We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Below we will list the departments and units that form part of Vall d’Hebron Hospital and the main diseases that we treat. We will also make recommendations based on advice backed up by scientific evidence that has been shown to be effective in guaranteeing well-being and quality of life.
Would you like to know what your stay at Vall d'Hebron will be like? Here you will find all the information.
The commitment of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital to innovation allows us to be at the forefront of medicine, providing first class care adapted to the changing needs of each patient.
Annual anti-flu vaccination is the main prevention measure for flu.
The vaccinations available in Spain are all inactive (they do not contain the flu virus, just part of the virus) and they are administered by intramuscular injection in a single dose. The side effects of the vaccination are not very common and generally mild (pain, hardening and redness at the injection site that do not restrict activity).
The purpose of the anti-flu vaccination is to generate protection against the flu virus strains that circulate in the flu season. There are normally changes in these strains each year. Vaccinations must therefore be prepared each year to include the strains that are most likely to be responsible for flu cases in the coming season. Vaccinations are manufactured based on strains recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The effectiveness of the anti-flu vaccination in preventing hospitalisation due to flu and pneumonia ranges from 30% to 70%. In older people living in institutions, vaccinations have proven to be between 50% and 60% effective to prevent hospitalisation or pneumonia, and 80% to prevent death by flu.
The vaccination is particularly recommended for people at high risk of suffering complications in the event of a flu infection:
As well as vaccination, there are a series of hygiene measures that help to prevent flu:
If you get symptoms of flu or the doctor has diagnosed you with the illness, you should make sure not to share enclosed spaces with people for the first 3-5 days, especially people who are ill in hospital and community care workers.
Passive smoking harms the baby’s health. Tobacco smoke in the air, also known as second-hand smoke, is a mixture of the smoke that smokers exhale and smoke from the passive combustion of the cigarette. Both are toxic and contain respiratory irritants and carcinogens. Tobacco smoke behaves like vapour: it hangs in the atmosphere and impregnates clothes, hair, furniture, curtains, etc. Despite having snubbed out the cigarette, the toxic elements remain in the air, which you should bear in mind when protecting your baby’s health. Therefore:
On a physical level, postpartum is characterised by an involuntary and regression process of the body areas and organs that have undergone changes, with the exception of the mammary gland, which at this time is of greater importance for feeding the baby. In addition to physiological changes, there are also changes in mothers on a psychological level, in the family structure and in their social role.
A period in which so many changes appear can translate into a complex or difficult adaptation, so it is important that the care provided by health professionals is carried out from a biopsychosocial and holistic approach and it is recommended that they be coordinated by a midwife.
From a clinical point of view, three stages can be distinguished.
The immediate postpartum period includes the first 24 hours, of which the first two represent a period of close surveillance, due to the increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage.
Regular monitoring of vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, will be carried out in the delivery room. Vaginal bleeding and the size of the uterus will be assessed, which after delivery must gradually recover to its size before pregnancy.
It must be verified that there is no wound or laceration in the vagina that is actively bleeding and, in the event that the woman has requested anaesthesia, the recovery of mobility of her legs must be checked.
Immediate skin-to-skin contact of the baby with the mother will be initiated, under the appropriate supervision of health professionals, as well as the early start of breastfeeding if the mother wishes. The pertinent care of the newborn will also be carried out without altering the mother-child relationship, whenever circumstances allow.
During the hospital stay, checks and care must be aimed at promoting the bond between mother and baby, together with the establishment of breastfeeding. During this process, it is important to instruct the mother and her family with regards identifying the warning signs to detect possible complications early.
It is necessary to offer the mother truthful and simple information so that at the time of discharge she has maximum autonomy regarding the care of her baby. During the hospital stay, active participation of the couple in parenting will also be encouraged.
The "early", "mediate" or "clinical" postpartum covers from 24 hours to the tenth day of postpartum and is considered the most important involuntary period. During this period, attention should be paid to the following possible complications: Infection of the endometrium, the surgical wound, the episiotomy, urine or the breasts; circulatory problems such as varicose veins, haemorrhoids and difficulties related to breastfeeding: pain, cracks, inflammation and problems with the baby's latch.
The hospital stay can be extended by 2 to 3 days depending on the type of delivery and as long as the evolution of the mother and baby is within normal limits. Once hospital discharge occurs, the midwife of the primary care centre will be in charge of the continuity of care for both the woman and her baby.
Finally, the third phase, which corresponds to the late postpartum period, is between the 11th and the 42nd day after delivery (6 weeks). In this period, the physical changes that occurred during pregnancy in the mother have disappeared, breastfeeding is usually in place and the first menstruation appears in mothers who are not breastfeeding.
