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.
If a woman is pregnant, can she transmit the virus to her baby?
According to the data that is currently available, there is no evidence of mother-to-child vertical transmission. This means that a mother cannot transmit the virus to her unborn child, either via the placenta or during birth. Thus far, in the cases where newborns were infected, this happened post-partum, hours after they were born.
The studies carried out show that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spreads via the respiratory route, when in close contact with someone who is infected. Transmission occurs through small droplets that come from the nose and mouth of an infected person when they cough or exhale. Therefore, it spreads in a similar manner to the flu and other respiratory viruses.
What measures should a pregnant woman take as regards COVID-19?
The preventative measures that a pregnant woman should take are the same as those for any other person:
Follow the link to find more health advice on how to avoid being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Does COVID-19 affect the birth plan?
Having COVID-19 should not affect how you plan on giving birth. The birth will be vaginal, unless there’s another cause that justifies a C-section.
What should a pregnant woman do if she suspects she has COVID-19?
Currently, there is not enough data on the relationship between the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and pregnancy and its possible effects. In the scientific literature, eighteen cases of pregnant women with COVID-19 have been described in China. In these cases, the women contracted the virus during the third trimester of pregnancy and the symptoms were mild, without severe pneumonia. Thus, it is recommended that there be early care and strict monitoring of the pregnancy in the case of suspected infection, to minimise any possible risk of premature birth or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
Informació per a dones embarassades i les seves famílies del Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya
People with Crohn’s diseases must eat a varied and balanced diet, contributing energy and all the nutrients appropriate to the needs of each person according to age, gender, constitution and level of physical activity.
The balanced diet should be based on three rules:
Based on these rules, the Generalitat de Catalunya published its revised healthy food pyramid, based on the Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet is a model that has been recognised by the international scientific community as one of the healthiest and most balanced diets in the world. Based on the trilogy of wheat, vines and olive trees, it offers a variety of very important products that allow you to combine pleasure at the dinner table with nutritional and cultural balance.
Patients at the start of an outbreak and for as long as the outbreak continues, should follow a low-calorie diet. This will stop the inflammation in the intestines from getting worse. It is, therefore, necessary to personalise diets depending on the localisation, extent and type of lesions patients present.
Traveller's diarrhoea produces a number of symptoms (the main one being diarrhoea) that occur throughout a trip or immediately after returning from one.
The cause is infectious, caused by bacteria, a virus or parasites contracted during a trip.
Half of the cases are bacterial and caused by E.coli. Among the viruses the most frequent is the norovirus, and the parasites Giardia and Campylobacter.
In most cases, natural recovery happens within a few days, without treatment with a specific antibiotic.
Patients with traveller’s diarrhoea present with frequent and abundant liquid stools, which may contain blood and mucus.
Additionally, patients almost always experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and often a high fever.
Traveller's diarrhoea can affect anyone, especially those travelling to lesser developed countries.
It is most common in young travellers (20-35 years) and during long trips, usually occurring within the first few weeks.
In most cases, since traveller's diarrhoea is self-limiting, no specific diagnostic measures are taken, but the symptoms are treated, especially with oral rehydration solutions to avoid dehydration.
Diagnosis by stool cultures that look for parasites, viruses or causative bacteria, is reserved for cases in which symptoms last more than a week.
Cases of traveller's diarrhoea usually occur on trips where healthcare is poor and oral rehydration should be started as soon as possible.
The treatment of traveller's diarrhoea involves maintaining an adequate degree of hydration in order to maintain the amount of water, mineral salts and glucose that the body needs, and which are altered by the presence of diarrhoea and vomiting.
Oral rehydration solutions, either in liquid form or sachets for dissolving in clean water, are ideal in these cases. Degassed carbonated drinks may be a temporary solution if oral rehydration is not available.
If symptoms persist for more than four days, or are severe, medical advice should be sought, even in an area with poor healthcare.
