Your heart is undoubtedly one of the most important organs in your body. In addition to a special day called Valentines, I would like to bring awareness to why we should keep our hearts healthy. According to the CDC, “About 697,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2020– that’s 1 in every 5 deaths”. We cannot control genetics, but we can control other modifiable factors. Let’s look into them together: Get Active: 45 minutes a day for 5 days out of the week. At minimum, I encourage you to consider speed walking around your neighborhood. For example, if one whole lap is ab ..read more

These sixty-five indoor rainy day activities for kids provide hours of independent play ideas. Just yesterday the sun was shining and the kids were fully occupied –running around the backyard, climbing trees, splashing through sprinklers, and drawing with chalk. But today the clouds moved in and there’s nothing but solid rain predicted all day long. So now what? It’s easy to keep most kids entertained outside with so many things to do, see and explore. But inside can be a different story with cramped quarters and little space to move. Not to fear…the sixty-five indoor activities for kids ..read more

From the American Academy of Pediatrics: Do Healthy Young People Need the COVID-19 Vaccine? Yes. If your teen or child is healthy but has not had their COVID vaccine, don’t wait. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 and older. A booster dose is also strongly encouraged for ages 12 and up who got two doses of the mRNA COVID vaccine at least five months ago. More than 60% of kids ages 12-17 and at least 25% of kids ages 5-11 in the U.S. have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Younger children still are not eligible ..read more

We are celebrating some of history’s most influential women in life sciences and their extraordinary achievements and contributions that have saved countless lives and continue to inspire generations of women in medicine to this day. Metrodora (c. 200-400 AD) Metrodora, a Greek female physician, wrote On the Diseases and Cures of Women, the oldest medical text known to be written by a woman. Notably, it did not include information on obstetrics, the study of childbirth, which was extremely rare in a time when women were restricted to gynaecology and midwifery. However, Metodora ..read more

From the American Academy of Pediatrics: New COVID-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines when communities and families should wear face masks. Even in areas where mask guidelines are now eased, we realize some families may find it difficult to decide what’s best for everyone. For some children—including those too young to be immunized and many with special health care needs—masking is still an important layer of protection. Who still needs to wear masks? Universal mask policies are still necessary in many parts of the country.&n ..read more

08Feb The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates the community on healthy living, and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The AHA website has resources for healthy living as well as information on heart-related topics such as cholesterol, heart attacks, and high blood pressure. American Heart Association Website > The post American Heart Association appeared first on Georgetown Pediatrics & Family Medicine ..read more

From The Children’s Foundation: In celebration of Black History Month, we are reflecting and honoring the contributions Black leaders have made toward the advancement of equality and improvement of children’s health and wellness, both historically and in the present day. From surgeons and researchers to advocates and activists, featured are ten Black leaders who inspire and motivate us by the important work they have done and continue to do. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford: Popular psychologist with podcast, Therapy for Black Girls Dr. Joy is a licensed psychologist and host of the popular mental heal ..read more

Take Back Day: Saturday, October 29, 2022 10:00 am – 2:00 pm On Saturday, October 29th, 2022, Travis County & Williamson County will team up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to allow the public to safely dispose of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.  The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs.  Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. Our Care Centers at Austin Health Partners support safely disposing of medications ..read more

From the American Academy of Pediatrics: Updated 5/19: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been significant shortages of infant formulas in stores. Current shortages have been largely caused by supply chain issues and the recent recall of several baby formula products over concerns about contamination. Here are some tips on finding formula your baby needs during the shortage, and what you may safely consider if you absolutely can’t find any. Keep in mind, this advice is strictly during this current URGENT formula shortage. If you have any concerns about your bab ..read more

What is blood pressure?  Blood pressure is the pressure of blood “pushing against the walls of your arteries”. As blood rushes from your heart to other organs, it helps to replenish nutrients and transport oxygen. Too low of a blood pressure could be fatal for these organs and on the flip side, too high of a blood pressure is also fatal. This reading may fluctuate throughout the day. There are two numbers: -The “top” number is the systolic number. It measures the pressure of the arteries when your heart is beating. -The “bottom” number is the diastolic number. It measures the pr ..read more