In this period, the physical changes that occurred during pregnancy in the mother have disappeared, breastfeeding is usually in place and the first menstruation appears in mothers who are not breastfeeding. We should also provide information on postpartum support groups and breastfeeding groups.
In the case of constipation:
In the case of diarrhoea:
1. Make a list of the benefits your have felt and read it at tricky times.
2. Reduce alcohol and caffeine consumption, increase consumption of water or natural fruit juices.
3. Increase physical activity.
4. Take up hobbies again that you stopped.
5. Keep yourself busy. Take the opportunity to do things that you have been putting off doing.
6. Get yourself a present.
7. Ask a relative, friend or healthcare professional for support.
8. When you feel like smoking, eat a piece of fruit, a sugar-free sweet or drink water.
9. Stay alert; don’t think that smoking just one cigarette won’t do any harm.
10. Focus on the present; every day without smoking is a battle won.
If you have a newborn at home, you must follow the same precautionary measures that healthcare professionals recommend to the rest of the population. It is especially important to maintain good hygiene practices, especially on the hands, both for the parents and the baby, and take isolation measures in case of possible contagions.
In the actual epidemiological situation, and considering babies situation, hospital and home visits should be limited to those strictly necessary and avoid receiving friends or family. Complying with #Iamstayingathome is essential to contain the virus and avoid undesired infections.
In the case of women who are newly mothers and infected, data do not show intrauterine transmission through the placenta or perinatal transmission. This means that there’s no mother-child vertical transmission of the disease during pregnancy.
If the mother is infected, specialists will perform appropriate tests for the newborn and, if necessary, prescribe the most appropriate treatment and recommendations for both.
Although the reason why infection rate in newborns is low is still unknown, according to studies so far, if the baby is infected with COVID-19, the risk of serious complications from the virus is low and the more likely you are to have a mild symptomatology.
If your baby has any symptoms associated with COVID-19, please contact your health care authorities.
The menopause is:
The menopause marks the end of the fertile stage of a woman's life. It is a consequence of the natural ageing of the ovaries and the end of their reproductive and hormonal function. During this process of losing fertility, some hormonal disorders can arise that affect the way the body works.
As well as the natural menopause we have just described, there is also induced menopause, caused by removing the ovaries, chemotherapy treatment or radiotherapy treatment, autoimmune diseases or abnormal ovary function.
The menopause is considered to be early if it happens before the age of 40 years and late if it happens after the age of 57.
The lack of oestrogen in the short term can cause:
1. Hot flushes and sweats: the lack of oestrogen causes the body's temperature to increase by almost 1 degree. Generally, hot flushes or a feeling of suffocation start at the thorax and rise up to the head and across the whole body. When a hot flush has happened, the body starts the process of going back to normal and in order to do so it produces sweat, which is the mechanism for reducing body temperature. Sweats may be as bothersome as or more so than hot flushes. 60%-80% of women experience them. 2. The frequency of hot flushes may be once a day or every half an hour. Normally, episodes occur at night. They usually last between three and six minutes. This situation can go on for six months or two to three years on average. 15%-20% of women will, however, have them for the rest of their lives. 3. Dizziness: a feeling of sickness and a sensation of not being stable. 4. Paraesthesia: a burning or pricking sensation or a feeling of extremities having fallen to sleep. 5. Psychological symptoms: often associated with hot flushes or suffocation. The changes that take place for women during climacteric - which incorporates pre-menopause and menopause and lasts between 5 and 15 years - are the consequence, on the one hand, of endocrine and metabolic changes and, on the other hand, of an individual's psychological characteristics and social factors. The symptoms are:
These come about 5-10 years after the beginning of menopause.
1. Urinary alterations or genitourinary syndrome of menopause
The symptoms are:
Current treatment is based on physiotherapy to improve pelvic floor muscle strength. Treatment with oestrogen improves mucosal trophism and can help to decrease symptoms and improve the symptomatology.
2. Skin alterations
The skin may also undergo changes caused by oestrogen deficiency, as well as by other age-related or external factors, such as exposure to sunlight. The passage of time leads to decreased collagen and skin thickness, which causes the skin to become looser, more wrinkled and to lose its elasticity and sensitivity.
3. Sexuality during menopause
The arrival of the menopause does not mean that a women's sex life has come to an end. The opposite perception is also mistaken. It depends more on social and cultural factors than on hormones.
The menopause brings with it certain changes and may lead to some disorders, but this does not mean a loss of femininity:
These begin to appear 10 years or more after the beginning of menopause.