The use of antibiotics in these cases has not been proven advantageous and is not advised.
The use of anti-diuretics is also debatable, as they may impede the expulsion of diarrhoea necessary to start the recovery process.
They are not always recommended.
Specific testing is not initially indicated.
Early treatment for diarrhoea with an oral rehydration solution is fundamental as previously indicated.
Prevention is fundamental in order to avoid traveller’s diarrhoea though complete prevention is never possible.
Drinking water and water used for tooth-brushing must be bottled or sterilised with a sterilisation tablet for such use.
Only cooked foods should be consumed, never raw.
Salads must be avoided, above all.
Fruit should be eaten only after having been washed with clean water and peeled with a clean knife.
Do not let children in the kitchen while you are cooking.
Some of the utensils most associated with domestic accidents:
In the kitchen:
In the bathroom:
Rest of the house:
Electricity, plug sockets, electrical extension lead, clothes iron by contact or steam.
Other most common injuries
What to do when you burn yourself, using some of the methods below:
And above all, if the burn is very painful, visit a health centre.
If blisters appear, there is loss of skin, or white or pearly blotches after cooling, you must keep the affected area covered with gauze, a towel, a sheet, etc.
If there is pain, cold water can be applied to this cover.
If the injuries only cover a small area, you should first go to a health centre. For more widespread injuries, go to the hospital accident and emergency department or 112 emergency services.
If the burn is on the face, neck, hands, major joints, groin or perineum (the area between the genitals and the anus), it should be assessed by a specialist.
Special care should be taken with children and the elderly as they may require special attention to their injuries.
The World Health Organization aims to prevent the international spread of infectious diseases. For this reason, recommendations are issued to help prevent these diseases and to suggest the necessary vaccines according to the nature of the trip. It is important to take into account that the majority of these illnesses can be avoided.
When you are planning a trip you should bear in mind a number of risks so that you can enjoy a healthy trip and avoid getting an infection. You should think about:
Once the previous point has been assessed, it is a good idea to establish a series of preventive measures, in the following three stages:
1. Think about the condition of foods and drinks, as well as taking certain hygiene and safety measures, such as:
2. Climatological and physical factors must be taken into account:
3. You should consider the presence of insects and other animals (protection or barrier measures should be taken):
4. Bear in mind time zone changes (jet lag)
5. Do not forget prevention of sexually transmitted disease
6. It is important to respect the culture and customs of the countries you are visiting
Should the person who has travelled have any health issues after returning from the trip or during travel, it is advisable for them to be medically assessed (at a primary care centre or a specialised travel clinic).
Likewise, you are advised to have a medical evaluation three months after travelling, since there are diseases that do not manifest themselves immediately. Healthcare staff will also need to be informed of you having travelled to a tropical zone up to 12 months after having done so.
Centres vacunals
Vacunació internacional
Preguntes freqüents de l'OMS
Breast milk let-down may take 2 to 5 days after birth and the breasts may become swollen, hot, and may hurt. The best remedy is to breastfeed the baby to relieve symptoms and prevent breast engorgement or inflammation of the breasts. Mild discomfort is alleviated with a gentle self-massage towards the nipple, to facilitate emptying of the breast prior to breastfeeding. If the discomfort worsens and / or fever appears, you should consult the midwife or go to the emergency room.
If an episiotomy is performed or the perineum is torn, for the care of the stitches, the area should be washed with water and neutral soap once a day, keep the area dry, use cotton pads without plastic and change them frequently.
An episiotomy heals 7-10 days after delivery and the stitches usually fall out on their own. In case of caesarean section, there is no problem with showering, as long as the stitches are dried well. The wound will heal in 5 or 6 days (full healing will take a few more days) and the stitches or staples will be removed between the sixth and the seventh day by the midwife at the health centre.
Lochia is bleeding that occurs in the postpartum period and lasts 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. It changes colour and decreases in quantity over the days. The smell of this discharge is similar to that of menstrual flow. In the event that a bad odour occurs, it is recommended you visit the health centre or hospital to rule out the existence of an infection.
