand washing and other hygiene techniques can help prevent the spread of the flu from one person to another.

Robotic Surgery Successfully Removes Stomach Cancer

Reynaldo Ramirez, 63, remembers the day his wife, Emelina, turned to him and said, “Let’s get healthy!” Together, they changed their diet and began exercising. Within six months Reynaldo says he lost 45 pounds and got down to 200 pounds. “When I went in for my annual checkup, I expected to pass with flying colors,” he says. However, blood work revealed low hemoglobin and hematocrit (H&H) levels, because his last coloscopy was four years ago, Dr.

Why Movember is Important to Men’s Health

By now you have probably heard of Movember – where men in November collectively grow a mustache for the entire month. Maybe a couple of your good friends have grown a mustache, like some of our beloved male staff members, such as Dr. Vuong, Eric Anderson R.N. in ICU and several others.

November is National Diabetes Month - some food for thought

If you’re like most of us, you probably get inundated with health information all the time from your social media feeds, your local news outlets, your family, your friends… The list goes on. Diabetes turns into just another health topic that gets drowned out in the statistical noise.

Miracle workers at the Lovelace Women's Hospital NICU

When Lindsey Souders went into labor, her daughter Tegan was born with meconium aspiration, which is a condition in which a newborn inhales feces while still in the uterus. This serious condition led to Tegan having an infection in her lungs, hypertension, swelling and pneumonia — all in the first few days of her life.

Tegan spent seven weeks in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) at Lovelace Women’s Hospital. Luckily, the doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to help Tegan make a full recovery. “It was Dr.

DAISY Foundation Awards Provide Recognition to Extraordinary Nurses at Lovelace

We all know that nurses have a difficult job, but we may not be aware just how difficult it is until we have had to spend hours, days or even weeks in the care of a nurse. Many nurses go above and beyond the call of duty to make their patients feel like family, providing specialized care and taking note of emotional or spiritual needs that may not be listed in their patients’ charts. The experience that a patient and his or her family have with a nurse can completely change their entire hospital experience.

Reducing Pain after Gallbladder Surgery

As many as 20 million Americans suffer from pain caused by gallstones, which form when there is a chemical imbalance in the gallbladder. Though health care providers are not exactly sure why some people develop gallstones and others do not, there are a number of causes including obesity, pregnancy, a high-fat diet and family history, to name a few. While some people may experience no symptoms of gallstones, when the gallstone inflames the gallbladder it can be very painful and even lead to infection.

What nutrients are we really getting from our meats?

The consensus on meat-eating in terms of its affects on health never seems to be clear. Some folks decide never to eat it; some only eat certain kinds of meat and some opt not to think about it and just eat anything. We decided to ask our resident dietician Teresa Anderson, CDE once and for all: what do we need to know about eating meat?

“When we purchase meat we are generally thinking protein,” she told us.

Sleeve Revision at Lovelace Bariatrics

Berna Woods, 58, is a proud grandmother, but as much as she wanted to get down on the ground or chase around her giggling grandchildren, she knew she couldn’t be as involved as she had wanted. “I was on the floor playing with them and I couldn’t get up,” Berna recalls. “I slipped and sprained my wrist. I realized I needed to lose weight.” Looking back, Berna admits there were other moments she felt her weight was holding her back, like the mission trip to Thailand in 2007.

A miracle five-months in the making at the NICU

The neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) is truly a place where miracles happen. Nobody ever wants to have a baby in the NICU, but if we do, we need to know we are in good hands. We are more than proud of our staff at the NICU at Lovelace Women’s Hospital, where stories like Rebecca and Gunner Mitchell’s remind us just how miraculous a NICU can be.

The Mitchells were pregnant with twins, and when Rebecca’s water broke at 23 weeks, she was put on bed rest for two weeks.

2015 Nursing in Excellence Awards

Congratulations to these Lovelace nurses on their nomination for the 2015 Nursing in Excellence awards!

Maria Atencio
Mgmt/Emerging Leader
Lovelace Medical Center

Candice Bethoney
Medical-Surgical
Lovelace Women's Hospital

Keeping Halloween candy a treat rather than a habit

Halloween is almost here, and with that comes an overload of candy. While we still want our children to enjoy this holiday, the gluttony of candy is nearly inevitable. Do you ever wonder what a candy binge eating can do to your child? Here is what our resident dietician Teresa Anderson, CDE has to say.

“Certainly eating handfuls of Halloween candy for three days straight is really not something I’m happy with, but if your kids are healthy it’s not my biggest concern. They are probably going to be fine the one time.

Nurse shares decision to have weight loss surgery

Vikky Donaldson, RN, has worked in health care with Johns Hopkins University at the Center for American Indian Health for 14 years. More than just caring for patients, through her work in pediatric vaccine research, she has been able to affect the health of people around the world. “It is a very rewarding and exciting job,” she says. Yet, when it came to her own health, Vikky admits she has struggled with her weight her entire life. “I’m a very good dieter.

Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day in health care

Tuesday, October 13 was Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Lovelace is considered to be the first computer programmer, as she worked with a friend, Charles Babbage, on his “Analytical Engine” in 1842, and essentially wrote “programs” for the machine. Few people know that what is now considered to be a male-dominated field was technically pioneered by a woman.

5 tips to reduce your chances of developing breast cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s estimated that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Although we may not be able to completely prevent breast cancer, the risk can at least be reduced. Here’s how:

Physical activity - Healthy, physical activity is great for a lot reasons – heart, lungs, metabolism – and yes, even in reducing breast cancer risk.

How do you stay motivated in your weight loss journey?

“This is a big issue and all of us have been there,” says Lovelace Bariatrics Director Dr. Duc Vuong. “Before we know it, we’re off track.” The journey to a healthier life is not always an easy one. Yes, you’ve made the decision to make healthier decisions and yes, you were successful the first day, maybe the first week or even first month. But old habits die hard, right? It’s why we keep going back to old ways and therefore get the old results we’ve dealt with time and time again. To help get us back on track, Dr.

Dr. Vuong’s Tips on Mindful Eating

We live in a fast-paced world. Convenience is king and when it comes to eating, fast tends to win over more times than healthy. Whether than means grabbing a snack at your desk, in the car or while watching your favorite show on television, you may not be fully aware of what or how much you are eating. However, Lovelace Bariatrics Director Dr. Duc Vuong says doing that over and over again forms a bad habit that can affect our waistlines and overall health.

5 Reasons We Need Diabetes Education

Diabetes is something nobody wants to have. However, there is good treatment for diabetes if you actively manage it. The best way to fight diabetes or pre-diabetes is to be educated on the subject. Our resident dietician Teresa Anderson, CDE teaches regular classes on diabetes self-management.

What is a STEMI?

Maria Atencio the CP/STEMI Manager of Heart Hospital of New Mexico @ Lovelace Medical Center answers an important question we should all know about STEMI. If you or a loved one are in experiencing heart trouble, know what to look for and what to do.

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