MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center’s John Bahadorani, M.D., is a leader in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) – a Minimally Invasive Way to Treat Heart Disease When it comes to heart conditions, valve disease is very serious, since it impacts one of the biggest arteries in the body: the aorta. Aortic stenosis is when the valve between the lower left heart chamber and the aorta cannot open fully. Because of this, blood fl ow from the heart to the aorta is reduced or blocked altogether, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. If…

I try not to use the word “staple” too much, when I’m talking about dining, or the community, a coffee shop, etc. There aren’t too many places in my vocabulary that can live up to the standard of being a “staple” in my life, the lives of my husband and kids, my friends. Bistango, however, is a staple. In November this year, the restaurant and the incredible family that founded it celebrated 35 years of service to the Newport Beach community, and let’s be honest - to the greater Orange County area as well. The menu showcases extensive offerings in…

Valentine’s Day was right around the corner when I booked a reservation to sample the culinary offerings at PUBlic Legacy - Chef Kent’s newest restaurant located in the center of the bustline and historic City of Orange. Located within the Stadium Promenade center, PUBlic Legacy is not only the brainchild of partners Chef Andrew Kent and Chad Dickey, it is a flagship culmination of their passions, experiences in the industry, and core values. The chef-driven dining experience focuses on elevated comfort food, hand-crafted cocktails, craft beer, and the most thoughtful choices in wine around. While I’m typically not a fan…

In writing this editorial, I recalled a friend once asking me to explain the premise of a book called “All Creatures Great and Small.” It’s about giving veterinary care to animals like you’d give pediatric care to children in your community - with grace, and love, and an incredible amount of passion. James Herriot’s example was set long ago through the tales of extraordinary and ordinary circumstance, but the level of service, specialization, and care lives on in clinics like Healing Hearts Emergency Animal Hospital in Laguna Hills. Since opening its doors last August, the team of compassionate professionals here…

By Sunao Gilbert, MD, FAARFM, ABAARM Do all of your joints hurt? Does every movement cause you to experience pain? If so, you may have a leaky gut. Leaky gut occurs when the Gastrointestinal tract is inflamed, proteins and food particles then leak through the inflamed lining and cause an immune response. Do you have a “low thyroid”? The cause may be your gut. Your GI tract converts nutrients, vitamins, and hormones into their active form. Thyroid hormone, the regulator of metabolism requires this activation. The liver and gut is responsible for turning T4 (prohormone) into T3 (active hormone). Do…

This has been a big year. A big one to celebrate, to recover, rebuild. A comeback year. For Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort (SierraatTahoe.com), a new chapter begins in its 75-year history as this is the first season since the devastating Caldor Fire in 2021 that the slopes have opened, making the record snowfall even sweeter. Multiple early season storms and seasonally cold temperatures have contributed to an impressive amount of powder covering the landscape - helping to renew some of the hundreds of acres that burned as multiple fires raged across California two summers ago. But the fires couldn’t destroy the long…

Like a lot of kids, Mike Parks daydreamed about saving the day - “For as long as I can remember,” he says. “I’ve had a strong desire to help people.” “My Dad was in the electrical-wire business, and I helped out during the summer as a teenager. Being around it so much, I became extremely interested in how all things electrical work.” He started Electric Medics in 1995, and has been gathering top talent since then. Field technicians are typically students of routine, but Mike’s team trains like he did as a paramedic. “Not only do we thrive on action…

By Sunao Gilbert, MD, FAARFM, ABAARM Do you ever wonder why a 70-year-old person may not look a day over 40? Conversely, we have all met the 40-year-old who sadly looks 70. We are pretty clear on how to age more rapidly than we should e.g., alcohol, tobacco, drugs, fast food, and sodas. But why are we less aware of how to stay young? Why is it okay to diplomatically receive the answer, “…it’s a part of aging” when you ask your physician “Why am I always tired and have no energy?” Wellness, youth, what does it mean? Self-esteem? Energy?…

