kwang's blog

On September 29th Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute hosted a public grand opening of their Thousand Oaks location, in conjunction with a Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Many were in attendance to help celebrate. The Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute in Thousand Oaks will offer patients scientifically-developed lifestyle programs, designed to help them achieve lifelong health and wellness.

It was reported last month that the National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that the FAA develop and implement guidelines for identifying and treating pilots at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). An incident in February of last year where two pilots fell asleep at the controls of a plane while in the cruise phase of flight has spurred awareness of the dangers of undiagnosed and untreated OSA. Not only was the captain’s undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea a major factor in the incident, but so were the flight crew’s recent work schedules, which included several consecutive days of early-morning start times.

After the initial launch of our website we received some interesting feedback from our loyal friends and patients. I'd like to share one particularly interesting comment from one of our employees. The live well page should be geared toward preventative medicine and lifestyle. We should make the comparison to cars. We all know that we must change the oil, do a tune up, rotate tires, etc. on a continuous basis every so many months or mileage to make sure our car works and runs well.

Going to the doctor has never been a top priority for many people. Like the dentist, however, it’s important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. While symptoms and diagnosis may be different from one patient to another, one thing is certain: nobody wants to be unhealthy. Two fundamental goals to work toward are prevention and treatment. It is important to detect early warning signs of potentially fatal ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease; all of which can be exacerbated by sleep apnea or weight gain.

Frequently, patients come to their first dietitian visit with only one goal in mind: "I want to lose weight right now!" Throughout the course of our meetings, we work with patients to identify and understand their personal goals and reasons for wanting to lose weight. Some people are motivated by medical reasons while others just need to regain control of their lives. I often hear stories from patients about how they didn’t notice they had been gaining so much weight.

As dietitians, we are often approached by patients looking for a quick and easy solution to weight loss. With so many diet pills, fat reduction products and supposed miracle cures advertised today, people often get the idea that health is something that can be ordered at the drive-through.

Dr. Ishaaya has been in practice for well over 20 years and he continues to integrate new research ideas and techniques to help his patients. In order to maintain the cutting edge approach he is known for, the practice will, in a sense, go under the knife for a rejuvenating facelift. This does not change the fundamental ideas under which Dr. Ishaaya first began his practice. In fact, it only strengthens the core objective that people truly can help themselves by making smarter decisions in leading healthier lives.

Very few people actually know what a sleep apnea clinic is and what it consists of. Our sleep lab in Los Angeles is quite warm and inviting. The big comfortable couches and chairs in the front entrance, combined with the room’s earth tones, immediately give the feeling that you are walking into someone’s home.