Expecting good health 2013-01-02 Author: Sara Rider  Funny thing about vaccines: 50 years ago they were considered major advances against all-too-common illnesses. Over the last decade, they have often been reviled as the possible cause of a range of problems -...

A season for safety 2012-11-26 Author: Sara Rider  Happy holidays! At least, they should be. But for many people, accidents during the holidays can mean an unwanted trip to the emergency room and injuries that can put a damper on holiday fun. From falls to...

The calm before the storm 2012-10-29 Author: Sara Rider  For some of us it seems, the cards are stacked against us when it comes to our health. We may have a strong family history of a certain disease or condition, our ethnicity may make us more prone to certain...

Fighting the good fight 2012-09-28 Author: Sara Rider  According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), nearly 300,000 women will face a diagnosis of breast cancer during 2012. And during 2012, ACS estimates that about 39,510 women will die from breast cancer....

Immunity boost 2012-08-28 Author: Sara Rider  When most of us think about vaccines, we think about kids. Immunization schedules are such an ongoing part of our children’s first years of life that sometimes it seems like they are the only people who need...

Taking it too far 2012-07-29 Author: Sara Rider  We all have our little peculiarities. We may have a lucky number, or a lucky dress or shirt. And many of us have rituals. We may wear our lucky jersey to an important football game or always swing the bat three...

Heat Wave 2012-07-09 Author: Sara Rider “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” Unless you’re outside in 102 degree weather with 98 percent humidity. Then, there can be trouble. As temperatures climb this summer, the heat isn’t just unpleasant, it can be deadly....

Summer Food Safety Tips 2012-05-31 Author: Sara Rider  Summer: time for family reunions, outdoor birthday parties, holiday cookouts and trips to the lake and the beach. And of course, all of these outings and celebrations require food and refreshments. But as...

Need to sleep 2012-05-04 Author: Sara Rider  We’ve all had the friend with the newborn who sleeps through the night the day after coming home from the hospital. Or the co-worker who insists that getting her seven-year-old to go to bed - and stay in bed - is never...

Home sweet home 2012-04-02 Author: Sara Rider  Over the last few years, the combined number of babies born each year in Williamson and Travis Counties has been over 23,000 according to the Texas Department of Health Services. The vast majority of these infants...

Shoo fly! 2012-03-03 Author: Sara Rider  Ah, spring! Warm weather (but not too warm), green leaves and blooming plants, and spring break trips and special camps. It’s a great time to live in Texas. Unfortunately, it’s not only people who enjoy the great weather -...