In the postpartum period, feelings of sadness and frequent mood changes (sadness, crying and euphoria) may occur. It is a normal adaptive reaction to changes and is known as maternity blues or postpartum depression.
It can occur between the 3rd and 5th day after delivery and disappears after approximately 15 days. If this situation lengthens over time or symptoms worsen, the midwife or the nearest qualified professional should be consulted.
The first postpartum review with the midwife is usually carried out around the seventh day after delivery. It is advisable to attend with your partner, in order to assess the adaptation and resolve any doubts or difficulties, and with the baby, to be able to assess breastfeeding.
After 6 or 8 weeks following delivery, another routine visit is carried out, where the general physical and psychological state of the mother and breastfeeding are assessed. It is a good time to consider contraception, and the condition of the pelvic floor and its musculature should be assessed.
It is necessary to attend the baby’s monitoring visits with your paediatrician and with the infirmary.
During "quarantine" it is recommended you avoid:
If the woman wants to have sex, this can be restarted during this period. It is recommended that a condom is used.
The first menstruation appears around 40 days after delivery in mothers who are not breastfeeding. Those who breastfeed their children do not generally resume their menstrual cycle until weaning, although they are not, even so, without risk of pregnancy.
It is recommended you find out about contraceptive methods from the midwife of the primary care centre. It must be customised in each case and take into account whether there is breastfeeding or artificial feeding, since this, along with other health history, will help define the most appropriate method. Emergency contraception is a valid option also for this period.
It is necessary to go to the emergency department or consult your midwife upon the occurrence during the postpartum of these warning signs:
- Help your children to build up their self-esteem, independence and responsibility. We need to show them how to be able to say no, how to deal with frustration and the desire for immediate gratification, and how to accept refusals. We need to talk to them and to listen from a very young age, and we need to be aware of their friendships and encourage them to take up a healthy lifestyle and healthy habits (sport, food, sleep, hygiene etc.)
- Having all these internal resources at hand will help them to successfully face situations where they feel exposed to consumption.
- Ask them what they know about cannabis and spot their mistakes.
- Demystify the beneficial use of cannabis and debunk myths:
- Maintain a climate of trust with your children, make communication easy, talk when necessary about the consumption of substances.
- Make the most of the questions and comments that arise around the consumption of cannabis, but you don’t need to exhaust the topic in one day.
- Create doubts for your children to reflect on and be critical over.
Adolescence is a time of numerous changes, all to prepare us for the transition from child to adult. But taking on all that is no easy matter. It is when our mind and body develop at breakneck speed and it can be difficult to make sense of it all.
That’s why it’s a key stage in life: it’s easier for risky behaviour to be adopted here that puts people’s health in danger. Sexual relations can occur without protection that lead to unwanted pregnancies or STD infections. But there is also another danger that usually starts at this time of life: the consumption of drugs.
If we focus on joints, the substance that is smoked in them is hashish. This is a brown-coloured ball- or bar-shaped paste that is prepared from cannabis resin. It is mixed with tobacco and rolled up in cigarette paper for consumption. In general, hashish is consumed because it relaxes people and lowers their inhibitions, which is why it can help improve relations with others.
What can we do if we “detect” our child is smoking joints?
What do you need to bear in mind to prevent burns and their sequelae?
There are different ways of avoiding burns:
With our tips we will try to make your brain secrete hormones called endorphins, which are known as "happiness hormones". They are substances that our bodies naturally produce and are responsible for our quality of life. They will make you experience feelings of joy and well-being, and make the muscular and mental tension that make you feel bad disappear.
This feeling of well-being will contribute to the prevention of possible anxiety/depression and/or the relapse of these disorders. For example, chronic pain often makes people feel depressed, but this hormone contributes to you having less pain, increases your immune system, and therefore helps you feel better and stronger.
