Lone Star Family Health Center News

With the wonderful news of very effective vaccines being developed and released to the public on a worldwide scale there are of course many questions that come to mind.

I know that I celebrated the news of effective vaccines being developed for the COVID-19 virus after caring for many patients over the last 10 months with COVID-19 infections. It has been horrible to witness firsthand our case and fatality numbers steadily climb, but even with the release of the vaccine I knew that many people would be hesitant to get it.

The holidays have passed, your New Year’s goals were set, only to be pushed to the Monday following the fireworks… and now it’s time to get serious about actually pursuing those goals. Among the most popular goals include: getting healthy, losing weight or maybe even just maintaining one’s current weight. Estimated obesity in the US (BMI >30, 2011-2012) is 35%, meaning, no one is alone in this battle, and many Americans struggle with achieving and maintaining these goals. Let’s go over what you can do on your own and how the medical community is involved.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can involve one or both sides of the chest. The seriousness of this illness can range from mild to life-threatening. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, this infection was one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. 

The lungs are made up of many smaller air sacs called alveoli where oxygen enters the body. When germs enter the lungs and activate the immune system, inflammation occurs, which can result in the air sacs filling up with fluid or pus. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, cough, chest pain when you cough or breath, and shortness of breath. 

With all the changes and headlines we have experienced over the last year it may seem strange to be discussing the common strep throat. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a new situation in our lives, but some things remain the same. The days will begin to grow longer, and we (or at least I) look forward to Spring.

Many of us get dry, itchy skin at times, but for some, it is a vicious cycle, especially during the winter.

What is eczema? Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin problem that causes itchy, dry, scaly, red skin. It often runs in families and can affect people of all ages. The main cause of eczema is genetic changes passed on from parents. People with eczema are born with a unique outer layer of skin. This layer, the epidermis, is the body’s first line of defense and keeps bacteria, viruses, and irritating substances from entering the body. It also keeps the skin from losing too much water. In people with eczema, this barrier is weaker and more permeable, which allows irritating substances to get in and water to get out.

It’s that time of year again! Hot chocolate filled with marshmallows, bright lights lining homes and circling trees, a much-needed break from the Houston heat, and…achy joints? Most of us look forward to the holidays coming around every year whether that is because you finally get to see family, or you are finally going to get that gift that you have been wanting all year. For those with osteoarthritis, it may also mean increased pain in your joints.

You never think it is going to happen to you, but I woke up a few weeks ago to a blaring alarm in the middle of the night. It sounded like a fire alarm was going off in my apartment. On further investigation, it was actually my carbon monoxide alarm. Initially, I thought it was just low on battery so I replaced it before going back to bed. Soon, it was blaring again. I was shocked to realize it was actually indicating carbon monoxide in my apartment. I grabbed my two pets and vacated my apartment before calling 911 to alert the fire department. 

– Offering compassionate, affordable health care for everyone, Lone Star Family Health Center looks forward to working with families in the Huntsville community. –

Conroe, Texas – December 1, 2020 – Lone Star Family Health Center is pleased to announce that their new location in Huntsville TX is now open and ready to serve families throughout Walker County. Located at 227 SH 75 N Ste 130 in Huntsville, the Center will be open Monday through Friday: 8am - 5pm and closed from 12pm to 1pm daily.

Author: Anna Luc, M.D.

After the heat and humidity of summer, the colder weather in fall and winter can be a nice welcomed change. Wintertime also often evokes warm memories of holidays and family gatherings. However, for many people with asthma, wintertime can be challenging in managing their symptoms.

Author: Alvaro Sanchez, M.D.

Flu season has arrived. This is a time public health professionals have been concerned about, and it is here. It has been several months since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and issued a new era of mask wearing, social distancing, and public health efforts to mitigate spread of disease. Experts in the fields of public health, research, and medicine have made great strides in finding ways to combat this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. However, there is now a dual virus threat out there; so it is important that we, individually and nationally, are more adherent to guidelines and help minimize the harm to our neighbors.