Wellness
Learn more about Scripps Health through our news releases and coverage in the media. Topics include how we’re meeting regional and national health care challenges, exciting Scripps services and facilities on the horizon, and insights from our expert physicians on timely health issues.
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Is Your Diet Damaging Your Brain?
May 9, 2012 - WellnessEating a healthy diet has been shown to improve energy levels and help maintain weight, but new studies have shown that it might even improve overall brain health. A recent study conducted in Manhattan, New York, found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet was shown to reduce damage to the small blood vessels in the brain. “It is important to eat a healthy diet, which includes foods low in sat... Read More
Stop Skin Cancer at the Beach and in the Booth
May 9, 2012 - WellnessIf you’re thinking of getting a jump-start on your summer glow this year by lying out in the afternoon sun or spending a few dollars (and minutes) on indoor tanning, you should probably think again. “Tanning in general, and indoor tanning in particular, is one of the worst things you can do for your skin,” says Hubert Greenway, MD, a dermatologist at Scripps Clinic in San Diego. “Here in San Di... Read More
So You Need a New Primary Care Doctor. . .
May 9, 2012 - WellnessOn the day you select a new primary care physician—whether you have moved geographically, changed jobs/health insurance plans or simply outgrown your previous doctor—you begin a relationship that will likely be one of the most important of your lifetime. A strong primary care physician-patient relationship stands a very good chance of outlasting friendships and even jobs. As with any relationsh... Read More
The Not-So-Sweet Health Effects of Drinking Soda
May 9, 2012 - WellnessOver the past few decades, soda has become a staple of the American diet. Every restaurant offers a variety of flavors, vending machines fill the lunch rooms of office buildings and schools, and every convenience store sells it by the bucket-sized cup. In fact, it’s hard to grab a quick meal without a soda being added as part of the price. What most people don’t consider as they crack open a ca... Read More
Be Smart About Medication Storage and Disposal
April 18, 2012 - Wellness, Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Scripps ClinicBy Victoria Serrano Adams, PharmD, Scripps Health When used as directed, prescription medications can save lives. However, if they are used incorrectly, they also can be deadly. Improper use of medications—whether accidental or intentional—can be extremely dangerous. Brightly colored capsules or tiny tablets can look like candy to young children. Depending on the drug, even just a few pills can... Read More
How to Fight Insomnia without Medication
April 10, 2012 - WellnessIn a groundbreaking study released in February, Scripps researchers revealed a statistical link between sleep medications and increased risk of premature death from such causes as cancer and other ailments. “Obese patients appear particularly vulnerable, perhaps through interaction with sleep apnea,” says study co-author Daniel Kripke, MD, a psychiatrist with Scripps Clinic’s Viterbi Family Sle... Read More
New Pap Guidelines: Is The Annual Exam Gone?
April 10, 2012 - Wellness, Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Scripps Clinic, Scripps Coastal Medical CenterCervical cancer was once the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American women. In the 1930s, more American women died of cervical cancer than any other kind of cancer, including breast or lung. But in 1943, a new method for cervical screening was introduced. The Babeș-Papanicolaou test (named after physicians who pioneered the method), also called a “Pap smear” or “Pap test,” became the... Read More
Top Ten Surprising Sources of Sodium
April 10, 2012 - WellnessYou may want to pass on adding a sprinkling of salt during your next meal. Chances are what you’re about to eat is already packed with sodium, even if it doesn’t taste particularly salty. A report from the Centers for Disease Control reveals that 65 percent of the sodium Americans eat every day is already in the food when it’s purchased and another 25 percent comes from dining in restaurants. “... Read More
Protecting Women’s Health in the 30s, 40s and 50s
April 10, 2012 - WellnessWomen’s bodies are constantly changing. Every decade brings different health needs and considerations. And to complicate matters, many women are busy taking care of their parents, spouses and children, sometimes neglecting their own well-being. “It’s fascinating what we go through as women,” says Catharine Marshall, MD. “Our immune system has to continuously change and adapt based on our biolog... Read More
Is Your Diet Giving You a Headache?
March 13, 2012 - Wellness, Scripps Clinic, Scripps Coastal Medical CenterNearly everyone experiences headache pain over a lifetime. It’s a common reason people visit their doctors—and a serious public health problem. According to a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 2003, headaches are one of the most common causes of pain and they result in a significant loss of productive time in the United States workforce. “There’s no question ... Read More