Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., impacting both men and women, and most racial and ethnic groups. While high blood pressure and high cholesterol are key risk factors for heart disease, so too are external factors like trauma and stress.

Catharine Malmsten, MD, a Cardiologist at Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group in Elk Grove, shares her insight on how stress and heart health correlate, along with advice on how we can combat stressors in our lives to remain healthy, especially during a pandemic.

We celebrate National Women Physicians Day on Feb. 3, commemorating Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, who was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the U.S. in 1849. Today, we honor and recognize the accomplishments and milestones of all women doctors since then.

To celebrate, we asked a handful of women physicians within Dignity Health Medical Groups to weigh-in on what National Women Physicians Day represents for them and share advice for other women entering the medical profession.

With the holidays approaching, Dignity Health Medical Groups are reminding families to ‘child-proof’ their homes for the holidays. Several of our pediatricians weighed in on some of the potential dangers that parents should be mindful of when preparing for the holiday season. While this year is certainly different in many ways, we hope you can enjoy the magic of the season with those you love in a safe environment!

When we think about caring for ourselves, we often equate that to healthy eating and physical activity. However, proper sleep is just as critical for both mental and physical health – especially now. Families are continuing to navigate changes in their lives on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of sleep can impact how we respond to stress and anxiety.

The reality is that almost 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia and another 22 million suffer from sleep apnea. Lack of sleep not only impacts quality of life, but it can alter your immune system and lead to other serious conditions. In fact, research suggests that sleep is necessary for removing a toxic protein in our brain tissue called beta-amyloid. This protein is associated with the onset of dementia.