The effects of sleep apnea and temporomandibular joint disorder – TMJ – on chronic headaches will be focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, July 19.
Brigitte Lovell, D.M.D., who specializes in headache and orofacial pain, will lead the seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, 147 N. Brent St.
Dr. Lovell will discuss the warning signs, diagnosis and treatment of TMJ, which can cause pain to the head, jaw, neck and shoulders. She also will cover TMJ pain night guards, devices and injections, as well as sleep apnea/snoring custom-made alternative dental devices that are available.
Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800/838-3006.
Interventional cardiologists at Community Memorial Hospital are the first in Ventura County to treat patients with breakthrough drug-eluting stents approved in October, 2015 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).
A cardiac stent restores blood flow in diseased blood vessels. Unlike traditional drug-eluting stents, Boston Scientific’s latest Synergy stent utilizes a bio-absorbable polymer on the surface of the stent that breaks down and is cleared by the body after the drug it contains is released, leaving behind a bare platinum-chromium stent.
Acclaimed actress Kathy Bates has played a variety of roles during her distinguished 40-year film, television and stage career. Recently, however, Bates has taken on a new, more important role as the spokeswoman for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). After surviving ovarian and breast cancer, she’s currently struggling with a chronic condition that resulted from her double mastectomy four years ago – lymphedema. Lymphedema is an abnormal swelling in an arm or leg that may occur after surgeons have removed lymph nodes during cancer treatment. Without the lymph nodes, lymph fluid does not drain properly.
While lymphedema by itself is not fatal, it can be disfiguring and debilitating and can cause long-term physical, psychological and social problems for patients.
Treatment of lymphedema is one of a number of services provided by Community Memorial Health System’s Cancer Resource Center (CRC) in Ventura in cooperation with the Rehabilitation Department of Ventura County. Complete Decongestive Therapy is provided, which includes manual lymph drainage, multilayered compression bandaging by certified fitters, therapeutic exercises, skin care and patient education in self-care.
In addition to treatment, the CRC offers a screening clinic for lymphedema and a support group for those diagnosed with the condition. Both the screening and support groups are held the third Tuesday of each month.
For more information on the Cancer Resource Center’s lymphedema treatment program, call 652-5459.
