"WVMC Voices" by Zac Woodruff
When Your Throat Hurts
November 13, 2019
Sore throats – sometimes they are caused by a simple cold, sometimes allergies, and other times dry air. They could be a symptom of the viral flu or even bacterial infection, like strep. Mine started to hurt on Tuesday morning. I woke up to the familiar, weird little tickle feeling in...
read moreOrgan Donation Saves Lives
November 13, 2019
Today, approximately 75,000 people in the United States are waiting for a life-saving organ. However, there are only around 8,000 deceased organ donors each year providing on average 3.5 organs. Living donors provide an average of around 6,000 organs per year (CDC, 2019). The most commonly donated organs are the heart,...
read moreLet’s Talk About Measles
November 13, 2019
On Friday, January 18, a public health emergency was declared in Clark County related to 19 confirmed measles cases in Washington State. Additionally, there are also five more suspected cases waiting on test results. Of the 19 confirmed cases, 16 had not been vaccinated and it is unclear if the other...
read moreDad, What’s Lupus?
November 13, 2019
A couple of nights ago, we were all eating at the dinner table when out of nowhere my son says, “dad, what’s lupus?” I was surprised that he asked about lupus. “Why do you ask son, where did you hear about lupus?” One of his friends at school was telling him at...
read moreTell Me About Pacemakers
November 13, 2019
We do pacemakers all the time. It seems like every morning, somebody is heading off to the cath lab to get a pacemaker. In fact, every year in the United States, between 200,000 and 300,000 people end up getting pacemakers. Perhaps someone in your family has one? Or maybe even you do? Most...
read moreHeart Valves & Surgery
November 13, 2019
Earlier this week, Arnold Schwarzenegger had emergency heart valve surgery and also a dear member of our WVMC family underwent valve replacement surgery as well. Every year, about 5 million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease and over 100,000 heart valve surgeries take place in the United States. Many of...
read moreWhy High Blood Pressure is So Dangerous
November 13, 2019
If you push on something with more force than it can take, you’ll move it. If you put too much pressure on something, it will break. These are basic laws of physics and this is perhaps the most important aspect of high blood pressure that you need to understand. When your...
read moreAngioedema…Act Immediately!
November 13, 2019
It was around 2pm on Saturday. I had just eaten a few bites of yogurt (I threw it out because it tasted gross) and an apple, when all of a sudden something happened. I noticed that my lips began to feel weird. I have many food sensitivities, so I’m used to...
read moreQuitting Pop & My First 4 Days with Black Coffee
November 13, 2019
I drink way too much diet soda. I know this. I don’t want to go into numbers or amounts, just believe me when I tell you it’s too much. For the longest time I’ve been wanting to quit diet soda. I just think long term it’s not a wise health decision...
read moreDo You Understand Your Blood Pressure?
November 13, 2019
Every time you go to the doctor they take your blood pressure when you arrive. Come to the hospital, we monitor your blood pressure throughout your stay. Go to the pharmacy to pick up your prescriptions and while you wait you can check your blood pressure at that little stand. Blood...
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