From AmericanRedCross.com If you’re a regular donor or have already donoted blood this month, keep up the good work! If you haven’t, here are some reasons why you should consider donating and answers to questions you might have about the process: The importance of donating blood People with cancer, Sickle cell or one of a variety of other diseases require regular transfusions to replace unhealthy blood that can’t do its job properly. Blood is also used during operations and in response to emergencies. According to the American RedCross, “a single car accident victi Read more...

If you’re looking for a way to start the year off right and commit to some new year’s resolutions, look no further! Beginning Saturday, January 21, 2012, an 8-week weight management group class will be offered with instruction by Dr. Melanie Wilder. Melanie has extensive experience in helping patients change their unhealthy behaviors and learn to lead a healthy lifestyle. She also helps patients who struggle with weight and nutrition by teaching them skills that will improve their overall health and well-being. Melanie teaches her patients how to adopt a balanced and realistic app Read more...

We are proud to announce that Village Health Partners, along with Dallas County Community College District’s Eastfield College, will share in a $97,698 Skills Development Fund grant provided by the Texas Workforce Commission. The grant will fund a job training program at Eastfield for 127 medical office employees.  The program will help new and incumbent workers improve their skills with electronic medical record systems. Along with providing job trainings support, the grant will also help participating medical practices transition to new electronic medical record systems. The new EMR syste Read more...

The fall and winter months come with frosty air, piles of leaves and, often, the sniffles. We do everything we can to avoid catching a cold. Hands are washed more frequently and extra precautions are taken. There are other things that can be done in addition to these safety measures. There are many surfaces that we touch daily that may be packed with germs. According to USA Today,  gas pump handles, ATM buttons and doorknobs may be riddled with germs. A scientific study found that 71% of gas pump handles and 68% of corner mailbox handles were highly contaminated with germs most associated wi Read more...

Inspired by World Sight Day, which took place on October 13, our neighbors at Lone Star Vision in Legacy Medical Village are doing their part to give back. For every comprehensive eye examination they perform in October, $20 will be donated to Optometry Giving Sight,  an organization that funds programs that provide eye care to people in need. Optometry Giving Sight, the organizer of the World Sight Day Challenge, funds programs that provide eye exams and glasses, trains local eye care professionals and develops vision centers that deliver long-term vision care to people in need. There are 6 Read more...

We are excited to announce that Village Health Partners has 6 of  the 17 D Magazine Best Doctors in Collin County in 2011. The VHP physicians were selected by their peers, answering questions like “Which Collin County Doctors would you trust with the care of a loved one?” A final panel of esteemed physicians and D Magazine staff choose the best doctors. Congratulations Village Health Partners doctors! Thank you to our patients for the opportunity to provide you with exceptional care in Collin County. Read more...

Types of Flu Viruses Why do you need to get a new flu shot every year? Because there is a new strain of flu every year! As years vary so do the strains of flu. Because of this, it is pertinent to evaluate getting new flu shots annually. What Are the Different Types of Flu? There are three types of flu viruses: A, B, and C. Type A and B cause the annual influenza epidemics that have up to 20% of the population sniffling, aching, coughing and running high fevers. Type C also causes flu; however, type C flu symptoms are much less severe. Flu vaccinations: Needles vs. Needleless Needleless flu sho Read more...

Hand sanitizers have become a necessity in every school, work place and mother’s purse but are they really helping you ward off sickness and germs? It depends. Hand Sanitizers are a great way to kill germs when you do not have the time or the ability to properly wash your hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer in particular kills more types of germs than most of the other forms on the market. It has the most reliable disinfectant properties by killing germs through structurally destroying them rather than poisoning them. But, the alcohol-based hand sanitizer must have a concentration between 60 Read more...

A new research study published in the journal Pediatrics found that the levels of pesticides found in a majority of the country’s food and around the home are increasing children’s risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The main channel through which a child’s risk increases is through food consumption. Pediatrician and public health expert Phil Landrigan, MD, from the International Business Times article, Pesticides Can Cause ADHD in Kids, states that “For most people, diet is the predominant source. It’s been shown that people who switch to an o Read more...

The school year has begun and with it a plethera of germs. These are the top ways to keep your children out of the doctors office and in school this fall. Make sure they are washing their hands. It is the most effective way to prevent germs from spreading. The length of a hand wash should last about as long as it takes to sing happy birthday. Do not let your children share utensils. Sharing is great for learning but terrible when it comes to the spreading of unwanted germs. A good nights rest is essential to keeping a child’s immune system working well. Sleep deprivation weakens the imm Read more...