These tips will also help you increase your ability to face situations that can and do create discomfort.
1. Exercise
When the body starts doing exercise the level of endorphins increases.
Choose your favourite kind of exercise. If you don't like going to the gym, try walking or running, which will bring you lots of physical and mental benefits without having to spend money. It can also give you a certain sense of freedom.
Diet has a fundamental influence on your mood, for example, if you do not ingest enough protein, it will be harder for you to secrete endorphins.
Enjoy meals and the accompanying sensations (smells, flavours, etc.), company, etc.
Try to sleep at least seven hours a night, which is the amount of time the body and mind require "to repair themselves" and to feel refreshed.
Practise yoga, pilates, relaxation techniques such as guided meditation, mindfulness, visualisation, Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique, chromotherapy, aromatherapy, music therapy, and so on.
Practising these activities removes muscular contractions and causes you to experience a feeling of well-being and profound relaxation.
Expressing your difficult thoughts or feelings will take a weight off and your mood will improve significantly. The caresses and hugs of your loved ones can also help increase your well-being.
Try to see the positive things that surround you and use nice words to convey them. Be grateful.
Learn to forgive and forget, you will have a calmer life without accumulated resentment.
Enjoy the little everyday things, try to escape from routine and boredom. Always leave a door open to new projects.
Think that the unpleasant situation that you may be experiencing is just a momentary obstacle and this will help you to tackle problems with more motivation.
Avoid toxic comments or situations in which negativity predominates (complaints, gossip, etc.).
If there is no-one close by with whom you can offload, starting to write is a good way of freeing yourself of negative thoughts. Express your thoughts and feelings in writing.
The sun is an excellent anti-depressant. Look for sunny places so that your brain can continue secreting the happiness hormone: the beach, the mountains, etc.
Also, observe carefully everything around you in the place you have chosen (the colour of the sea, the clouds, the intense green of the trees, the sound of the waves, the birds...)
If you feel yourself beginning to feel sad or anxious, you can do activities that you know make you feel good when you are emotionally stable.
You may not want to start doing them again right away, but think about the result you obtained when you used to do it. If you liked going to the cinema before and now you don't like it, try to remember how much you enjoyed watching a good film... maybe this will encourage you to try again.
If you're not sure about what you like most and what gives you most satisfaction in life, try different activities such as doing a cooking workshop, gardening, drawing, playing an instrument, dance lessons, singing...
Being part of a group often has good results for keeping you healthy and preventing possible depression. So, travel, walk, go for dinner or to the cinema with a group of people.
Respect the environment, be more supportive, help your neighbour...
For example, signing up for volunteering will increase your self esteem. Helping others brings with it a feeling of physical, emotional and intellectual well-being.
Do something that you like and that makes you feel better. For example, a relaxing massage or a hot shower will cause the nerves of your skin to release endorphins; eat something that you like, walk along the beach or park, sunbathe, if you have a pet, go outside with it, watch a film, start a good book...
It can help keep you company and focus your attention on something else. Animals provide unconditional love and they can be useful in less motivated moments.
Stroking your cat or dog can make you feel very good.
Record all the activities you do throughout the day. It's important to assess the good times in the day and make an effort to change the less good ones.
Smile and laugh, and if you cannot find anything to laugh at, join laughter therapy workshops. Laughter is undoubtedly one of the factors that increases our levels of endorphins.
Laughter makes your soul grow and gives you a simpler life perspective, without overwhelming problems or unpleasant situations.
1. Make a list of reasons to stop smoking.
2. Set a day you want to stop by and get ready to achieve your goal.
3. Tell your friends and family the day you have chosen.
4. Cut down on unnecessary cigarettes.
5. Think of strategies to handle difficult situations.
6. Throw away any tobacco you have.
7. Avoid going to places where there is tobacco smoke.
8. Set yourself a daily challenge of not smoking.
9. Ask for help.
10. Look into pharmacological treatment options
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