Blog | West Valley

West Valley 2017 Year in Review

December 28, 2017

It's hard to believe another year has come and gone. As everyone does this time of year, we too look back on all that we've achieved as a family...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Healthy Holiday Fudge

December 15, 2017

Holidays tend to be when tasty treats creep in to my home. Neighbors, family, and friends like to give holiday candy, cookies, and bread. One...

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

4 Reasons Your Heart Skips a Beat

December 7, 2017

More than likely, your heart has skipped a proverbial beat at some point in your life — this phenomenon is perfectly normal from time to...

West Valley Medical Center

How to Turn Pre-diabetes into No Diabetes

November 16, 2017

If you've been diagnosed with prediabetes, it is important to understand what that means. Simply put, it means you have elevated blood sugar...

tags: diabetes , diabetic , exercise , general wellness , healthy diet , prediabetes

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Halloween at the ER Is No Treat

October 31, 2017

While trick-or-treating and carving jack-o-lanterns is all in good fun, injuries are more common than you might think. These safety tips will...

tags: adult supervision , alcohol , carving kit , costume , er , halloween , halloween costume , injury , lacerations , orthopedic , pediatrics , pumpkin carving , trick-or-treat

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

How To Switch Obstetricians After Your First Trimester

October 24, 2017

Are you in your second or third trimester of pregnancy and thinking of switching OBs? Follow your instincts. Here are some things to consider...

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

It’s breast cancer. Now what?

October 19, 2017

A million thoughts run through your mind and it can be difficult to figure out what questions you should ask or what next steps you should take...

tags: breast cancer , breast cancer treatment , cancer , cancer appointment , cancer doctor

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

The Vajayjay: 8 Myths Women Still Believe (Part...

October 17, 2017

Why is it that people still blush when you say “vagina,” like it's a dirty word, or give it nicknames like “vajayjay&rdquo...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: "Spaghetti" with Turkey Meat...

October 12, 2017

This easy to prepare meal is perfect for jumping in to meal planning. Take the leftovers for lunch the next day or double the recipe and freeze...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

October 12, 2017

This easy to prepare meal is perfect for jumping in to meal planning. Take the leftovers for lunch the next day or double the recipe and freeze...

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

The Vajayjay: 8 Myths Women Still Believe (Part...

October 6, 2017

Why is it that people still blush when you say “vagina,” like it's a dirty word, or give it nicknames like “vajayjay&rdquo...

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

4 Signs You're Pushing Your Student Athlete Too...

September 26, 2017

Sports are supposed to push you. Physically and mentally, competition challenges players to run faster, hit harder, and aim higher.

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Summer Vegetable Spaghetti

September 21, 2017

My garden is overflowing with fresh vegetables making it so I have to find extra ways to throw them in to meals. This recipe has been a quick...

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Prevent and Treat Shin Splints

September 19, 2017

You've probably heard that dancers often suffer from shin splints. But did you know runner, as well as tennis, soccer, and basketball players...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

The Shoulder: A User’s Guide

September 12, 2017

The shoulder is your most complex and mobile joint. The balance of extreme motion with fine control and strength allows us to participate in ...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

A New Tool in the Fight Against Chronic Knee Pain

September 5, 2017

As we age, there are some complaints and maladies we've come to expect: reading glasses, gray hairs, creaky joints and hearing aids, to name ...

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Flexibility key to relief from plantar fasciitis

August 31, 2017 by Jonathon Wolf, MD

One of the most common foot complaints I see in my practice is heel pain in the form of plantar fasciitis. The typical sufferer complains of ...

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Impingement Could Be to Blame for Shoulder Pain

August 22, 2017

Speaking from a biased opinion, the shoulder may be the most complex and interesting joint in the entire body.

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Be Safe & Prepared For the Great American Solar...

August 15, 2017

The Great American Solar Eclipse will pass through our community on Monday, August 21.

tags: eclipse eye protection , eclipse eye safety , eclipse viewing tips , eye protection for solar eclipse , solar eclipse blindness , solar eclipse eye damage

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

4 Steps to Better Eye Health

August 14, 2017

Your eyes add more depth to each daily experience. Simply put, they're one of your most prized possessions.

tags: diabetic eye disease , glaucoma , macular degeneration , uva radiation , uvb radiation , uv rays , vision health

West Valley Medical Center

Total Solar Eclipse: How to See it Safely

August 14, 2017

Dr. Mark Ewald, an ophthalmologist at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, addresses key questions on eye protection for the Great American Eclipse...

tags: eclipse , eclipse safety , eye protection , eye safety , solar eclipse , sunglasses

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Children Left in Hot Cars: Child Abuse or Honest...

August 8, 2017

Every summer, this headline pops up: Baby Dies in Hot Car. The news story sparks polar opposite reactions. Some people pity the family, particularly...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Is Arthritis Hereditary?

August 8, 2017

You've probably seen the commercials for arthritis medication on TV: An older woman stands by while her energetic grandchildren play outside.