Dealing with a heat rash can be uncomfortable, itchy and irritating, literally. So what should you do to treat this discomfort and make sure you don’t experience a heat rash again? First things first, stop scratching your rash. The heat from your fingers will only make it more uncomfortable in the long run and it might even spread the rash. Take off your damp clothes and take a cool shower. The cold water will reduce irritation, swelling and heat. After your shower, if you feel comfortable, do not put clothes on, the more skin-to-air contact the better for reducing the rash size and your l Read more...

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious virus that is transmitted through air particles via sneezing or coughing. With school back in session and children being more susceptible to infection, here are some need-to-knows about vaccinations and what you can do to prevent the spreading of the virus. Why Get Vaccinated? Influenza is highly contagious. Anyone can get the flu, but those more prone to the virus are children and older adults. Symptoms may include: Fever/Chills Cough Sore throat Headache Muscle aches Fatigue Runny nose Clogged Read more...

When you deprive yourself of those precious hours of shut-eye, there are several telltale signs. Dark circles under the eyes, frequent yawning and a decrease in productivity. The work day seems endless, and all you can think about is the warm bed you left behind that morning, or how to sneak a nap in your car during lunch. Coffee helps stave off the exhaustion, but your body is crying out for rest. There are also more serious side effects of robbing your body of sleep. According to sleep experts, the hours needed for sleep varies by individual, but most adults need between seven to nine hours. Read more...

According to Vegetarian Times, vegetarianism is the fastest growing trend  in the developed world. The practice is defined by the exclusion of meat from one’s diet, and focuses instead on a diet of plant-based foods, fruits and vegetables. There are many varying degrees to which individuals adopt this lifestyle, with some also excluding dairy products and eggs, while others exclude only red meat (while keeping poultry and fish). Vegetarianism is chosen for many different reasons, whether it be for ethical, religious, economic, animal rights or simply to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Wh Read more...

The mantra has always been the same: “One must drink eight ounces of water eight times per day to stay hydrated.” This may be true, but there are other methods to incorporate water into your diet that don’t involve downing a kiddie pool. Here is a list of ten foods that contain a surprising amount of this vital liquid: Cucumbers: The skin of cucumbers is composed of water and also contains vitamin C. Ever wonder why slices of this green vegetable are placed over the eyes at spas? The vitamin C and caffeic acid soothe skin and reduces swelling. Mixed Greens: Craving a salad? Most lettuc Read more...

Fish oil. You’ve heard the rumors, your roommate takes supplements and your doctor has told you good things. Before you sink any money into this, you want to make sure you know what the heck omega-3 fatty acids do. So, just what are the health benefits of fish oil? Rumors aside, here are some proven facts about this “wonder-supplement.” Lessens Depression Research has provided overwhelming evidence to support this claim. Scientists discovered that people in countries with fish as a large part of their diet had lower cases of depression. The evidence suggests that the increasing the level Read more...

If you’re heading out to the pool or beach this summer, you might notice something different about the bottle of sunscreen you’re using. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced recently that labeling for sunscreens will now require an identification of ingredients that are best suited to help prevent skin cancer, aging and sunburn. When you are exposed to sunlight, there are several factors at play. The sun’s harmful UV, (Ultra-violet) rays are separated into UVA and UVB, according to their wavelengths from the earth. Both can cause sunburn, premature aging or skin cancer, so ne Read more...

Although June is almost over, Men’s Health Awareness needs to remain prevalent in our minds, and in those of the ones we love.  From tender ages, boys are taught to brave the pain, to “tough it out” when hurt. Adulthood does little to suppress this, and men are hesitant to acknowledge pain or other body signals as anything concrete. Men’s Health Awareness month seeks to change this perception of invincibility, and strives to encourage the scheduling of regular medical checkups. Many health problems and diseases are preventable and treatable, and men, the young and the y Read more...

Does the prospect of planning a healthy meal seem intimidating? Not sure what to fix, what guidelines to follow or perhaps unsure of what portion sizes should be? For the past 20 years, planning balanced meals to meet your nutritional needs has always followed the same traditional guiding principle: meats, fruits and vegetables, dairy and grains. The well-known food pyramid, or MyPyramid, has been the recommended source for nutritional standards. But there’s a new shape in town. Instead of the food pyramid, a depiction of a plate, dubbed MyPlate, is the new icon to represent healthy eati Read more...

Ever get those late night cravings? Don’t worry, we’re guilty of this too. Every now and then you just have to make a trip down the stairs to get that sandwhich out of the fridge. As satisfying as these late night snacks may seem, your weight can end up taking a turn for the worst. According to Men’s Health, many late-night snacks can interfere with sleeping habits and pack on more pounds than desired. Studies show that adults under 40 who slept 5 hours or less gained more weight over 5 years than those who slept 6-7 hours a night. To avoid this fate, check out these notorio Read more...