CHA Hollywood Presbyterian

By Roni Laytin, NASM CPT, NASM CES, AFAA GFI

November marks the first month of the holiday season, a time when high calorie, fried, and delicious food abounds! There are sweets at the office. The leftovers are seemingly endless. Trying to maintain a balanced diet at this time seems pointless. This way of thinking about consumption is akin to going on an all-out spending spree without looking at your bank balance or credit limit.

For decades, diet pills with a heavy concentration of caffeine have been on the market. Gabriela Czapek, Registered Dietitian (RD) at CHA HPMC had some very insightful information for us regarding caffeine’s molecular makeup and whether or not it can truly help folks slim down.

To what extent does coffee aid in weight loss?
Caffeine may act as a diuretic, leading to loss of water stored in the body. Fluid loss

By Roni Laytin, NASM CPT, NASM CES, AFAA GFI

September 28th is National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. This topic covers attention brought to the obvious basics such as annual breast and gynecological exams, following up with your primary care provider, debunking myths around certain health issues such as getting vaccines when pregnant, or bras causing breast cancer. However, seeing as we’re nearing Halloween season, this article is going to touch on a topic

According to the CDC, approximately 700 people succumb to extreme heat each year¹. Dr. Eugene Park, an emergency department physician at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, warns of the risk of exposure to extreme heat and shares symptoms, treatment, and prevention tips for heat-related illnesses.

What is heat-related illness?
Heat-related illness is a spectrum of illness caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Two terms that should not be used interchangeably

It is important to keep your fingernails healthy for more than just cosmetic reasons. Your fingernails can provide clues to your overall health and signal any health issues. Gabriela Czapek, Registered Dietitian at CHA HPMC, explains by answering some common questions.

Is it common for diseases and conditions to affect your nails? If so, can you share examples of how they’d change your nails?
It is quite common for nails to be