One of the most common medical problems is back pain. Back pain is fairly common because much of the time it comes with age and stress. Stress can be from an injury or simply a wrong turn. It is important that you do not assume that your personal diagnosis is causing the condition. The pain could be related to something much more serious than just a minor ache.

The spine specialists located at one of the best hospitals in the area can determine whether your back pain is caused by a herniated or degenerated disc, spinal stenosis or just a muscle strain or sprain.

Possible conditions that cause back pain:

• Herniated disc: can result in severe pain and numbness
• Degenerated disc: can lead to back pain or herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis: can cause pain and numbness in the legs
• Strains and sprains: pain is usually isolated in the back
• Osteoporosis: can cause instability and pain in the back

The goal for any treatment is to relieve the pain completely or manage the pain as best as possible. There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments available depending on the situation. This is because not all treatments work the same way. Options also depend on your age, ability to tolerate specific medications and preference for care. Treatments at first may seem minimal, but they can be highly effective. The following are possibilities that may be suggested:

• rest
• changing your activity
• taking anti-inflammatory medication
• visiting a chiropractor, a specialist in adjusting the vertebrae of your spine
• physical therapy or acupuncture
• back brace
• take medication or have an injection of steroids along the spine
• lose weight or change your activity level

Even the most minor ache in the lower back can cause irritation and affect your mobility and everyday functioning. The following are statistics provided from the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• 70 – 85% of all people have back pain at some time in their life
• Back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old

The convenience of Lehigh Valley Hospital and the experience and reliability of their staff creates a facility for the utmost care. While there is no guarantee for a reduction or the disappearance of pain, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network will do everything in its power to make your experience as comfortable as possible.

The Pediatric Specialty Center in Bethlehem is staffed with well trained employees who provide psychological support to children and families. The awareness in caring for children is much higher than young adults; for instance the average stomachache could be more serious. A common complaint for a child is a stomachache or headache. A parent/guardian must recognize when loving care or a trip to the doctor is necessary.

Lehigh Valley Hospital's children's specialists provide expert care for many conditions, including childhood appendectomy. The pain often starts in the center of the stomach and works its way to the lower right side, accompanied sometimes by vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Appendicitis is something that must be treated and is not preventable. Pediatric appendectomy is no more dangerous than an adult appendectomy except for distinguishing the diagnosis from a stomachache to something much more threatening.

Appendectomy is a common procedure for Lehigh Valley Hospital's children's specialists. They also know that additional care and support is required beyond the hospital stay and doctors' visits. That is why Lehigh Valley Hospital offers classes, support groups, and other programs to help in easing you and your child with the challenges that they are currently and possibly will be faced with.

Lehigh Valley Hospital's Cancer Center is set to move quickly if one is in need of immediate diagnosis and treatment. Types of cancers, such as Brain Cancer and Cancer of the Central Nervous Systemrequire a quick diagnosis to identify the location of any tumors and to determine the appropriate treatment. The following are possible signs and symptoms:

Behavorial Changes	Memory Loss
Emotional Changes	Paralysis on one side of the body
Impaired Judgement	Reduced mental capacity
Impaired sense of smell	vision loss and inflammation of the optic nerve

The cancer hospital's neuro-oncology program provides reliable services to promote the well-being for the paitent. The advanced neuro-oncology team includes the following:

Neurosurgery	Neurology
Medical oncology	Radiation oncology
Radiology	Pathology
Psychiatry

LVH is one of a select number of hospitals nationwide to offer state-of-the art Gamma Knife radiosurgery. The optimal teamwork is most effectively represented for the best care regarding cancer of the brain. This is due to the fact that there are a number of doctors involved in one patients best treatment plan. The skill, genuine understanding, and reliability offered from the doctors, surgeons, and related staff is what really makes the difference between good care and excellent care.

Pregnancy can be both exciting and scary for any mother and father-to-be, but an expected or unexpected premature delivery can be frightening.  Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network is one of the most committed in the area and in Pennsylvania in meeting patients needs.  We are an associate member of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions. Read our Child Care Success Stories.

