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Health

Sugar’s Long Lasting Impact on Your Health

Sugar may taste sweet, but the long-lasting impact it leaves on your health is not. Consuming high amounts of sugar can lead to increased risk of developing stroke, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood cholesterol and cavities.

Many foods in American diets contain added sugars. Added sugars are present in candy, soft drinks, cakes, fruit drinks, milk products, cookies and pies, as well as other types of foods such as dairy and milk products and other grains. It isn’t always easy to tell if a product has added sugar. Read the ingredient labels on products you are...

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Food Safety Tips to Keep In Mind When Preparing a Meal

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness. September is nationally recognized as Food Safety Awareness Month, highlighting the need to put into practice food safety measures when preparing and serving food. We’ve put together some tips for being conscious of food safety.

Before preparing your meal, begin by washing your hands and surfaces in your kitchen with soap and hot water. You never know what types of bacteria can be lurking on your kitchen counter tops or on your hands, as we come in...

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Help Your Child Conquer Stress

Children can become stressed just like adults. The sources can be external, such as homework load, tests, problems at home or overwhelming schedule. Triggers can also be internal, such as pressures from parents or friends. Also like adults, a little stress is normal, but prolonged stress can have a negative impact on health, contributing to issues such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. That’s why it’s important to recognize the signs of a stressed child and help them work through it.

Here are some ways to tell if your child is stressed above normal bounds and ways you...

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Supplements vs Diet: Are There Magic Pills or Magic Recipes?

Supplements and multivitamins are taken by more than 100 million Americans, from women in their 20s to men in their 70s. Despite the popularity of these pills, studies have found that it’s best to get essential vitamins and nutrients from the foods we eat.

Most people who maintain a healthy diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and lean meat are getting the nutrients they need. However, there are some circumstances in which increased levels of some vitamins and minerals are needed. The first step in determining what supplements are right for you is...

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How to Help Relieve First Day of School Anxiety

Worries are common in the weeks leading up to starting back to school. Depending on the age and personality of the child, you might see temper tantrums, clinging, headaches or stomach aches, withdrawal/isolation, pleading, bargaining, even anger or flat refusal to go to school. It is important for the parent or caregiver to NOT give in.

Reasons children may worry can center around the following questions: “Who will my new teacher be/is the teacher going to be mean? Who will I sit with at school? Will I look OK? What if I miss the bus? What if I do poorly in math?” Even though it...

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Breastfeeding: The Highs and Hurdles

Breastfeeding tips, support and recognition of the struggle

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Breastfeeding can be a great experience for both mom and baby, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard work that comes with a set of big difficulties. Every mom is bombarded with articles that explain the benefits of breastfeeding and, while they are largely correct, it can put more pressure on a very personal situation. We want all mothers and families to feel they are supported and that they can come to us with any questions or concerns.

If you are a new mom or a mom with several children, you probably already know how chaotic, complicated and wonderful parenthood can...

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Kids in Hot Cars: Preventing Tragedy Through Conscious Habits

Learn lifesaving tips on how to keep children safe in cars

No one believes they will be the one to leave their child in a hot car, but every year the parents of more than 30 children are wrong. These tragedies can happen to the best, most loving parents, which is why it’s important for all moms, dads and caregivers to learn about the dangers of heat stroke and develop safety routines to prevent such a tragedy from happening. This is especially true in Texas, where more children than in any other state die due to heat stroke from being left in hot cars.

 

The Danger of Heat

Your car acts like a greenhouse, with...

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Find Complete Healing for Chronic Wounds

UT Health East Texas Wound Healing Center treats chronic wounds that affect 6.7 million Americans

The UT Health East Texas Wound Healing Center is celebrating Wound Care Awareness Week while raising the awareness of chronic wounds and the advanced wound care available in East Texas. Today, 6.7 million Americans live with chronic wounds, 25 percent of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer and one in four families has at least one family member with a chronic wound.

 

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Minutes Matter: The Urgency of Stroke Care

The UT Health East Texas EMS training of how to handle stroke victims

Strokes are a disease that can be fatal or life-altering and are, unfortunately, very common. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability. Fortunately, UT Health East Texas EMS|AIR1 has a robust team of caregivers who are trained in treating stroke patients. Dr. Yagnesh Desai, Medical Director for UT Health East Texas EMS|AIR1, oversees these teams and shares how they handle these critical patients every day.

 

Every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke. There are many individuals in East Texas who either...

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Developing Good Mental Health in Children

Everyone knows that like adults, children can have poor health and get sick. Both groups can also suffer from the same mental health issues as well. Children of all ages can experience mental illness, from anxiety to severe depression. Although children need treatment just like adults do, the way a child is treated can be quite different. Dr. Ndukwe Uduma, psychiatrist at UT Health East Texas Behavioral Health Center, treats children and shares below how children are uniquely treated and how caregivers can help their...

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