Stress can feel like a way of life for parents. From financial worries to work responsibilities and the kids’ packed schedule, it can feel like you just can’t get ahead. When you’re feeling this kind of strain, the first step to take is to ask your hospital for a referral to a physician who can help you improve your stress management and your overall health. This advice will also help you cope with the strain of parenthood.

Look for things to scratch off your schedule
Sit down with your family to talk about your schedule and how you can change it. You may find that your kids are as stressed as you are and are looking for a way to ease their burdens.

Consider cutting back on extracurricular activities or putting an end to the nightly stop at the grocery store by shopping once a week with a list. In that schedule, carve out some time where you will all relax and do something fun together as a family, which can be more productive than any of the other activities you’re doing.

Delegate tasks as much as possible
Trying to do everything for your family is impossible. Take some of the burden off of your shoulders by delegating tasks. There are a number of different ways you can take things off your plate, including:

• Joining a carpool so you don’t have to run to and from every practice
• Giving the kids a list of chores
• Hiring a cleaning person for one-off deep cleans or more frequent services
• Relying on family and friends for help with child care

Often, you will be surprised how many people are willing to help you if you tell them—or show them—how.

Focus on healthy habits
Stress often lends itself to overeating, drinking, smoking, and other unhealthy habits. You will feel less stressed if you feel more physically healthy. You don’t have to change everything overnight. Commit to one change for your health, such as taking a walk every day, to feel an improvement.

Don’t let stress overwhelm you and your family. Contact Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center today to request a referral to a physician who can help you learn stress coping techniques. Take the first step for better health by calling our hospital today at (877) 888-5746.

Babies do acquire some immunity from their mothers, especially if they are breastfed. But unfortunately, their immune systems still have plenty of strengthening to do, which is why vaccines are necessary. Babies and young children are vulnerable to diseases that have the potential to cause death or serious, lasting health complications. At Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center, the health of your family is important to us. We maintain an unwavering commitment to give every baby the healthiest possible start in life.

Babies are at risk of hepatitis B
One of the first vaccines a baby receives protects him or her from hepatitis B. Healthcare providers administer this shot not long after birth because it’s possible for a mother to pass the disease to her baby. Not everyone who has hepatitis B realizes it.

Hepatitis B can affect babies and young children more severely than adults. When a baby is infected with this disease, he or she is more likely to develop an incurable, chronic infection. Later in life, this can lead to liver damage and liver cancer.

The recommended vaccine schedule is clinically proven
Researchers have designed the recommended vaccine schedule through painstaking work. It’s based on how vaccines work best with a child’s immune system at certain ages, and how well the child can develop an immune response.

Children need to receive a lot of vaccines within the first two years of life because they need the protection. It isn’t possible to “overload” a child’s immune system by following the recommended vaccine schedule.

Vaccines protect the community
It’s important to bring babies to each scheduled appointment for shots, as delaying shots places them and others at risk. For example, children cannot receive the first vaccine for whooping cough until two months of age. It’s possible for an unvaccinated child to transmit this infection to a baby who is too young to get the shot yet.

Whooping cough is especially dangerous for babies, potentially causing seizures, brain damage and death. Babies who are vaccinated can protect others, as well as themselves.

The healthcare providers at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center work collaboratively with parents to give babies the superior, sensitive care they deserve. Our highly trained specialists in Thousand Oaks have made it their life’s work to safeguard the health of the next generation. A registered nurse welcomes your questions at (877) 888-5746.

California is home to many National Parks, and what better time could there be to get outside and explore? Of course, getting back to nature comes with a few risks, so to prevent your trip to the wilderness turning into a trip to the hospital emergency room, keep a few safety tips in mind. As you head out to the wilderness, be mindful of this safety advice.

Leave your travel plan with someone
Before you head out into the wild, make sure someone back at home knows what your plans are. If you leave an itinerary with someone, then he or she will be aware of when you are supposed to return home and can raise the alarm if you are late.

Leaving an itinerary also helps people know where to find you if you are late and need help. Don’t deviate from your plan once you give it to people.

Stay hydrated
Dehydration is a significant risk when you are outside. It doesn’t matter whether it is hot or cold—you can still become dehydrated when hiking, which can lead to serious complications.

