Tag Archives: Fifth Ward

Vaccine Before Vacation: Staying healthy this summer

By Barrett White My family didn’t travel much when I was a child, we simply couldn’t afford it. But when we could afford a weekend adventure away from home, we would pile in the car and drive out to New Orleans, Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio. We never worried much about travel vaccinations, because these …

Teen Week—Social Media: How to Handle Your Handle

By Jessica Brown, MD, MPH Social Media: The two most transformative words of this century. I remember being in college in 2004 and being introduced to Facebook as the cool new thing to connect with people on other college campuses. You had to have a college email address to even make an account. Cut to …

Maternal health in Harris County

By Carolina Boyd The health of mothers and their children is a reflection of the overall health of a community. Despite the number of hospitals and medical facilities across Harris County, the incidence of maternal morbidity is high in our area. Maternal morbidity refers to the unexpected, and dangerous, life-threatening complications that arise from pregnancy, …

Summer’s Coming—Is Your Skin Ready?

By Barrett White The temperature in Houston has been pushing 80 degrees the past couple of weekends and pollen is officially blanketing every outdoor flat surface in sight. Spring is here—but knowing Houston weather, this means summer is not far behind. As the sun-lovers emerge from their homes and make their way to the plethora …

Keeping an eye on Pink Eye

By Carolina Boyd Pink eye is one of the most common childhood illnesses. Also known as conjunctivitis, it can affect adults, as well. Pink eye is an inflammation of the thin clear tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid, as well as the white part of the eyeball. The inflammation caused by this condition …

Breast cancer survivor urges women to be aware of their breast health

By Carolina Boyd, Communications Associate Lakeisha Parker has long made it a habit to do regular breast self-exams; but never did she think that one day it would lead to a breast cancer diagnosis. “I felt something while in the shower. I knew immediately it wasn’t supposed to be there,” said Parker. A visit to …

The 2019 National HIV Prevention Conference: What We Learned, Part I

By Barrett White Over the past week, the CDC hosted the annual National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta. At the podium were familiar faces such as Drs. Anthony Fauci, David Malebranche and the director of the CDC, Bob Redfield. Over the course of the conference, panelists tackled tough topics like HIV stigma, PrEP access for …

Lack of affordable housing hurting health of Texas children

By Jenny Deam, Houston Chronicle Reporter A majority of poor children in Texas live in families where more than half of the household income goes to housing, straining budgets and creating a ripple effect that ultimately damages their health, a new national study found. This often unseen poverty has far-reaching and interconnected consequences as families …

Warmer spring months can trigger eczema flare-ups

By Carolina Boyd It is officially spring! Warmer temperatures and flowers in bloom across Texas are certainly welcome. However, this time of year can create dread for those who suffer from eczema. Eczema is an inflamed, itchy, red skin rash that tends to occur on the inner part of the elbows, behind the knees, back …

Dental sealants can protect your children’s teeth

Tooth decay is the leading chronic illness among school-age children in Texas. According to the Texas Health Institute, nearly 6 out of 10 Texas children have a history of dental decay and more than 25 percent have untreated decay. That is why it is important that children develop good oral health habits from an early …