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Living with Scleroderma

August 3, 2017

Learn about scleroderma — a disease affecting the body’s connective tissue — from one woman’s first-hand account of living with the...

tags: autoimmune disease , high blood pressure , joints , joints swelling , orthopedics , rheumatology , rheumotologist , scleroderma , skin , swelling

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

6 Reasons Shoulder Pain is Like Car Trouble

August 2, 2017

When the check engine light in your car turns on, you just ignore it. You continue to drive for months as if the light's not even there. One ...

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Your Ultimate Fair Food Survival Guide

July 27, 2017

If we're being honest, none of us goes to the fair - be it Canyon County or Western Idaho - with healthy eating in mind.

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Summer Breeze Smoothie

July 13, 2017

Summer is upon us! Mix up a smoothie for a tasty way to cool down on a hot day while getting extra servings of fruits and vegetables.

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Try Interval Training to Improve Fitness and Joint...

July 6, 2017

From walking to engaging in team sports, exercise comes in many forms. Aerobics, stretching, weightlifting and endurance training are some of...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Swimming lessons: When should your children start?

June 22, 2017

Here's a sobering statistic: Idaho has one of the highest drowning rates in the nation for children ages 1 to 5.

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Protecting Kids from Heat Stroke

June 22, 2017

Our bodies create a tremendous amount of heat. Normally, they’re cooled through sweating and by heat radiating through the skin.

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Are you prepared to survive the wild?

June 14, 2017

Would you know how to survive if something went wrong on a Sawtooth backcountry hike or a Salmon River rafting trip? Have you been trained in...

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

6 Things You Should Never Do With Fireworks

June 13, 2017

Independence Day is right around the corner, which means fireworks aren't far behind.

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Spring Pasta Primavera

June 1, 2017

It's time we take vegetables off of the side lines and put them in the game! Try making them a star on your plate with this easy to make recipe...

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Pregnancy FAQs: Prenatal Testing

May 20, 2017

Concerns about the health of your baby, even before she is born, are completely natural. Fortunately, a wide array of tests for pregnant women...

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Ready or Not: Childbirth FAQs

May 18, 2017

The "Ready or Not" tag on this blog has perhaps never been more appropriate than today - my son's 4-month birthday - when I will divulge to you...

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Co-Sleeping with Baby: Is It Safe?

May 11, 2017

The practice of co-sleeping - parents sharing a bed with their infant - is a hot topic. Some believe a parent's bed is where baby belongs, but...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

What To Do When It Hurts to Breastfeed

May 4, 2017

You're not alone if you're a mom trying to breastfeed your baby and find yourself saying, "My nipples have become sore and I'm starting to dread...

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Apple Rounds

April 27, 2017

April celebrates the "Every Kid Healthy" movement that promotes good nutrition in schools and being active.

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

What is Comprehensive Spine Care?

April 20, 2017

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems; it affects about eight out of 10 people at some point in their lives.

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

For Heart Health, Brisk Walking Equals Running

April 13, 2017

Brisk walking is as good as running for reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk - three key players in the development of heart...

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

In Her Own Words: Living with Endometriosis

April 6, 2017

Lindsay, a 25-year-old data analyst, suffered with abdominal pain for years before being diagnosed with endometriosis.

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Talking to Your Kids about Drugs

March 16, 2017

Shocking fact of the week: more than 24.6 million people in the U.S. are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Bento Box-Style Chicken Salad

March 9, 2017

It is National Nutrition Month and this year's theme is "Put Your Best Fork Forward."

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Want to Prevent Hemorrhoids? Examine Your Diet

March 1, 2017

Hemorrhoids can be a real pain in the you know where.

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: Buffalo White Bean Hummus

February 2, 2017

A healthy game day recipe.

3 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Nosebleeds Can Be Worse in the Winter

January 26, 2017

Most nosebleeds look worse than they are. In other words, nosebleeds are messy, a little uncomfortable, and sometimes even scary, but they're...

2 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Do I Need a Coronary Artery Stent?

January 24, 2017

If you're one of the 11 million Americans affected by coronary artery disease, you may have wondered if a stent - a wire mesh tube that props...

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Ready or Not: The Final Post

January 20, 2017

Charlotte and Cameron welcomed Baby Owen into the world at 8:34 AM on Thursday, January 19, 2017.

1 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Recipe of the Month: PB & J Overnight Oats

January 19, 2017

My goal for 2017 is to start each day off in the same way by adding an easy, creative breakfast!

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Ready or Not: Week 41 Freak Show

January 17, 2017

My initial idea for a blog this week was a touching, poignant letter to my future child, with my vision for their future and all the things I...

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Ready or Not: Week 40 - Yep, Still Pregnant .....

January 10, 2017

Your due date is just a guesstimate based on the date of your last period and the growth of your baby over time.

4 min Read Time

West Valley Medical Center

Ready or Not: Week 39 - My Digital Baby

January 3, 2017

I don't know if I'm going to share my baby's picture with you.

Healthy Living

Healthy Living