Health and Wellness Newsletter | Penn Medicine

5 tips to prevent heart disease

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

February is National Heart Month. Heart disease, the number one killer of adult men and women in the United States, includes coronary artery disease, arrhythmias and congenital heart disease. Despite its prevalence, there are ways to reduce the risk for heart disease. In fact, the best defense against heart disease is a commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle. Take these steps to help prevent...

Capturing a More Accurate Picture of Breast Health

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

It’s a revolutionary way to perform mammograms: combining traditional mammography with 3D technology to give a more accurate picture of breast health. It’s called digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and it’s being used for breast cancer screening and diagnosis at Penn. DBT captures images using traditional X-ray technology moving along a small arc around the breast and recording images at...

Treatment Options for Urinary Incontinence

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

The loss of bladder control is a common and embarrassing problem for many women, but it’s actually very common, affecting women of all ages. Symptoms of urinary incontinence can range from leaking urine when coughing, sneezing or exercising to the sudden urge to urinate. Some women also experience pelvic pressure, which can signal a variety of bladder or pelvic conditions and should be...

Meet Your Weight Loss Goals in the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:15:00 +0000

For people struggling with excess weight, the new year is a fresh opportunity to meet their weight loss goals. There are a variety of options available, and it is important that each individual finds a weight loss solution tailored to their unique needs and provides the tools and support structure to help them succeed. For patients with morbid obesity, generally defined as being 100 pounds or...

Take a Deep Breath and Quit Smoking Comfortably this Holiday Season

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:15:00 +0000

Smoking causes nearly one in five deaths every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, it significantly increases the risk for lung cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease. While more than 46 million American adults are smokers, approximately 70 percent want to quit. “Smoking is more than a dirty habit,” says Frank Leone, MD, MS,...

PennCare for Kids Doctors Agree: HPV Vaccine Benefits Boys, Too

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:15:00 +0000

Doctors are now encouraging boys to get the same human papiloma virus (HPV) vaccine as girls, based on the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past, only girls between the ages of 11 and 26 were encouraged to receive the vaccine. The vaccine can prevent several types of HPV infection and reduce the girls’ risk of developing cervical, vulvar and...

Shoulder Replacement Surgery May Combat Arthritic Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Is your painful shoulder slowing you down this holiday season? For those suffering from arthritic pain, everyday tasks that used to be easy can become increasingly difficult and painful. When non-operative treatments such as medications and physical therapy fail, orthopaedic specialists at Penn’s Shoulder and Elbow Service may suggest that patients consider shoulder replacement...

Don’t Miss a Beat: Announcing the Penn Heart and Vascular Update Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:15:00 +0000

The Penn Heart and Vascular Update blog provides up-to-date information on the collaborative efforts of Penn cardiovascular specialists to advance patient care, education and research. The blog covers a variety of topics including upcoming educational events in the community, new clinical trials and breakthrough research, along with information on new physicians to the Penn Medicine...

Seven Tips for Eating Healthy During the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:12:00 +0000

Holidays can derail even the most dedicated healthy eaters. The good news, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is that holiday weight gain is usually only around one pound. The bad news, the study found, is most study participants did not lose that extra weight after the holidays. The important thing to remember is that maintaining a healthy weight is a...

Penn Medicine Wants You to Stay Healthy: Get Your Flu Shot Today!

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone six months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu as soon the 2011-2012 vaccine becomes available. “Every flu season, different flu viruses develop and spread,” says Charles Schwartz, MD, PennCare® for Kids. “The flu can affect people...

November is American Diabetes Month

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

November is American Diabetes Month and it is a great time to learn about this disease and its impact. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 26 million adults and children in the United States have diabetes. If recent trends continue, one in three adults may have diabetes by the year 2050. This is particularly alarming given that the U.S. currently spends $116 billion each year...

myPennMedicine: Giving Patients Access to their Online Medical Records

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Penn Medicine patients now have access to their online medical records through myPennMedicine. Currently, Penn Medicine is the only health system in the region to offer patients this online health management tool. It gives patients the ability to submit routine requests for prescription refills, referrals or appointments as well as view lab results, medication lists and health summaries without...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Learn about your Risk

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:18:00 +0000

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although the incidence rates for breast cancer have decreased in the past several years, it is one of the most common cancers among women. The good news is that with early detection and treatment advances, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. On Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center presents the Penn Women’s Cancer...

