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Health

Tips on how to get to a healthy weight

When the conversation of weight is brought up, it’s not always as straightforward as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18-25 kg/m2. Instead, it’s more important to find a point where a person’s weight isn’t having a negative impact on his or her health. “Studies have shown that a 5-10 percent weight reduction can reduce the chance of developing diabetes by as much as 50 percent,” says Dr. Katherine Root, internal and obesity medicine physician at UT Health East Texas. “With this in mind, a goal of losing 5 percent body weight is a good place to start.”

Dr. James Menard,...

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Cervical cancer prevention and the HPV vaccine

Cancer of the uterine cervix is the third most common gynecologic cancer diagnosis in the United States. The good news is that the rate of cervical cancer has declined significantly due to widespread use of Pap smear screenings, HPV vaccines and the availability of precancer treatments.

The cervix is the neck of the uterus, or the lowest part of the uterus, sitting on top of the vagina. Due to cancer, cells of the cervix become abnormal and grow out of control and invade surrounding organs. The average age of diagnosis of cervical cancer in the United States was around 48 years...

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Length of flu symptoms and how to prevent catching the flu

Influenza seems like it hits around autumn and winter every year, but this virus can be found year-round. Flu season refers to the time between December and February when flu activity is at its peak. The unpredictability and complications that can arise from catching the flu make it essential to protect yourself from the virus. “Flu can be deadly even for healthy adults, and you can catch it even from one exposure to a stranger,” says Dr. Philip Pippin, family medicine physician at UT Health...

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Quit Smoking tips from Dr. Tran

If you smoke, you hear certain things on repeat: how you need to quit, how expensive the habit is and how bad it is for your health. All of these things are true, but it’s also true that quitting can be exceptionally hard and may take several attempts. Thirty-eight million adults smoke in the United States, and rural areas in East Texas have the highest numbers of smokers in the state. If you are considering...

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Facts and Myths of Impaired Driving

New Year’s Eve brings plenty of celebrations, and with that can come drunken-driving accidents.

“Nationwide, crashes involving alcohol have become the single largest single source of preventable death and injury,” says Dr. Austin Eagleton, trauma surgeon at UT Health East Texas. “Twenty-five percent of all fatal crashes involve alcohol.”

Beyond worrying about getting in an accident, drivers in East Texas have another factor that could make things even riskier. “As the majority of East Texas is...

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Lite-4-Life Olympic Center Program Story

It’s right around the corner - the time when everyone makes a New Year’s resolution, usually to lose weight and be healthier. Even though this is never a bad promise to make to yourself, your plans often fall apart for a number of reasons. However, the Olympic Center’s Lite-4-Life program offers a better way to reach your goals that will result in lasting changes. This 13-week program shows participants how to properly eat and work out. Fritz Fryer and his wife joined the program after realizing their weight had creeped up on them.

Fritz is retired, but he has continued to stay...

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UT Health babies in the labor and delivery are put in adorable stockings

Christmas stockings are being stuffed with the most precious gift of all this season – bundles of baby joy.

UT Health East Texas is presenting all new mothers with hand-sewn stockings embroidered with the UT Health East Texas logo.

“We are so pleased our labor and delivery departments can offer these hand-sewn special keepsakes during the holiday season,” said Moody Chisholm, UT Health East Texas President and CEO. “These parents already are taking home the best gift possible this season, and we hope this stocking is a fun reminder for years to come of how small their...

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We care concierge team at UT Health East Texas

A little help can go a long way toward making patients comfortable during their time at UT Health Tyler.

The We Care team provides that help day or night to patients and their loved ones.

From the moment patients arrive at UT Health Tyler, We Care Concierge members are with them. They greet patients curbside, help valet their cars and assist them to their destination to ensure their stay with us is as pleasant as possible.

“We want to make sure they are comfortable and welcome at our hospital from the moment they come to our property to the moment they step off the...

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Tips for a safe roadtrip

This time of year comes with a lot of time spent on the road. People are rushing around finding gifts, picking up last-minute dinner ingredients and driving to see their loved ones. With this amount of people on the road, plus the potential for distractions, it’s important that you do all you can to drive safely. Whether you’re driving 15 minutes down the road, or 15 hours to another state, alone or with a load of kiddos in the back, you should always practice safe driving.

 

SAFE CAR

  • Make sure your car has a maintenance check before hitting the road!...
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Definition and treatment of arthritis

Arthritis is a term used frequently, but it is not just one disease. Rather this one word can refer to more than a hundred types of arthritis and joint conditions. The condition is very common and can affect anyone, no matter their age, sex or race. Although it is most seen in older populations, arthritis can be caused by factors beyond wear and tear on the joints, making awareness important for all ages.

Arthritis affects the area where two bones come together. This area is known as a joint and, in addition to bones, includes layers of cushioning cartilage. “In a healthy joint,...

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