Articles

A cancer diagnosis can be devastating, regardless of the outlook. The news can also be hard on friends and family, as they struggle to figure out what they can do to help a loved one after the diagnosis. Beth Pauvlinch, who wrote about caring for her mother who lived with cancer in her book Two … Read More

I view medicine as a team effort. Doctors, nurses, technicians, and patients work together to promote and improve health. Recently some new members have joined the team: My patients’ Fitbits, phones, and watches. For years, the pessimists out there have predicted that wearable technology would lead to mass hysteria. Patients would misdiagnose themselves as having … Read More

When your grandmother suffers a devastating stroke, it is a family tragedy, but it does not necessarily make the headlines. When Luke Perry has a massive stroke at age 52, it does. Stroke remains a surprisingly common occurrence, striking someone in the United States every 40 seconds, and killing someone every 3 minutes and 45 … Read More

By all measures, Dore Gilbert was living a blessed life in 2010. Gilbert, a dermatologist, owned a successful practice in Newport Beach and treated patients at Hoag Hospital. He and his wife, Gloria, married 26 years at the time, had raised five children, including a son who was serving in the Marines. Gilbert had served … Read More

After 40 years spent golfing and running professional tournaments, Jeff Purser can track the trajectory of a title sponsor as well as any golf ball. Purser could see the mounting problems at Toshiba Corp. signaled trouble for the longtime title sponsor of the Newport Beach tournament. “It’d been a … roller coaster,” Purser said, noting … Read More

Healthgrades released its annual “America's Best Hospitals” list on Feb. 12. Hoag was recognized for the eighth consecutive year (2012-2019). For the first time, Healthgrades opted to release one consolidated list instead of two awards. In years past, the company released the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, representing the top 250 hospitals in … Read More

Studies have shown that video games and other addictions, such as alcohol and nicotine, affect neural pathways in similar ways: They all lead to an increase in dopamine levels in specific pleasure centers of the brain. While drugs increase dopamine levels far more than video games, gaming can have a similar deleterious effect of “taking … Read More

Just when you thought it was OK to play violent video games like “Carmageddon” and “Manhunt” for endless hours, nanny state thinking wants to limit your Xbox activity. But it’s not about that last-century belief that gamers might turn into violent zombies. This time, the warnings are both sobering and serious. The World Health Organization … Read More

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for women in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, there’s still a misconception that heart disease is a “man’s disease.” February is Heart Month, a perfect time to bring attention to the importance of cardiovascular health and learn more … Read More

Chris Marten of Santa Ana turned his life around after brain surgery stopped his daily seizures. This is his story: From age 18 on, I was a ticking time bomb. That year, while driving, I had an epileptic seizure. Neurons in your brain misfire, sending wild signals to muscles and nerves. I lost consciousness for … Read More