The lack of oestrogen in the long term can cause:
Osteoporosis
Cardiovascular Diseases
During the reproductive stage of their lives, women experience a greater degree of protection against cardiovascular diseases than men thanks to the action of oestrogen on the body.
With the lack of oestrogen during the menopause, women enter the risk group for cardiovascular diseases. The cardiovascular disease risk factors identified in women are:
The definition of the menopause is one year without having a period. Aside from that, the diagnosis will be clinical on account of all of the symptomatology explained above and also the findings of general tests, where there will be an increase in cholesterol, but the main signs relate to hormones, with a major increase in gonadotropins and particularly more than 40 IU/l FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and oestrogen deficiency, with values below 18 pg/ml.
Healthy habits should be maintained during the menopause.
The menopause DOES NOT need to be treated but THERE ARE treatments to reduce some of the symptoms and improve the quality of life of affected women.
Phytoestrogens:
Hormonal treatment:
Oestrogen deficiency leads to the changes that some women experience. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves supplementing these hormones. HRT allows minimum hormonal levels to be restored, allowing some women who have severe symptoms to retain a good quality of life.
Medical consensus also warns of some risks:
Most cases of back pain are caused by muscle pain due to mechanical overloading of the spine, static positions, physical exertion and bad movements that cause a muscle spasm and pain. A bio-mechanical alteration of the small posterior joints of the vertebrae that cause nerve irritation with a spasm of the surrounding paravertebral muscles.
The most frequent types are mechanical lumbar pain, where you can find spasms of the lumbar region or the pyramidal muscles, with the pain radiating towards the gluteal region.
You can observe phenomena such as wear, osteoarthritis of these joints, protrusion of the discs or disc herniation can make these spasms be more or less frequent. The next, in terms of frequency, is neck pain, which can cause pain towards the shoulders, or even tension-related headaches. These are more directly related to bad posture and spasms of the trapezoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles.
Yes, and most of the time it is multi-factor. People with the following issues can suffer it:
Sciatica is an irritation of the sciatic nerve, which starts at the lower lumbar area and radiates throughout the gluteus, all the way to the posterior part of the leg. This irritation can be caused by a herniated disc, foraminal stenosis, or a pyramidal muscle spasm, which all present a similar clinical picture, pseudo-sciatica.
Hernias are caused by a rupture of the inter-vertebral disc that causes the extrusion (it moves outwards) of its contents, which can come in contact with the root of the nerve that runs alongside it and produce a painful irritation that will radiate along the nerve's whole trajectory.
Can having muscle spasms on a regular basis be indicative of a more severe back problem?
Not necessarily. It depends on many factors. It is best to see a specialist so they can orient a proper diagnosis for muscle spasms.
It is best to combine both, though it depends. You should never do any exercises that cause pain while you are doing them or afterwards. You can stretch, for example, which can help relax muscles and ease the pain. Total bed rest is not beneficial either.
It depends on the diagnosis. They are not recommended in general terms, though they can alleviate pain during a certain period of the day, depending on the type of activity being performed and the pathology in question. We always recommend that they only be used when prescribed by a doctor.
They must always be prescribed by a doctor. The best thing to do is decrease the intensity of your daily activity, rest a bit, apply gentle heat locally for 15 minutes at a time and take a conventional analgesic, and if the pain does not improve, you can take an anti-inflammatory, assuming it has been recommended by a doctor and has been effective in the past.
The quality of your rest at night is important for improving back pain. If pain is interfering with your sleep patterns, you’ll wake up feeling worse, with more spasms and pain. Sleeping in postures that cause pain, such as flat on your back or flat on your stomach, is not recommended. Sleeping on your side, or in a foetal position can help with the pain. You can place pillows or cushions between your legs if you are on your side, or under your stomach if you are lying face-down, to try to alleviate the pain and be able to rest.
They can make it worse if you don't use adequate footwear. You should use comfortable shoes, with a snug fit, least a 2 cm sole, and a wedge heel. Shoes should never be totally flat.
As well as regular physical activity and good posture, are there any other things we can do to prevent back pain?
The most important things would be to keep a correct height/weight ratio, eating well and also another recommendation would be to work in an adapted environment.
Yes, there are specific exercises. In general, any that strengthen the abdominal area. It is best if these are prescribed by a professional in that field, since they really do need to be adapted to each person’s morphology. As a general recommendation, you can find exercises, for example, on the website for the Sociedad Española de Rehabilitación y Medicina Física (Spanish Society for Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine), under the “Exercises” header.
Personal hygiene is essential for protection against microbes and bacteria. People who shower every day and clean their hands frequently are protecting themselves against many diseases.
