Health and Wellness Newsletter | Penn Medicine

Eight Orthopaedic Surgeons from Penn Medicine Make Top Doctors List

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:31:00 +0000

Each year, Philadelphia magazine recognizes the area's outstanding doctors in their annual Top Doctors list. The list is viewed as a "gold standard for those seeking the finest medical care in the Philadelphia area." We are pleased to announce that eight Orthopaedic surgeons from Penn Medicine made the 2012 Top Doctors list. The eight Orthopaedic surgeons and their specialties are as...

The Penn Brain Tumor Center: Caring for Patients from Discovery to Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:15:00 +0000

The Penn Brain Tumor Center consists of a multidisciplinary team of specialists who provide personalized treatment and cutting-edge therapy for benign and malignant brain tumors. With top-ranked cancer and neurosurgery clinicians and scientists, the Penn Brain Tumor Center offers the most complete spectrum of care for patients with brain tumors in the Philadelphia region. Available treatment...

Get a Free Skin Cancer Screening During Skin Cancer Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:15:00 +0000

In honor of national skin cancer awareness month in May, Penn Dermatology and Abramson Cancer Center are joining forces to help prevent and detect skin cancer. On May 19, 2012 from 8 am to noon, Penn dermatologists are performing skin cancer screenings at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. The free program is offered to help spread the lifesaving message of early skin cancer detection...

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Stroke is the nation’s third leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Patients at risk, as well as the general public, benefit from knowing the signs of stroke. Stroke symptoms include: Sudden weakness or numbness of face, arm or leg—especially on one side of the body Sudden trouble speaking or understanding others Sudden difficulty seeing in one or...

Dental Implants—Today’s Standard for Tooth Replacement

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:37:00 +0000

For people who have lost a permanent tooth, there are more options than ever before for a long-term replacement. In the past, removable dentures made noise or sometimes even fell out while eating, drinking or talking. But now, permanent dental implants mean there’s no need to worry about those inconveniences. Dental implants are screws that anchor fabricated teeth to the jawbone. The anchor...

Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Patient’s Story

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:37:00 +0000

When Frank McKee was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he wanted to find the best treatment to fight the disease. After extensively researching treatment options, he finally chose proton therapy, the world’s most advanced form of radiation therapy. “I wanted to treat the cancer and I wanted to be done with it in a way that had a minimum amount of side effects and affected my life...

New Alternative to Open-Heart Surgery for Severe Aortic Stenosis

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a promising new procedure for patients with severe aortic stenosis, a disease of the aortic valve. The aortic valve is one of four heart valves and acts as the gateway that allows blood to exit the heart and travel to the aorta and rest of the body. brightcove.createExperiences(); As people get older, the incidence of aortic...

The 10th Annual Women Against Multiple Sclerosis Luncheon

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:30:00 +0000

The Penn MS Center has teamed up with the National MS Society for the 10th annual Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS) Luncheon. The luncheon is held annually to unite the local community and gain support in the fight against MS, as well as to increase awareness about the disease and raise funds for research and philanthropy. The National MS Society is a non-profit organization with a...

Advancing Radiation Therapy at Penn Medicine: CyberKnife® at Pennsylvania Hospital

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:34:00 +0000

CyberKnife® at Pennsylvania Hospital is a minimally invasive radiation treatment that provides patients with an alternative to surgery for treating cancerous and noncancerous tumors. CyberKnife’s frameless radiosurgery system, lightweight linear accelerator and robotic arm allow it to treat tumors and lesions from a variety of angles in hard-to-reach locations. It can also be used on lesions that...

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer to affect men and women in the United States. In the majority of cases, colorectal cancer develops from abnormal growths in the colon or rectum called polyps. The good news is that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60 percent of colorectal cancers are preventable by removing polyps before they become cancerous....

First Bilateral Hand Transplant in Region Performed at Penn Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Penn Medicine) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:35:00 +0000

The first bilateral hand transplant in the Greater Philadelphia region was recently performed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of the Penn Transplant Institute, the extensive 11 1/2-hour procedure was performed by Penn’s Hand Transplant Program in close partnership with the Gift of Life Donor Program. Penn’s Hand Transplant Program is a joint venture of...

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...