Category Archives: Family Medicine

Seven Myths about the Flu Vaccine

By Kimberly Cooper, Occupational Health and Infection Control Nurse This week marks National Influenza Vaccination week. This event was created by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2005 to highlight the importance of getting vaccinated for the flu.  Despite various efforts to get people vaccinated, many myths remain about the flu vaccine. We are …

Surviving the Holiday Eating Season

By Sean Barrett, Registered Dietitian Beginning with Halloween all the way through New Year’s Day, ‘tis the season for holiday eating. This time of year provides us with many opportunities to gather with family, friends or co-workers and most of these gatherings revolve around food. The holiday food environment can be especially daunting to patients …

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

By Carolina Boyd November is a month in which we become more aware of the things and people in our lives that make us thankful. This month is also Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to bring awareness to diabetes, one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States.  According to the …

Getting ready for this year’s flu season

By Carolina Boyd If you’ve been to the doctor lately, chances are your health care provider has asked if you’ve gotten a flu shot yet. There is good reason for that. The flu virus is most active during the fall and winter months. Flu season usually begins in October and peaks between December and February, …

How to keep your little ghosts and goblins safe this Halloween

By Carolina Boyd Halloween is one of the most fun times of the year for children.  From candy to costumes to trick-or-treating, there is a lot to entertain but also possibly harm your little ghosts and goblins. But don’t fright, there are plenty of things parents can do to keep this holiday from becoming a …

The impact of sleep issues on a woman’s health

By Carolina Boyd Sleepless nights are all too common for the estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from sleep disorders. It is an especially difficult situation for women who, according to the National Sleep Foundation, are more likely than men to struggle with sleep. Hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause affect how well …

Time to Schedule Your Child’s Back-To-School Checkup

The lazy days of summer will soon give way to the hustle and bustle of back-to-school. Before your child returns to class, now is a good time to bring him or her in for an annual wellness exam and/or sports physical. These back-to-school checkups are often the only time most children and teens visit their …

Don’t let bug bites ruin your kids’ summer fun

By Carolina Boyd, Communications Associate School is out and kids are spending more time outside.  However, they aren’t the only ones who like this time of year. Bugs love the warm weather too. Children can be stung or bitten by a wide variety of insects like mosquitoes, fleas, bees, horseflies or ants. Although stings are …

Legacy Connecting Fifth Ward Community with Care at June 15th Health Fest

Houston’s historic Fifth Ward neighborhood will be the hot spot for the upcoming Legacy Community Health Fest, an event that will focus on the importance of health care in this traditionally underserved community.  The free community-wide event features Keisha Nicole and the 97.9 The Box Team, and a special performance by the Atherton Elementary Drumline. …

Fun, Sun and the Heat: Protecting Your Kids this Summer

By Carolina Boyd, Communications Associate Hot weather and humid conditions can be hard on anybody, but they are especially tough for children.  Make sure to protect your kids from the heat as much as possible. Heat related illnesses happen when the body’s temperature gets too high.  Infants and children 4 years old and under are …