News

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...

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...

UT Health Athens gives Christmas gifts to patients

Athens resident Meagan Sims remembers what it felt like as a young girl to be hospitalized and scared at Christmas, but she recalls it fondly because of the generosity of others.

“While I was there it was so wonderful because these different people would come in at different times and drop off gifts. One time, I woke up and looked down and there was a stuffed animal tucked under my arm, another time it was a coloring book,” Sims said. “It meant so much to me then that someone thought about me at Christmas when I couldn’t be home with my own tree.”

Stockings Full of Bundled Joy at UT Health

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...

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...

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!...

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,...

“Healthy skin is a reflection of overall wellness.” –Dr. Howard Murad

With thousands of skin products on the market, it can be difficult to figure out what’s the best way to take care of your skin. Skin care is beyond topical treatments, it’s a combination of what you put into your body and what you put on your body.

Different internal and external lifestyle factors can affect the appearance of your skin. For example, cold weather could trigger eczema, while warmer weather could trigger acne. Too much sun exposure could lead to pigmentation and accelerate aging skin.

Breathing Easier: COPD Facts and Treatments

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, commonly referred to as COPD, is a term used to describe several different lung diseases that affect the lung functionality of over 16 million Americans. Even more suffer from COPD without being diagnosed. Although there is no cure, this disease progresses slowly and patients who seek out help can be prescribed treatments that will slow the disease and make it easier to breathe.

UT Health East Texas North Campus Pulmonary Clinic has many physicians with expert knowledge and experience in treating COPD. These pulmonary experts share their...

Some people ask, “is gluten-free just a fad?” Maurica Wright, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator at UT Health Tyler, explains how public health education efforts have improved the public's awareness of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

“Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and products containing those ingredients,” she shares. “Most people find they have developed a gluten sensitivity after experiencing...