Q: [Adults] I’m pregnant and I’ve heard a lot about postpartum depression. Is the pandemic impacting this issue for new moms? Maternal depression is the most common complication of pregnancy in the nation. An estimated one in five new or expectant mothers will experience a mental health disorder during pregnancy or in the first year […]
Special Needs Learning & The COVID-19 Pandemic
The recent disruption to our daily routines has created an opportunity for parents of children with special learning needs. The COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place has been hard on all of us, there is no doubt about that. Yet, there is a silver lining to this cloud. We’ve all had our routines disrupted, and for most […]
Coping with Stress, Uncertainty, and Anxiety During a Pandemic
Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash With re-openings underway, how do we mentally cope with a normal that is in transition? COVID-19 and recent societal stressors have created a deep uncertainty about our future. As a psychiatrist, I never hospitalized as many patients or seen this level of anxiety and depression in the community as […]
Flu Vaccine, Worth a Shot?
Q: [All Ages] I heard the flu vaccine mist isn’t effective on this year’s strain of the flu, but I’m concerned about the safety of the shot for my young child. Also, is January too late to bother getting the flu shot? A: After reviewing four years’ worth of data, the Centers for Disease Control […]
Dental Attitude
Q: [Teens & Tweens] I struggle with fear of the dentist and skipped my semi-annual appointment. My husband says I am setting a bad example, but I bring my kids like clockwork. I brush, I floss — it doesn’t really matter if skip a few appointments, does it? A: Research indicates that children learn attitudes […]
Shop with Your Doc
St. Joseph Hoag Health doctors and nutritionists will be visiting three OC Ralphs and Food4Less markets on September 9-10 to give shoppers tours around the stores, answer parents’ questions about healthy eating for their kids, suggest shopping strategies, and offer easy and healthy recipes to tempt tots toward healthier eats. Health providers everywhere are focusing […]
In the Know – Liz Bear
By Danilae Smith Parenting OC: What are the trends that are happening in OC children’s dental care? Liz Bear: I use the term “epidemic” because in OC, one in three children have visible signs of decay. This is a disease and we have to think differently about oral health care. For me, I think the […]
Ask the Experts: Snore Wars
Q: [All Ages] My husband suffers from incessant, deep, abnormal snoring, and I suffer from serious lack of sleep. He thinks it’s funny, but it’s affecting my mood and daily routine. Are there any remedies or medical advice on what can be causing this and how we can handle it? A: Snoring can take a […]
OC Woman: Giving Fat the Cold Shoulder
A cool new way to drop a size Getting and staying in shape is hard, and though we don’t always love the idea of working out regularly and eating well, it truly is the only way. However, with the evolution of science, there’s a way to help see results faster and easier. Introducing CoolSculpting, a […]
Kelly Mitchell: Baby Got Bling
I don’t think you’ve really experienced the worry of motherhood until you’ve taken your child to the dentist. Well, to clarify — to take your child to the dentist to get fillings for FOUR CAVITIES! Yes, FOUR! That would be one cavity for each of my son’s four years of life. All I can say […]