News

The Power of Knowing Your Heart's Health - MyHeart First Screenings

Seven screenings at UT Health East texas give a clear picture of your heart's health

A big part of staying healthy overall is making sure your heart is taken care of. If your heart is looked after through a commitment to a low sodium, low fat diet and stimulated with enough invigorating exercise, you’ll feel the benefits throughout your entire body. Of course, it’s also important to have your physician check your blood pressure and cholesterol regularly, but what about other tests? To get a complete picture of your heart’s health and your potential risk for heart disease, UT Health has bundled seven tests together in the MyHeart First program.

MyHeart First is... Read More »

Food Culture vs. Appearance Pressure

Read about eating disorders from Rebecca Carrasco

As many of us try to fulfill our New Year’s resolution to reach and maintain a healthy weight, we face a food culture that makes it difficult to limit processed foods and choose appropriate portions of healthy foods. This same food obsessed culture is also obsessed with appearance; creating a perfect storm for eating disorders.

Thirty million Americans will experience an eating disorder with anorexia nervosa having the highest mortality rate of any of the mental illnesses. While the disorders do not discriminate on the basis of gender or socioeconomics, among female adolescents,... Read More »

A Surprise Diabetes Diagnosis Leads to a Healthier Life

Read how Bob Robinson's diabetes diagnosis led to a healthier life

Bob Robinson and his wife, Sherry, moved backed to East Texas and now enjoy spending time at their lake house and with their 6-year-old grandson. However, in 2010, Bob started to feel extremely fatigued and overall less-than stellar, which led him to speak to his primary care physician. The results came back, giving him a life-changing diagnosis.

Bob was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a lifelong disease that affects the way your body handles glucose, a kind of sugar, in your blood. People with type 2 diabetes make insulin, but their cells don't use it as well as they... Read More »

Kind and confident RN, Rebekah Hill Wins the DAISY Award

Rebekah Hill of UT Health Rehabilitation Hospital wins DAISY award for service

Tyler, Texas (February 14, 2019) Rebekah Hill, RN, with UT Health Rehabilitation Hospital, was selected by the UT Health East Texas Healthcare System as a DAISY Award winner.

As part of the DAISY Foundation’s program, the award recognizes nurses who go above and beyond when providing care for their patients. Nurses are nominated by anyone who sees an act of extraordinary care and then selected by a hospital nursing committee quarterly.

Hill received a primary nomination from co-worker and fellow nurse Cassie Kirkley.

“She’s a wonderful asset to this organization,”... Read More »

TAVR: A Major Shift in Aortic Valve Treatment

Dr. Tolleson explains how the TAVR procedure is changing heart surgery

The health of your heart can be affected negatively by a number of factors, including birth defects, high blood pressure or simply aging. One issue that is caused by both birth defects and aging is aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. This condition restricts the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and may also affect the pressure in the left atrium. To correct this issue, surgery is the best option. However, over the past several years, a new, minimally invasive procedure, transcatheter aortic valve replacement... Read More »

Steve Skommesa's Life Saving Heart Checkup

Read how a few heart tests ended up saving Steve's life

Last year, at age 68, Steve Skommesa and his wife, Susan, relocated to East Texas. They did all the normal things you do when you move like forward your mail, meet the neighbors and find the closest grocery store, but he also set up an appointment with his new UT Health primary care physician’s assistant, Tony Jameson.

After doing a routine physical, Jameson saw that Steve’s cholesterol level was a bit elevated and suggested a next step. “He asked if I had 150 dollars,” Steve recalls. “Then he said I should take... Read More »

Answering the Call: Haydn Tijerina is Awarded Caregiver of the Month

Haydn Michael Tijerina joined UT Health East Texas EMS|AIR1 on Dec. 3, 2018, and is already making a difference in his patients’ lives. On Jan. 21, Haydn and his partner responded to an individual living alone. The house was not in good living condition; no doors, windows, heat or air conditioning, the refrigerator was not working and there was no toilet. This individual only ate canned goods out of a can. The patient had water, but electricity was through an extension cord that... Read More »

The Complex Attack of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Q&A with Orthopedic Surgeon Adam Shar

An explanation of rheumatoid arthritis by Dr. Adam Shar

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects 1.5 million people in the United States. It affects more women than men and it’s commonly seen from ages 30 to 60. This type of arthritis can start with seemingly small symptoms such as tenderness, swelling and/or redness in the joints, but can lead to deforming and shifting of joints.

Why Vaping is Dangerous for Teens

Learn how vaping can be damaging to a teen's health

Vaping and e-cigarettes have been in the news more and more these past several years, so you’ve probably heard and seen a lot about it. Most recently, Tyler’s City Council banned the use of e-cigarettes in public spaces, mimicking restraints put on conventional cigarettes. The biggest issue is that this habit-forming activity is being most used by teenagers. So what are the dangers of vaping? Dr. Tashfeen Mahmood, pulmonologist at UT Health East Texas, is here to help clear the air by bringing you up to speed.

The Dramatic Effects on Teenagers

One... Read More »

Healthy Weight Week!

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,... Read More »

To find a physician or for questions 903-531-8890

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