Living with asthma can be a challenge, especially when triggers set off symptoms. Understanding what can trigger asthma is the first step to managing it effectively. Theron McCormick, MD, pediatric allergist and immunologist with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, shares what parents of children with asthma need to know about triggers.There’s no one type…
Every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy, but for those whose children have been diagnosed with asthma, the challenges of managing this condition can feel overwhelming. Understanding the basics of asthma in children can go a long way toward ensuring they receive the proper care and support they need to thrive. Dean…
Several factors increase a person’s risk of having a stroke, and age is the biggest. Stroke risk increases as a person gets older, but strokes can – and do occur at any age, including children. Ashok Reddy Polu, MD, vascular neurologist and neurohospitalist with Our Lady of the Lake Health and The NeuroMedical Center Clinic,…
While strokes are most commonly associated with older people, it’s a misconception that they only happen to the elderly. Data shows that more younger individuals are at risk of experiencing strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIA), also known as “mini-strokes” Ashok Reddy Polu, MD, vascular neurologist and neurohospitalist with Our Lady of the Lake Health…
Waking up to a stroke was a total surprise and life altering moment for Jeff Elliott, but immediate care from the team at St. Francis Medical Center got him on the road to recovery. Elliott, now 66, was healthy and active, working long days at his maintenance job at St. Joseph Continuing Care and additional…
Pregnancy-related strokes are among the most common causes of serious, long-term disability after pregnancy. Fortunately, they are rare, happening in only about one to two in 10,000 pregnancies. Allahyar Jazayeri, MD, PhD, maternal-fetal medicine specialist with Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital, shares about what expecting moms and women planning to become pregnant…
Although you may have heard about Candida auris and similar fungi from a popular TV show, there’s no reason to panic about this emerging fungus. Katie Taylor, MD, medical director of infection prevention at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and assistant professor of clinical medicine at LSU, shares what you should know…
Bringing hope to patients is a hallmark of all our volunteers whom we celebrate during National Volunteer Week and every week. Jesus “Gino” Perez, known affectionately as Mr. Gino, volunteers three times per week at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, bringing more than just hope. He’s been volunteering for more than…
Maybe you started a garden earlier this year because of all the warm weather we’ve been having. Or you’ve followed the rule of thumb to wait until after Easter to begin planting. Either way, you should be seeing a lot of fresh springtime produce sprouting up in the garden or at your local farmers market…
Spring is a wonderful time of year, full of blooming flowers, warm sunshine and plenty of outdoor activities. With pollen in full swing, spring also means the start of another allergy season in the Gulf South. Allergies can make it difficult for children to enjoy the outdoors, but with a little bit of preparation and…
In today’s digital age screens are an integral part of daily life for many teens and tweens through technology in school, social media use and other apps on smart phones. While screen time has value in education, connection and entertainment, excessive screen time can have negative mental health consequences. Nicholas George, MD, pediatrics and internal…
There are many different types of cancers, and most of them are straightforward in their names: Lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, etc. But, head and neck cancer can be confusing because of how broad it seems. Defining Head and Neck Cancer When oncologists discuss head and neck cancers, they refer to a variety of…
We believe that to achieve complete healthcare, it’s important to provide the best services possible to address health concerns, but also to establish an understanding of the patient’s life and the factors that may have led to or directly created those issues. Research has shown that 85% of an individual’s health is determined by factors…
Sometimes, the best support we can provide our patients isn’t something tangible like a vaccine or medicine, but rather allowing the patient to process things in their own time and make their own improvements. Personalized Persistence Social workers provide critical care to patients by offering information and counseling, especially if someone is struggling with complex…
Continuing their long-term partnership with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, BASF pledged $150,000 in programmatic support through directed giving and event sponsorship. As part of its goal to meet social responsibility through community support, BASF’s multiyear commitment continues the company’s investment in pediatric healthcare across greater Baton Rouge. “On behalf of our 1,200…
Every day behind the scenes, members of the team at Our Lady of the Lake Health work to improve patient safety and the quality of care each patient receives in small and big ways. It takes a lot of work surveying how things are done in the hospital setting, from the technology and tools used…
The aging process is inevitable, and some people are more susceptible to declines in health than others. However, everyone can take certain steps to maintain better health as they age—and many people are doing it with the help of technology. New medical technology has revolutionized doctors’ offices and hospitals for well over a century, and…
Every day, our doctors go above and beyond to help our communities heal. On March 30, we celebrate Doctors’ Day, expressing our appreciation to those who care for us and guide us to maintain a healthy lifestyle all year round. This year we asked Sarah Aftab Ahmad, MD, FACS, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon with St.…