Bring more water than you think you’ll need, and stop to drink it frequently. When it is hot out, take breaks in the shade to cool down often. If your urine is dark yellow or you feel thirsty, you are dehydrated. Drink more water or head back.

Do your research
Before you go on a wilderness adventure, get to know the area in which you plan to be. Familiarize yourself with the wildlife, know the location of rangers’ stations, and pack according to the area you’ll be exploring.

Be sure to also check the weather report before you go, and postpone your trip if bad weather is expected. Flash floods, strong winds, and other summer storm hazards can be deadly in the wilderness.

If your adventure does end in injury, the emergency room at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center provides care around the clock with short wait times and pediatric care. For treatment of all of your summertime injuries and illnesses, choose our ER in Thousand Oaks. You can also dial (877) 888-5746 for more information.

Stroke is deadly and debilitating, but survival is possible if the patient reaches the Emergency Room quickly. As soon as you recognize that someone is experiencing stroke symptoms, call 911. The sooner the patient reaches Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center, the better the outcome will be. This is because the treatment for stroke is time-dependent, according to the neurologist featured in the accompanying video.

Recognize the signs of stroke
The symptoms of a stroke develop rapidly. Since no one expects their loved one to suddenly suffer a stroke, it can be difficult to recognize what the symptoms mean. That’s why doctors recommend learning the F.A.S.T. acronym:

• F: Face. The person’s smile droops on one side.
• A: Arms. One arm involuntarily drifts downward when both are raised up.
• S: Speech. The person suddenly starts talking strangely or has slurred speech.
• T: Time. As soon as these symptoms occur, it’s time to call 911.

Of course, stroke can cause other signs and symptoms. These include:

• Sudden vision impairment
• Confusion or inattentiveness
• Sudden, excruciating headache with no apparent cause
• Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
• Dizziness
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Trouble walking
• Loss of consciousness

Act quickly when stroke occurs
Calling 911 is the first thing you should do when there’s even a slight chance that someone is having a stroke. Then, take the following steps:

• Write down the time symptoms first appeared
• Help the patient lie down on a couch or the floor
• Gather the patient’s medications—look in the medicine cabinet and nightstand

If the patient doesn’t have a pulse, then your priority after calling 911 is to perform CPR. The 911 dispatcher can walk you through the steps.

Know what to avoid when stroke occurs
Avoiding these common mistakes could save a life:

• Don’t give the person aspirin or other medicines
• Don’t give the patient food or drink
• Don’t try to drive the patient to the ER instead of waiting for an ambulance
• Don’t leave the individual alone

Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center is a recognized leader in stroke care. We are a Comprehensive Stroke Center that also features a specialized Neurovascular Program. A registered nurse in Thousand Oaks welcomes your general healthcare questions at (877) 888-5746, but please do call 911 immediately if you or someone else might be having a stroke.

Taking your child to the emergency room can be an anxious experience, and you may wonder what role his or her pediatrician should play in your decision to get emergency care. How and when you communicate with your child’s pediatrician when you go to the ER depends on several different factors, including how urgent his or her symptoms are. Here is what you need to know.

Don’t delay care

Although there can be advantages to checking in with your child’s pediatrician before going to the emergency room, you should never delay care to do so. As mentioned in the featured video, if your child is having symptoms that require immediate treatment, calling 911 or getting to the emergency room right away is the priority.

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, go to the ER before calling his or her pediatrician:

• Breathing difficulties
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion/changes in mental status
• Severe bleeding
• Traumatic injury

If you are unable to call your child’s pediatrician before going to the ER, the hospital will provide his or her doctor will a record of the visit to review.

Communicate if you can

If it won’t jeopardize your child’s health, it can be helpful to call his or her pediatrician before going to the emergency room, especially if you are going to the hospital for treatment for a problem for which your child has previously seen the doctor.

For example, if your child receives regular care for a chronic condition, such as asthma or diabetes, and he or she is going to the hospital for a problem related to that condition, you may wish to call the pediatrician. The same is true for an acute condition for which your child has already seen his or her doctor, such as a bout of the flu or a chest infection.

Your child’s pediatrician can provide health records to the hospital before you arrive that can speed up the emergency care he or she receives.

At Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center, our emergency room is available around the clock to provide immediate care to your entire family, including comprehensive follow-ups to coordinate continued care with your primary physician. To find out more about all of the services at our hospital in Thousand Oaks, please call (877) 888-5746.