It is important to take care of our hands, mouth, feet and genitals. These are the parts of the body that have greater contact with bacteria and which need special attention.
Be careful when you sneeze or cough. Throw away used tissues and clean any items you have touched. These are small actions that improve everyone’s quality of life. By taking care of ourselves, we are taking care of others.
If you have a pet, it is important to maintain basic rules of hygiene relating to the animal and to the spaces in the house it lives in.
A person who fails to take care of their personal hygiene may catch various diseases and infections. For example, failure to clean our teeth can cause decay and bad breath. Cardiovascular diseases as well. Bacteria from the plaque in our gums can enter the body through the bloodstream. When such bacteria reach our heart, they increase our possibility of having a heart attack.
Failure to wash our hands after going to the toilet can result in diseases such as the common cold, the flu, chicken pox, meningitis, gastroenteritis and ’hepatitis A.
You can enjoy good personal hygiene by following these recommendations:
This is the best way to eliminate dirt, sweat, dead cells and bacteria. Especially take a shower after you have done some sport. If that is not possible, you can use a damp towel to clean your body at the end of the day.
Wash your armpits thoroughly with soap and water every day. This is important for protecting against body odour. Use a deodorant or antiperspirant too These products help to control excess sweat and body odour.
You do not need to wash your hair every day. It depends on your habits and your hair type. It is recommended to wash your hair at least once a week with an appropriate shampoo. It is also advisable to have your hair cut every three months or, at the very least, twice a year. That way it stays healthy.
It is important you wash your hands frequently, to eliminate dirt and bacteria. It also helps to prevent the spreading of respiratory and diarrhoeal infections from one person to another.
You must wash your hands and wrists with soap and water:
Cleaning your teeth helps to protect against gum diseases such as gingivitis. And bad breath too. To eliminate the accumulation of bacteria in your mouth, your brushing should last between 4 and 5 minutes. It is advisable to start from the front of your teeth. Afterwards, continue with the inside and, finally, your molars. You should ideally brush your teeth after every meal. If not, you can brush them twice a day: in the morning and before you go to bed.
Do not forget your tongue. It has to be cleaned with your toothbrush from inside to outside. You can also use a specific cleaner for your tongue. For good oral-dental health, you should visit your dentist twice a year.
Our skin produces oils every day that block its pores. These can cause eruptions and acne. Which is why you need to wash your face at least twice a day.
Facial skin is more sensitive than the rest of the body’s skin. This is why we recommend you use a facial cleaner adapted to your individual skin type. Anyone with dry skin should avoid using alcohol-based cleansers. It is best to use hypo-allergenic cleansers for sensitive skin. If you use make-up, you should use a special cleanser and wash your face afterwards.
Fingernails and toenails need to be frequently cut to prevent dirt from accumulating underneath them. That way you can protect the skin of your feet against infections and conditions.
Do not share personal-hygiene items as they may contain bacteria. Electric shavers, brushes, tweezers, sponges, make-up, lipstick, deodorant balls or bars... It is better to have your own personal-hygiene items.
People who wear clean clothes always look better and feel better. Moreover, dirty clothes may contain micro-organisms and cause skin infections.
Underclothes must be changed every day. You are advised to put on clean clothes after you take a shower or bath.
Shirts and T-shirts are best cleaned after use. Trousers and skirts, by contrast, can be worn more before they need to be washed.
Clothes that contain vomit, fluids resulting from wounds, sweat, contaminated food or which have been in contact with animals, must be washed at 60 degrees and separately. This eliminates bacteria and the possible spread of disease. After you wash your clothes, you need to dry them immediately. If they remain wet for too long, they may give off a dank odour and cause skin infections.
It is not advisable to leave dirty plates and cutlery in the sink for hours or your dishwasher full, after each meal. Food leftovers encourage the growth of micro-organisms that can cause infections, such as salmonella.
Kitchen sinks can accumulate more bacteria than a bathroom or toilet bowl. They can be disinfected every day with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or bleach.
Your cleaning cloth should also be changed every week, as it accumulates a large quantity of bacteria.
Glasses and contact lenses must be kept clean to avoid infections, such as conjunctivitis and keratitis. They need to be cleaned with specific products.
If you do not have these products, you can clean your glasses with soap and water. You must never clean them with saliva or clothing. Contact lenses must be cleaned with a special solution after use.
It is not advisable to walk barefoot at home, as large quantities of bacteria accumulate on the floor. Walking without shoes or sandals can cause infections, such as athlete’s foot. Bacteria cause peeling and itchiness in the lower part of the feet and the build up of fungus in the nails.
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