Tag Archives: 5th Ward / East End

Tackling childhood obesity in the Houston area

By Carolina Boyd Childhood obesity is one of the more pressing health concerns facing the Houston and Harris County area. According to the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, thirty-four percent of Houston’s children (age 12 and over) are overweight or obese. The problem is often rooted in the lifestyles of families. Poor food …

Healthy Eating During Pregnancy

By Sean Barrett, Registered Dietitian If you’re pregnant, “eating for two” doesn’t mean eating more than necessary, what matters is if the food is healthy. The caloric needs of an expecting mom will change throughout her pregnancy. Extra calories are not required during a woman’s first trimester. During the second trimester, only an additional 340 …

Dealing with a Urinary Tract Infection

By Carolina Boyd Every year urinary tract infections (UTIs) lead to more than 8 million visits to health care providers in the United States.  For women, the chance of developing a UTI is especially high.  Women have shorter urethras, which allow bacteria quick access to the bladder, causing an infection. To identify a UTI, keep …

Heart Health Begins Early in Life

By Carolina Boyd Heart disease sounds like a very adult medical issue, but it begins as early as the childhood and adolescent years. An estimated 1.3 million youths in the United States between the ages of 12 – 19 have hypertension. High blood pressure, in addition to elevated cholesterol levels and obesity, are conditions linked …

Get to know your Legacy community pharmacist

At Legacy, our pharmacists pick up a patient’s care where the doctor left off. Beyond filling prescriptions, they ensure people adhere to their medications, and do so safely. They provide blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, immunizations and one-on-one medication therapy counseling. Most importantly, our pharmacists strive to provide personalized care to everyone who walks …

More of what you can expect with a newborn

The first weeks following the birth of a baby brings a lot of adjustments and questions for parents.  We continue our look at what to expect as your newborn transitions from life in the womb to the world outside. Umbilical Cord Your baby’s umbilical cord stump usually falls out within the two weeks after birth. …

Today is Black HIV Awareness Day. Do you know your status?

By Barrett White “I don’t have HIV, I’m not gay,” said Kalvin Marshall, in disbelief, at learning he was living with HIV. But he was and so was his wife Eunice. The Marshalls are members of Positive Organizing Project (POP+), an advocacy training program designed by and for people living with HIV/AIDS. They were given …

Legacy Community Health encourages measles vaccination

Legacy Community Health, Texas’ largest community health system with 34 clinics, today encouraged parents to vaccinate their children against measles and to watch for signs or symptoms of measles infection. Five cases of the virus have been confirmed this week in Harris and surrounding counties. “Measles is an extremely contagious disease but is preventable with …

The importance of the well-woman exam

By Dr. Vian Nguyen, Chief Medical Officer We all know how important exercise and diet are when it comes to living a healthy life. However, many of us forget the role of regular check-ups in staying healthy. For women, that means a well-woman exam. A general well-woman exam gives women an opportunity to discuss their …

Healthy Habits to Develop During Early Pregnancy

Watching your diet, exercising and drinking lots of water are good health habits for everyone to develop.  However, if you are pregnant it is especially important to focus on caring for yourself and your baby. We have five healthy habit reminders that may be helpful for expectant moms, especially during early pregnancy. Discontinue harmful habits. …