Over the last several months, Desert Healthcare District/Foundation has teamed up with teachers, students and the school principal at Bubbling Wells Elementary in Desert Hot Springs to design, create, build and fund a school garden. “Two of the District/Foundation’s areas of community health focus are healthy eating and active living,” said Herb K. Schultz, CEO… Read more »
Through the Generations
Your Health Begins at Home
- By Paula Schofield
- May/June 2018
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the indoor air pollution concentrations in our homes are typically 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor pollution levels.1 The sad part is most common pollutants in your home are from chemicals you bring in from conventional cleaning, laundry and self-care products. How often do we look at the… Read more »
Prescriptions for acid reflux in young infants and babies have risen significantly over the past decade as physicians are choosing to treat more extreme cases of ‘spitting up’ or acid reflux-induced vomiting with medication. While it is normal for a young baby or infant to regurgitate some amount of food while he or she is… Read more »
Your Emotional Legacy
- By Amy Austin, RN, Psy.D., LMFT
- March/April 2018
When we think of leaving a legacy to loved ones, we often want to ensure that our loved ones are financially secure and that every legal “t” is crossed and every “i”is dotted. We assign a power of attorney and have a health care directive signed and inserted into our medical records. What about an… Read more »
Infants and young babies with regular colic tug on our heart strings as they cry, sometimes endlessly, leaving us with few options to relieve it. Any parent with a child that has colic can become desperate to help stop the tears. Colic is most often caused by issues with poor digestion and elimination, although it… Read more »
The Emotional Impact of Bladder Disorders
- By JoAnne Lake with Julia Parker
- January/February 2018
A few years ago, despite my happy circumstances, I was enveloped in a cloud. A lovely family, loving husband, yet where was my joy? Why was I anxious? My body ached. When I ate food, I felt full and unsatisfied. I had other tell-tale signs, of course, but they crept up so gradually, I did… Read more »
You and #MeToo
- By Amy Austin, RN, Psy.D., LMFT
- January/February 2018
It’s been a long “quiet before the cultural storm” and now, a distinct shift is taking place. Barring the etiological causation, rhymes and reasons, perspectives and opinions, there exists the potentially positive development of a new norm in society coming out of the #MeToo movement. A highly observable movement of stepping outside of one’s comfort… Read more »
It is rumored that Americans gain an average of 5-7 pounds each year, and some just never lose it. To avoid the dreaded pounds this season, here are few tips to keep you slim but still allow for the pleasures of good food: Before: Keep your exercise routine. You may have a more hectic schedule… Read more »
Weighing the Health Benefits of the Flu Vaccine The flu vaccine has become a ‘must have’ in health media campaigns and conventional medical doctors’ offices. The vaccine is meant to prevent the annual flu which can cause physical discomfort, lost days at work or school, and inconvenience. These reasons alone are cause to consider an… Read more »
You Are Not Your Thoughts
- By Amy Austin, RN, Psy.D., LMFT
- November/December 2017
I have to say that I don’t think anything I’m going to share with you in this article is going to be new, unique or awe-inspiring. With this said, please forgive the negative turn my mind just took and I’ll re-frame my message into a more positive light and mindset. Here goes…With gentle compassion and… Read more »
Years ago when Desert Health’s Publisher, Lauren, lost the horse she loved, it touched memories in my heart about the departure of an equine companion. Horses rank high as the most sublime of all animals, wild and domestic. These magnificent creatures combine strength with grace. Horses became a symbol of power and royalty. I expressed… Read more »
Fertility for men and woman can be affected by a range of factors – age, lifestyle, and genetics. However, natural fertility enhancement is easily attainable with diet, nutrition, stress management, and specific nutraceutical supplements. Addressing fertility concerns can be daunting, but with a few simple changes many couples are able to conceive healthy babies without… Read more »
The adverse effects of toxic sunscreens have become a regular conversation in health and wellness magazines, blogs, and other educational forums. Sunscreens that are not specifically marketed as “made with non-toxic ingredients” are toxic. It is important to look at the quality and ingredients of sunscreens, especially for young children who are highly susceptible to… Read more »
At no period in history have we experienced the galactic environmental and social changes of today. It is a natural consequence of our evolution. The times are fascinating and challenging. It is not surprising we can feel lost, stressed, and out of date. The speed of technology, access to knowledge, and instant communication are measured… Read more »
The renowned astrophysicist, Carl Sagan, coined the expression, “The Pale Blue Planet” for our home in the vast universe. The future of our planet rests in our hands. Its health and wellness are our responsibilities. For astronauts, the view of earth is so spectacular that it can transform their perspectives on life and even draws… Read more »
On July 1, 2016, a new law signed by Governor Jerry Brown went into effect that required all children enrolled in public or private schools to have met a set number of vaccinations to attend school. This effectively removed the right of parents to personally deem their children vaccine exempt because of personal or religious… Read more »
The uncertainty of the American health care system may have a beneficial, unexpected effect: empowerment of personal responsibility. The assurance of health care for our citizens, from the most at-risk to the most affluent, is being debated by politicians and stake-holders; personally, I believe it will require dialogue and leadership that values diverse representation and… Read more »
Midwives (Doulas) Help to Ease the Way
- By Elaine Millam, Ph.D.
- May/June 2017
One of the great celebrations in our world is the anticipation of a new life being born. At the moment of birth, and the first moments thereafter, life can be filled with heightened emotions, confusing paperwork and plentiful reactions from those surrounding the new mother, father and baby. Many of us have come to see… Read more »
Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as a variable mood, anxiety, and feelings of despair and deep sadness that occur in a new mother from several days to several months after childbirth. PPD can last for months, or longer, and if untreated can affect the way a mother is able to function in her daily life,… Read more »
The key to finding time and balance is to incorporate self-care into what we are already doing. Here are a few discoveries to get you started. 1. In the kitchen, squat for anything lower than the counter top (strengthens pelvic floor muscles for men and women, improves bladder control, and sexual performance, especially after childbirth).… Read more »