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Team-based cardiac care saves life of local United Way CEO

When John Gaston woke up that spring morning in 2015, something didn’t feel right.

The 64-year-old was familiar with having shortness of breath because he had asthma his entire life. However, this shortness of breath, along with a lack of energy, was something new.

John called his primary care physician and was examined later that afternoon. His doctor said his heart rate was 180 beats a minute (normal is 60-100), so he asked him, “Can you drive yourself to UT Health East Texas or do you want to go by ambulance?”

“I can’t go to the hospital,” said John, “I’ve got a...

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Cardiac ablations get patient back on the road again

Cindy Hilliard, 64, doesn’t exactly remember when the irregular heartbeats started.

“It’s been about 5-6 years now, but I probably ignored them for quite some time before,” she said.

A truck driver who crisscrossed the U.S. for 18 years, Cindy enjoyed driving, especially on her favorite route. She would start at her home in Winnsboro, travel to Dallas, Los Angeles and Reading, Pennsylvania, before returning to Dallas and then back home – a journey over 5,800 miles that lasted 5 days.

“I never got to see many popular sites because of time constraints and because I...

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Hospital volunteer becomes a patient after heart surgery

Hospital volunteer becomes a patient after heart surgery

Chuck Winston finds joy in helping others.

The 85-year-old widow and resident of Ben Wheeler spends a couple of days each week volunteering his time in the pain management department at UT Health Tyler.

“I clean the beds, make the beds and roll people out to the main entrance when discharged,” said Chuck. He also stays active by walking his 5-acre property, filled with lots of oak and elm trees.

“After storms roll in and the wind blows, I always find fallen limbs scattered on the ground, which I collect and burn,” he said. “I stay pretty active and have never felt...

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Patient enjoys the open road after bariatric surgery

Losing weight and developing a healthier lifestyle is a journey many people want to take. Thomas Martin is living proof that it can be done.

The 67-year-old former gas and fuel oil plant operator has retired with his wife to their more than five acres near Frankston where he raises goats. He spends his days building and repairing fences for their livestock.

But at 340 pounds, Thomas had difficulty maintaining his energy levels while working around the home. To make matters worse, his weight was preventing him from enjoying his real passion: riding his motorcycle.

“I...

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Patient on the road again after successful bariatric surgery

Our body is like a finely-tuned automobile. Treat it right and it can last for a very long time.

But when you overload a vehicle with too much weight, the tires can wear out quickly and you face the possibility of a blowout. This extra strain also means the engine has to work harder to make the vehicle move, which usually means more problems down the road.

Merribeth Norman, who with her husband shares a love for driving and showing their antique car (above), had similar health concerns that led her to take serious steps to get back into good health.

Medical...

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Shortness of breath and headaches turn into cardiac event for UT Health practice administrator

As the practice administrator for nine different rural health clinics in east Texas, Rhonda Keller regularly drives hundreds of miles to check-in with the doctors, nurses and staff who operate the clinics.

She talks to them about the patients they see, the care they provide and how more serious cases have to be transferred to UT Health Tyler.

So when Rhonda started having symptoms of extreme fatigue, she didn’t realize she would soon become one of those transferred patients to UT Health Tyler.

“I just thought it was all stress related, caused by work and everything...

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Have questions about vasectomy? We have answers.

Man and doctor discuss vasectomy surgery.

Have you been considering a vasectomy? As you consider this option, questions are sure to arise. We have gathered a few of the most popular questions related to having a vasectomy and have compiled the answers here. Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider for specific information and recommendations that apply to your personal health needs.

UT Health East Texas Urology offers vasectomy procedures in Tyler, Athens and surrounding communities. For more information on this procedure, or to schedule an appointment, visit uthealtheasttexas.com/vasectomies.

What happens...

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Gastric sleeve surgery patient sees brighter days ahead

Rachel Villanueva was not used to being on the receiving end of patient care.

As supervisor of the UT Health East Texas Physicians pediatric clinic on Fifth in Tyler, Rachel oversees the care of dozens of patients throughout the week.

But when it came to managing her own weight and overall health, she needed her doctors’ guidance.

“I have battled my weight for many years,” Rachel said. “Four years ago my OB/...

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American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day

The American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day serves as a reminder that many of us are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Approximately 90-95% of people diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Diabetes affects 34.2 million or about 10.5% of Americans. So, who exactly is at risk?

...

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Rehab patient now on the road to good health

When Chad Jackson told his wife he had a stomach bug, he had no idea that for the next three months he would be in and out of small community hospitals with a variety of ailments. Fortunately, he recovered, and his health improved greatly after three weeks of care and exercise at the UT Health East Texas Rehabilitation Center.

Jackson, 47, has been an over-the-road truck driver for more than 27 years, driving an estimated 2.7 million miles during that time. Still, he wasn’t prepared for the rough road ahead.

Multiple illnesses...

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