A good night's sleep is one of the most crucial factors for a long, healthy life. An inability to get a restful slumber can sometimes lead to dangerous health complications. Approximately 30 million American adults have sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which your breathing can repeatedly start and stop, inhibiting one’s ability to get a good night’s rest.

The holiday season is a busy time of year, marked with social gatherings and travel plans that keep people on the move. It’s also a time when respiratory viruses like COVID-19, the flu and RSV tend to surge. Whether you're visiting loved ones or finally getting to enjoy a much-needed beach vacation, don’t let illness ruin the holiday season. 

To stay healthy during this time of year, consider taking a few precautionary measures. Reyn Higa, MD a Family Medicine physician with Dignity Health Urgent Care in Northridge, shares tips to stay healthy during the holiday season.

For Dignity Health's Hello Healthy podcast, Eric Peck, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon with Dignity Health Medical Group — Bakersfield discusses recent research that explains a rise of lung cancer in women under 50 years of age and the surgical treatment options available for lung cancer patients. Read the interview transcript below.

We are pleased to announce that Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group is a recipient of the   Excellence in Healthcare Award for measurement year 2022, from the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) for its top performance on clinical quality, patient experience and cost measures. 

Lung cancer claims more lives than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Historically, lung cancer has been more common in older adults and diagnosed at an advanced stage. Younger women, however, are getting lung cancer at higher rates than men younger than 50, according to a report published in JAMA Oncology.

Costanzo DiPerna, MD a thoracic surgeon with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, shares insight and resources to help people understand risks, prevention, treatment options and the dangerous long-term effects of using modern “e-cigarettes.”