Kira Brawley (pictured above), was expected by her parents to be premature.  She was born at a shockingly 2-pound, 9-ounces.  “The flight team and NICU team were both incredible, stabilizing Kira and giving great support to me and my husband,”  says Kira's mother, Beverly. After the successful treatments from the staff, Kira was watched closely by the NICU team.

Lehigh Valley Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is the highest level (III) in the area.  The NICU has 28 licensed beds, uses advances in science and technology, and provides active consultations with respected communication and coordination. The team of compassionate professionals includes:

• Board-certified neonatologists

• Neonatal nurse practitioners

• Nurses

• Respiratory therapists

• Occupational therapists

• Speech therapists

• Pharmacists

• Ethicists

• Dietitians

• Social workers

The understanding from the doctors and staff make the transitions as smooth as possible.  Healing best takes place when one is surrounded by people who care greatly about them.  The pediatric specialists at Lehigh Valley Hospital value family-centered surroundings, and encourage family and friends' involvement with the doctors and staff.  Lehigh Valley Hospital is close to home in Pennsylvania and provides the highest level of pediatric care.

A parents common fear regarding a child is his or her health. Lehigh Valley Hospital's priority is the health of a child. This is through the caring environment and well-trained staff of primary care physicians and pediatric specialists.

One word to describe the picture above is, “miracle.”  Brett Bonney, and his mother, Beth, are grateful to Lehigh Valley Hospital's doctors and nurses every day for their tremendous help. Brett was diagnosed when he was 6 months old with lymphoblastic leukemia.

Brett's mother appreciated that he was able to receive his care close to home. “Staying in the hospital here felt like home because I could have my family and friends nearby, and the nurses and doctors gave us such amazing support,” she says. This is one miracle of to come that the hospital and its pediatrics program are proud of. Read more about Brett Bonney's Amazing Story.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, an associate member of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, treats children from infancy all the way into teenage years; from bumps and bruises to life threatening illnesses. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network is home to Pennsylvania's first and busiest level I trauma center, the only in the area with accreditation to care for children. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network also offers pediatric specialists to meet your child's needs:

• Pediatric surgeons
• Pediatric anesthesiologist
• Pediatric oncologists and hematologists
• Pediatric audiology specialist
• Pediatric radiologists

Lehigh Valley Hospital's pediatric specialists not only strive to serve children hands-on, but provide parents and guardians information, such as Secrets of Happy Babies.

The importance of remembering what sets this children's care apart from the many others is the genuine kindness from the staff regarding the reality of the situation. Lehigh Valley Hospital has been recognized for the outstanding care. The following is a list of affiliations and accreditations:

• Nationally Recognized for Children's Cancer Care
• Certified member of the Children's Oncology Group
• Top Hospital for Cystic Fibrosis Care
• Member of National Network of Children's Hospitals
• Named Best in Endocrinology
• Magnet Hospital - quality nursing care
• Leapfrog Top Hospital
• “100 Most Wired” and “25 Most Wireless” Hospitals in the U.S.

The goal of any children's hospital is to heal the sick. Lehigh Valley Hospital not only uses all the resources and innovative technology, but provides quality care and treats children as if they are their own.

While Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network's local community consists of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, our care is far reaching.

We have set ourselves apart in many health care services, including our heart care and heart surgery. Our heart program is the third largest in Pennsylvania and has received state recognition for consistent "gold standard" care for heart attacks.

Patric Hettman, of East Stroudsburg, was set to enjoy the Pocono 500 when he started to experience signs of a heart attack. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network's John McCarthy, D.O, an emergency physician located at Pocono Raceway's infield hospital, administered an EKG that showed he was having a heart attack. McCarthy then initiated an MI Alert for Heart Attacks, our award-winning program that opens blocked heart vessels within 90 minutes, saving heart muscle.

During the 15-minute flight to Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest, Hettman’s heart stopped four times, meaning his artery was severely blocked. At arrival, Hettman was taken to the cardiac catheterization lab, where cardiologist Bryan Kluck, D.O., found the blocked artery. He opened it with a device that breaks up and sucks out plaque. Two stents were put in to help the artery stay open.

“I remember waking up in my room and watching the end of the race on TV,” Hettman says. Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag to win the Pocono 500, but Hettman says, “We were both winners that day.”

