“For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we’re proud to spotlight Dr. Krystal Pham, our client since 2011.“To be able to be there with a patient all the way through the delivery of their baby, experiencing the miracle with them, is very rewarding,” says Pham, who launched the Miracle Orchids Medical Center in Orange County, California, in 2019.”
At age 4, Dr. Pham and her family came to the United States as refugees after the Vietnam War. She’s been active in the Vietnamese community, working with organizations to help refugees in detention camps and other human rights groups. As a medical student at UC Irvine, she led the creation of a Diversity in Medicine course to help physicians serve different cultures.
Union Bank Small Business Relationship Manager Ravi Mehta has partnered with Dr. Pham to help grow her practice.“Ravi and his team do such a great job,” she says. “Southern California is so busy, with so many banks and so many people, and it’s great to have someone really taking care of me and my business, and every little detail.”
When you take care of your body it will do a better job of taking care of you. This will not only increase your ability to prevent and fight disease, but will allow you to look and feel your best.
Here are some great ways to get started.
Protect Your Heart: Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women, making heart health a top priority. Check your blood pressure regularly and get annual blood work to review other markers. Take immediate action to correct anything that puts you at risk. You can learn more at the American Heart Association website.
Get Health Screenings and Wellness Checks at Recommended Intervals: They allow your health care provider to help you fine tune your wellness plan and catch medical issues early while they are easier to treat and likely to have better outcomes.
Avoid Toxins and Unhealthy Habits: Do not smoke or use tobacco or drugs and limit your use of alcohol. You may also want to consider filtered water, organic foods, and using non-toxic products for your self-care and home.
Provide Quality Fuel for Your Body: Eating a balanced diet that is full of whole foods in a variety of colors assures your body is getting the fuel it needs to keep you healthy and strong.
Move Your Body: Exercise is important to keep your heart and lungs working well and has many other benefits including maintaining a healthy weight. Find an exercise plan that includes aerobic activity like walking, running or riding a bike as well as adding strength and flexibility. Keeping your body strong and flexible will ensure it functions well as you get older.
Limit Stress and Increase Resilience: Stress can cause wear and tear physically, mentally and emotionally. Audit your life for areas of unnecessary stress that you can let go of and gain resilience by shifting stressful thinking and finding ways to be more relaxed. Daily mindfulness and relaxation practices can also support you in minimizing your reaction to stressors in your life.
Imagine how it would feel if you incorporated these healthy steps into your life. In addition to your body functioning well you would likely look better, be able to do more, and feel more confident. We hope you start making changes now, no matter how small, so that you can enjoy the benefits of a healthy life.
Miracle Orchids Medical Center – Fountain Valley CA – (714) 486-1228
Endometriosis is an often painful condition caused by the tissue that usually grows within your uterus growing outside of it. This tissue acts like regular uterine tissue, thickening and then bleeding at the end of your cycle, but the blood has nowhere to go. This can cause pain, inflammation, lesions and scar tissue, most commonly around your ovaries.
While there is no definite answer as to what causes this condition we know that it can result in:
Painful periods
Heavy bleeding
Pain when going to the bathroom, especially during your period
Painful sex
Blood in your urine or stool
Difficulty getting pregnant
Fatigue
Diarrhea or constipation
The pain and lifestyle limitations associated with this condition can lead to depression. It is also important to note that about 40% of women struggling with infertility have endometriosis. In some cases it can lead to ovarian cancer or dangerous scar tissue.
There is no cure for endometriosis, but we can treat it. We may recommend hormones or other medications and in some cases surgery. Other recommendations may include a healthy diet and exercise and applying heat or taking a warm bath when it flares up.
A diagnosis of endometriosis does not mean you are sentenced to a life of pain. While everyone is different, we feel confident we can help you find the treatment that will be right for you.
If you are concerned and think you may have endometriosis, please call and schedule a consultation. We would love to help.
Miracle Orchids Medical Center – Fountain Valley, CA – (714) 486-1228
Love, intimacy and sex are important aspects of human life. They are the foundation for healthy relationships, creating families and our mental, emotional and physical well-being.
There are many benefits to a healthy sex life including improved immunity, lower blood pressure, bladder control for women, and that it counts as exercise.
Sex is a good thing when practiced in the context of sexual health. Here are 3 things to consider and talk about with your partner that will help keep your sex life healthy.
Consent and Communication: First of all, sex should only happen when there is mutual consent. No one should ever be forced or coerced into it, even when in a long term relationship. We also recommend clear communication about the types of sex you are comfortable with as well as the other items listed below.
Pregnancy Planning: There should be a mutual understanding about whether contraception methods will be used and if so, which ones. Any decision to bring a child into the world should be agreed upon by both parties.
Disease Prevention: Sexually transmitted diseases do not always have obvious symptoms. Before anything happens, both of you should agree to prevention methods like barriers (condoms), testing and/or a mutually exclusive relationship. Always practice safe sex and if you have any concerns, come in for a screening.
