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Signs of Food Poisoning If you haven’t experienced food poisoning yourself, chances are you know someone who did. That’s because this common health condition affects 1 in 6 Americans every year, according to the CDC. While most people know some basic information about food poisoning, many are surprised to learn that the condition can lead to severe illness and even death. 128,000 Americans are hospitalized each year due to foodborne illness. Unfortunately, 3,000 of those patients will die as a result. On a positive note, food poisoning is pretty straightforward, and it’s easy to tell if your food made you [...]

Is my Smartphone impacting your health? Smartphones are so common now that it is unusual for someone to be walking around without a cell phone in their pocket. There’s no question that tech is a great tool to keep us connected with family, friends, and business contacts. Most people treat a smartphone like a constant companion – carrying it throughout the day and even sleeping with it on the nightstand. The first iPhone came out in 2007, and now it is estimated that more than 3.2 billion people worldwide use smartphones. The numbers continue to grow each year as technology [...]

Chronic Cough - Time to see a doctor? Coughing is an important function in the body to keep unwanted particles out of the lungs. Sometimes, a coughing fit can be as simple as a minute or two of intense coughing because something “went down the wrong pipe.” This response is the body’s protective reaction to avoid food or liquids in the lungs. It is common for a cough to develop with an upper respiratory illness. For example, coughing is a symptom that often occurs when someone has a head cold. Usually, these symptoms go away in a short time after [...]

Flu shot safety Have you ever had a friend or family member tell you that flu shots can make you sick? Some people get mixed signals about flu shot results and get worried about the potential side effects of this vaccine. If you are considering whether you should get a flu shot this year, then your best choice is to talk to an experienced nurse or doctor. As you learn more about the flu vaccine and how it works, you’ll see that this treatment is a safe and effective way to reduce the risk of getting influenza each season. [...]

Going to a doctor It's 7pm on a Saturday, your child has a high fever, things are getting worse and you need quick medical attention. Where do you take them? If you go to urgent care your provider might suggest you be transferred to an ER for higher level of care. You can’t afford to pay for two sets of bills, but your child needs medical attention now. What do you do? Fortunately there are a few good options – some better than others. Many people base their decision on cost. Both hospitals and Freestanding ERs can handle everything that [...]

Which of the following are true? In medicine we like tests so let’s start this discussion with a quick quiz. Edward Jenner, father of vaccinology, was the great, great, great, great grandfather of Caitlyn Jenner. The word “Vaccine” was derived from the Latin word for cow. There is some scientific evidence that the MMR vaccine may cause neurologic diseases such as autism. The anti-vaccine movement began in 1830. Only 30% of a population needs to be vaccinated to protect the entire population. Vaccine History Ask any modern healthcare professional to list the 10 greatest achievements of the past [...]

Beat the heat. People tend to assume that Winter is the most popular time to get sick because we tend to see an influx of colds and cases of flu. However, Summer brings forth a different set of weather conditions and different illnesses/ailments to spoil your summer fun. Here’s a top 10 list of prevalent Summer illnesses here in North Texas. Follow your instincts 10. Coxsackie (Hand, Foot, and Mouth) This virus thrives during the warmers months and infects more than 200,000 people every year. Although most common in children younger than age 10- adults are not in [...]