There’s a certain mystique that comes alongside the signs which state “National Register of Historic Places.” Even more so, the places which are waiting to be named. Occasionally in disrepair, like the Prado Dam Mural in Corona, California, these places hold significance to a great many, yet have often yet to be recognized for their cultural and historic significance. Status doesn’t matter to Jeff McCabe, owner of One Way Painting, based in Orange, California. Luckily enough, the pursuit of a singular passion has been enough to keep Jeff pushing for a complete repair and repaint of the Prado Dam. The…

Southern California is not just a location in which we reside, but a lifestyle that we live. Longtime Orange County resident and owner of the Laguna Niguel-based Bronwyn Gorman - Decorating Den Interiors, Bronwyn embraces the unique SoCal lifestyle, and the indoor- outdoor spaces that reflect it. “We enjoy helping our clients create the perfect look for them and their lifestyle,” says Bronwyn. “Whether it’s one room or one window that you’re interested in redecorating, we’d like to help you do it right the first time! If you’re like many of the clients we work with, you want a beautifully…

The first time I heard of Ketamine was a few years ago from a friend in nursing school. Then again recently from another friend whose mother suffers from fibromyalgia as she began researching therapies to relieve chronic pain. A growing number of studies have found that Ketamine can be effective for people with a myriad of chronic pain and mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, anxiety and PTSD. Based in San Juan Capistrano, Renew Ketamine Infusion is the brainchild of Tanya Dall, MD and Justin Yanuck, MD – board certified physicians who became colleagues and friends in their emergency medicine…

Usually when my husband and I travel, we’d use the verb “schlep” to describe the general disarray that accompanies our family of four. Especially if we’ve got the teens in tow - cruising in and out of hotel rooms, or fiddling with yet another key code for a private rental. Nothing could be further from the verbiage I’d use to attempt a recap of our recent stay at La Jolla’s Grande Colonial Hotel. There’s something so special about individually decorated guest rooms, a calming juxtaposition to your typical grey and orange chain stay. iPhone docking stations for the kids, flat-screen…

Hospice care is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient’s pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering. Hospice care provides an alternative to therapies focused on life-prolonging measures that may be arduous, likely to cause more symptoms, or are not aligned with a person’s goals.   You qualify for hospice care if you have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and meet all of these conditions: Your hospice doctor and your…

When considering a Care Giver, it is important to know the specific type of care you require; for example, Skilled Nursing or simple companionship or a person to assist with your Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as dressing, continence, eating, etc. Do you need a 24-hour live-in, full or part-time skilled nursing/assistance, or round-the-clock technology access such as tele-monitoring? The next step is to choose the Agency who will be providing the services. Are they credentialed and licensed with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)? When was the last time a survey, audit or on-site exam been completed…

There’s a common misconception that a high-protein diet is bad for bone health but nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, years of research show that getting plenty of protein is crucial for bone density – provided you get enough of a key mineral. Studies show that getting the right amount of protein in your diet improves your bone health. It lowers your chance of osteoporosis (bone loss) by helping you hold on to your bone density, and it helps prevent breaks as you age, too. Proteins form the foundation of every living thing! But what proteins, exactly?…

Morena Tile and Stone, in San Juan Capistrano, is a 5000 square foot store showcasing one of the largest selections of tile, and natural and engineered stone in South Orange County. The business was opened in 2014 by John Schrab and his wife, Linda, with the goal of creating a convenient, local resource where one can find an abundance of fun, imaginative and up-to-date tile and stone – all under one roof. As a family-owned business, John and Linda focus on customer service and building relationships with their clients, while helping to bring their projects to life. From mild to…

Do you ever wonder why a 70-year-old person may not look a day over 40? Conversely, we have all met the 40-year-old who sadly looks 70. We are pretty clear on how to age more rapidly than we should e.g., alcohol, tobacco, drugs, fast food, and sodas. But why are we less aware of how to stay young? Why is it okay to diplomatically receive the answer, “…it’s a part of aging” when you ask your physician “Why am I always tired and have no energy?” Wellness, youth, what does it mean? Self-esteem? Energy? Low Stress? Quality sleep? Firm and…