There are other things that can impact sexual health including painful intercourse, urinary tract infections, low sex drive or anything that prevents you from having the sex life you want.
We are here to help you with all of your sexual health needs. We can also support you with contraception options, fertility and other aspects of women’s health.
Miracle Orchids Medical Center – Fountain Valley, CA – (714) 486-1228
Your thyroid is a gland in the front of your neck that produces hormones that impact most of the metabolic processes in your body. The most common thyroid issues are when it over or under produces hormones. Hyperthyroidism is what it’s called when it’s over-producing and hypothyroidism is when the output is low.
Signs of Hyperthyroidism
Nervousness
Weight loss
Trouble focusing
Diarrhea
Increased heart rate
Feeling tired
Sweating
Anxiety
Trouble sleeping
Signs of Hypothyroidism
Weight gain
Hair loss or thinning eyebrows
Brain fog
Dry skin
Constipation
Depression
Increased or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Fluid retention
Muscle or bone pain
Fatigue
Feeling cold
There are many different reasons you might be having thyroid issues including inflammation, nodules and autoimmune diseases. The good news is that we can do simple tests and in most cases provide medication that helps you feel normal again.
If you are concerned you may have a thyroid issue or another medical concern, please let us know. Our goal is to help you be as healthy and happy as possible.
Miracle Orchids Medical Center – Fountain Valley, CA – (714) 486-1228
Holiday seasons are full of temptations. We want to eat, drink and celebrate as much as we can. It’s easy to think that we can just get back on track with New Year resolutions, but over-indulging during the holidays can put our health at risk.
It’s important to keep our immune systems and bodies strong, especially with Covid-19 this year, and we can do that while still having fun. Here are some ideas that can help.
Get a Flu Shot – If you haven’t already done so, it’s important to get your flu shot as soon as possible. Covid-19 and the flu are a dangerous combination that you will want to avoid.
Follow Recommended Guidelines for Preventing Covid-19 – No one wants to be sick during the holidays and Covid cases are spreading fast. While many people have mild cases the death rates are also rising. Even if you think you won’t get it, following the guidelines can help protect those around you.
Update Holiday Recipes – Sometimes just a small tweak can make your traditional recipes healthier without losing flavor. There are several ingredient swap ideas in this holiday food article.
Pay Attention to Portions – Even holiday treats lose their flavor factor after several bites, but we tend to just keep eating. The healthier way is to eat slowly and savor the flavor of those first bites. Once the flavor diminishes, stop eating. Slow eating will also give your body enough time to let you know when it is full.
Watch Your To Do List – Stress is also hard on your immune system and overall health. Make sure everything on your to do list is meaningful or necessary so that you can do less and enjoy the holidays more.
Keep Moving – Exercise is important for both your mood and health. It’s easy to lose motivation this time of year, but can result in regrets and not feeling your best. If you choose to eat and drink more, we would even recommend boosting the amount of exercise you do.
Sleep Well – It’s important to maintain a healthy sleep routine so that you can feel and be well. Stick to your normal schedule as best as you can and if you have trouble sleeping, check out this article.
Have Fun – Laughing and smiling are great health boosters. They increase feel good chemicals in your brain, support a positive mindset and help you feel more energetic.
We hope you decide to support your health during this holiday season so that you stay well, feel your best and enjoy the season’s magical moments.
Happy Holidays!
Miracle Orchids Medical Center – Fountain Valley CA – (714) 486-1228
Diabetes is dangerous for anyone that has it, but women face a unique set of challenges when it comes to this disease.
Studies show that women have a higher incidence of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood sugar levels than men. Hormone changes, higher levels of inflammation and other health issues specific to women can increase their risk of diabetic complications and even death.
Women diabetics are more likely to develop heart disease
They have a higher incidence of heart failure and heart attacks
Diabetes itself is more deadly in women
Women are more likely to become depressed when diabetic
They are also more likely to develop kidney disease or complications
The stakes are high for women when it comes to diabetes and we need to be vigilant in preventing, diagnosing and maintaining it.
Let your doctor know if:
Your mouth feels dry most of the time
You have to pee a lot
Your vision is getting blurry
Your feet and hands fall asleep more often
Your breath smells consistently bad or sweet and fruity
You are getting more yeast infections
Cuts or wounds take longer to heal
You lose weight without trying to
Other considerations include:
A history of gestational diabetes
Family history of diabetes
PCOS Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Hormone changes
The good news is that diabetes can be prevented and responds well to lifestyle choices. This means eating a healthy whole foods diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking and taking other proactive measures that can protect you.
There are many resources that can help you learn how to prevent or live with this disease. One of our favorites is the American Diabetes Association.
If you are concerned that you might have diabetes, the first step will be to get tested and know where you stand. And then, no matter what the test results are, start taking steps that will ensure you have a healthier, longer life. Prevention is always a good thing.
Miracle Orchids Medical Center – Fountain Valley – (714) 486-1228