The speed and professional competence of everyone involved helped this East Stroudsburg man to be here today.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network offers an alternative to a Philadelphia hospital right outside the metropolitan area. Take the short trip up the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, with campuses in Allentown, Pa., and Bethlehem, Pa., is ranked as one of the best heart care facilities in the country. You can easily access our hospitals from Philadelphia and Lansdale, allowing your loved ones to visit you without the parking problems and issues faced when staying within city limits.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network is also recognized by FORTUNE magazine as a 100 Best Company to Work For. What does that mean to you as a patient? Satisfied employees lead to satisfied patients. You'll encounter enthusiastic people who love their work and do their best to provide the best care possible. No other hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or the Lehigh Valley region has been recognized by FORTUNE. In 2007, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network became the first ever Pennsylvania hospital recognized and the first ever Pennsylvania non-profit organization selected to the list since the national ranking began in 1998.

Our 9,000 motivated and talented caregivers are not only caring, they also have the technical knowledge to provide you with the quality care you deserve without the inconvenience of a city hospital. If you live in Lansdale or outside Philadelphia, explore Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network as a viable alternative to city-based hospitals.

Learning that something is wrong with your heart can be frightening. You can feel comfortable knowing that Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network's heart program is the third largest in Pennsylvania and provides experienced cardiologists, surgeons and cardiac nurses. Our team provides the best heart care when you need it most, so it's important for you to recognize your risk for heart disease and also know the signs of a heart attack.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

If you have any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Say "I think I'm having a heart attack." Chew and swallow an aspirin.

• Chest discomfort or pain that lasts more than a few minutes

• Discomfort or pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach

• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort

• Cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network's fast care for heart attacks program, called MI Alert for Heart Attacks, ensures blocked arteries are opened quickly, saving heart muscle. It's one reason why
we're one of the best heart hospitals serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Providing the Highest-Level Heart Care

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network's heart specialists can treat heart problems ranging from heart attack to complex cholesterol and hypertension disorders. Our heart specialists care for people in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Flemington, N.J., Pottsville, Scranton, and Lehighton. Providing the highest level of cardiac care, our mission is dedicated to helping the people of our community achieve and maintain heart health.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network's Regional Heart Center has campuses in Allentown, Pa., and Bethlehem, Pa. Located near Philadelphia, it is an easy commute with less traffic and headaches than city-based hospitals. It's just a quick drive up 476 (PA Turnpike) from Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, allowing your loved ones to easily visit during your stay.

The Facts About Heart Disease:

• In America, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women.

• Heart disease will strike 1 out of every 3 women.

• More than 700,000 men and women die in the U.S. each year of cardiovascular disease.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network ranks as one of the nation's top hospitals in six specialty care areas, including heart care and heart surgery hospital. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network is a best heart hospital serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We care for people in Doylestown, Flemington, Perkasie, Pottsville, Reading, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

In addition, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network is proud to offer Heart Help for Women. It's an empowering program that educates you and the medical community on heart health, and connects you with a doctor specially trained to recognize and treat women's heart issues.

Heart Help for Women is a program for women and their physicians designed to:

• Increase awareness of your risk for heart disease

• Make sure you know the symptoms of a heart attack and how important it is to call 9-1-1 immediately

• Encourage you to work with your doctors at managing your risk factors and get appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network has doctors who voluntarily participate in additional training to specifically be aware of a woman's risks and symptoms and to treat her most effectively.

Next time you see your primary care doctor, here are six questions to ask so you can start taking control of your heart health.

1. What are my personal risk factors for heart disease, and how can I lower my risk?

2. What are the warning signs of heart disease or a heart attack?

3. If I think I'm having a heart attack, what should I do?

4. When I quit smoking, how will that change my risk for heart attack?

5. How does menopause affect my heart health?

6. What is the latest research on taking low-dose aspirin to prevent or treat a heart attack?

About Heart Care Services at Lehigh Valley

The Regional Heart Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network serves Eastern PA and New Jersey. Our heart program is the third largest in Pennsylvania. Specialists at our Regional Heart Center perform thousands of surgeries, cardiac catheterizations, angioplasties and procedures for electrical problems of the heart every year. The fact that we care for such a large number of people means our doctors have the experience needed to achieve the best results.