Story

As a teenager embarking on her freshman year of high school, Amanda Stratton began experiencing severe and mysterious abdominal pain.   “Doctors chalked my symptoms up to irritable bowel syndrome, and that was all they could really offer me as a diagnosis,” she said.  Months turned into years, and despite following prescribed protocols from specialists and … Read More

Sleep is an essential requirement for health, but sometimes falling asleep is easier said than done. Here, Dr. Jose Puangco, a neurologist who treats sleep disorders at the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute at Hoag, offers advice to help you fall asleep fast. That way, you can stop tossing and turning and instead head straight to … Read More

Anyone who’s suffered a deep emotional loss knows the feelings brought on by a broken heart. But did you know “broken heart syndrome” is a real medical condition? Here, Dr. Dipti Itchhaporia, M.D., M.A.C.C., Eric and Shiela Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health and director of disease management at the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & … Read More

Rick Letterman’s passion for golf spans decades. Now 77, he’s been perfecting his swing since high school, when he worked as a caddy at a local country club in Kentucky.  “Golf is a very self-challenging game,” he said. “You align with your target in the distance, and you take your shot. When I received the … Read More

For 17 years, Roz Hodgins struggled with what many of us take for granted; the ability to comfortably swallow food. “I always had to be very cognizant of what I was eating and where, and there were foods I loved that I just couldn’t eat,” she said. “Going to a restaurant was difficult because I’d … Read More

What health screenings to schedule this year?  Making plans for what you want to accomplish in the new year? Don’t forget to plan for your wellness. Call your doctor and get your annual wellness appointments on the books.  After checking your blood pressure, weight and other important health metrics, your doctor will let you know … Read More

4 ways to make impactful weight, wellness changes  Are you starting 2025 with an extra 25 pounds? While you may be tempted to jump onto TikTok weight loss trends to slim down, Hoag Digestive Health Institute registered dietitian Chelsea Honrath, RN, cautions against setting unrealistic goals.  “This is the time of year when people think … Read More

Since the discovery of genetic mutations BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the 1990s, testing for the genes has become a common course of action among patients and families with a history of certain cancers.   According to the National Cancer Institute, the lifetime risk of breast cancer for a woman with a BRCA mutation is as high … Read More

David Gleckman, 65, has spent much of his life doing what he loves most–playing full-contact hockey. An avid golfer who had also sustained a back injury while skiing years earlier, he was no stranger to the risks involved in playing sports.   But by the time he had reached his early 60’s, the cumulative effects of … Read More

Hoag helped save Jason Semko’s life, then gave it new direction. A former film student, Jason moved to Los Angeles from El Paso, Texas in 2007 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. He realized he needed more stability to fulfill his dream of starting a family, taught himself how to code and reinvented … Read More