Walk with Penn Medicine to Support Awareness of Heart Disease and Stroke

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:14:00 +0000

Penn Medicine supports the American Heart Association's 2011 Heart Walk, to be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at Citizens Bank Park. This year, Penn Medicine's team challenge is to recruit the most walkers for the Philadelphia-based walk and raise funds to aid in the fight against heart disease and stroke, the number one and four leading causes of death in the U.S. Participate in the 5K walk...

Meet Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD, Director of Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD, has joined Penn Medicine as director of Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center and director of the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute. Over the course of his illustrious career, Dr. Dang has distinguished himself as a highly effective clinical researcher as well as a preeminent scholar and educator in the fields of cancer cell biology, molecular biology and genetics. “I feel...

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – New Treatment Advances at Penn

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:15:00 +0000

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian cancer affects 1 in 57 women in the United States and two thirds of those diagnosed are age 55 or older. The fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women with no distinct symptoms in its early stages, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed after the disease is advanced. The symptoms often associated with ovarian cancer include abdominal or...

Remove Unwanted Varicose Veins with the New VNUS Closure Procedure

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:15:00 +0000

Approximately 25 million Americans suffer from venous disease, a condition that causes varicose veins and other painful symptoms. Penn Medicine is pleased to offer the new VNUS Closure® procedure, a minimally invasive alternative for patients with superficial venous reflux, which is an underlying cause of varicose veins. In the VNUS Closure procedure, physicians close diseased veins and re-route...

Join Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights for Fall Fair: Because We Care!

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:14:00 +0000

Do you find making healthy choices a daily challenge? You are not alone! Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights is setting out to make living healthy a little bit easier by hosting “Fall Fair: Because We Care,” a free, family event centered around healthy lifestyle choices. The event is scheduled from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 at Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights. For more information...

Fight Skin Damage Caused by Summer Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:15:00 +0000

The sun can have harmful effects on skin, especially during the hot summer months. In addition to increasing the risk for skin cancer, sun exposure can lead to skin damage, including premature aging and wrinkles. The best way to avoid sun-damaged skin is to prevent excess sun exposure. For those already suffering from the sun’s harmful effects, there is good news. There are effective ways to...

Cutting-Edge Brain Surgery that is Blade-Free

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:15:00 +0000

Gamma Knife® radiosurgery is a powerful and precise surgical option for patients suffering from brain tumors and other serious brain disorders. Requiring no incision, Gamma Knife is non-invasive, effective, safe and only requires mild sedation. It is the optimal treatment choice for a wide variety of conditions including benign and malignant brain tumors, skull base tumors, blood vessel...

Preventive Cardiovascular Program: Stopping Heart Disease Before it Starts

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:15:00 +0000

Penn’s Preventive Cardiovascular Program seeks to prevent the onset, recurrence and progression of heart and vascular disease. The multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and dietitians provides patients with personalized preventive care. The team partners with patients to identify cardiovascular risks and develop customized plans of action that fit their lifestyle. To schedule a...

Sleep Apnea: “Why am I so Tired?”

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:38:00 +0000

Sleep apnea, interrupted breathing while sleeping, has been linked to hypertension, heart disease, elevated blood sugar and stroke. There are a variety of diagnostic and treatment options available to treat sleep apnea and help sufferers regain a good night’s sleep. Penn is pioneering one of the latest options, which uses minimally invasive robotic surgery to treat sleep apnea patients who have...

Penn Develops Robotic Approaches for Treating Lung Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:28:00 +0000

The thoracic surgeons at Penn Medicine are leaders in developing and applying minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat chest and lung diseases, including cancer. Minimally invasive alternatives to traditional open-chest surgery, including robotic-assisted surgery, are used to treat many diseases in the chest and lungs, including lung cancer, thymic and mediastinal tumors, emphysema, hiatal...

More Ways to Save Your Life: CyberKnife® at Pennsylvania Hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:27:00 +0000

CyberKnife® delivers high dose radiation to tumors with extreme precision. With a dynamic linear accelerator and sophisticated image-guided technology, CyberKnife treats cancerous and non-cancerous tumors primarily in the prostate, lung, spine, brain, liver, pancreas and kidney. It can also be used for patients who have tumors that cannot be treated with conventional surgery or lesions that were...

Penn Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction: Leading the field in experience

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Penn Medicine is one of the premiere centers for breast reconstructive microsurgery both nationally and around the world. Since 2005, Penn Medicine has performed over 2,000 free-flap reconstructions, making it one of the highest volume centers for reconstructive microsurgery. The plastic surgeons at Penn Medicine offer patients the most advanced surgical treatments options performed by highly...