February is Black History Month. We take this time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and honor the significant role and impact they have made on American society.
This year during Black History Month, we want to discuss the health disparities that African Americans face. Heart disease and stroke are two leading causes of death of African Americans. At Townsen Memorial, we can improve the odds of preventing and beating these diseases by helping African Americans understand the risks and taking simple steps to address them. High blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes are common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure, also known as hypertension, is when your blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high. In African Americans, high blood pressure is found to be more severe and develops earlier in life. About 2 out of every 5 African American adults have high blood pressure and less than half of them have it under control. If you know your blood pressure is high, you need to check it regularly and notify a doctor at Townsen Memorial of any changes so that they can adjust your treatment.
Obesity
African Americans are extremely affected by obesity. According to the CDC, African Americans are nearly 1.5 times as likely to have obesity as compared to other races. While it can be challenging, the main way to prevent obesity is to make lifestyle changes. At Townsen Memorial, we have a knowledgeable bariatrics team who can lead you through every step of the way to a healthier life.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke and African Americans are more likely to develop diabetes than other races. In the United States, Black adults are 60 percent more likely than white adults to develop type 2 diabetes. Family history, obesity, and insulin resistance are all factors that contribute to the risk of diabetes in the African American community.
What You Can Do For Your Health:
Living a healthy lifestyle is the main factor that can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Here are some tips to maintaining a healthier lifestyle:
- Eat a Healthy Diet
- Exercise Regularly
- Stay Smoke-Free
- Limit Alcohol Use
- Know your Family History
- Manage your medical conditions. Stay up to date with annual checkups with a physician.
Trust Townsen Memorial With Your Health
Townsen Memorial you can work with a medical professional to learn your specific risk factors and the things you need to do to take care of your health. Living a healthy lifestyle and receiving regular checkups with a physician helps to prevent heart disease and stroke. Talk with a doctor to understand your risks based on your lifestyle and family history. Our innovative facilities and experienced staff mean you’ll be comfortable during each visit and that you can trust us with your medical care. We are located in Humble, TX off of FM 1960 and Highway 59. We can help you get back on your feet and do the things you love in no time. If you have any questions visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
March Is Women’s History Month
Townsen Memorial is proud to celebrate the contributions of strong women in medicine. To honor Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting some women that have changed the field of medicine through their work and dedication.
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. She has served as a pioneer to many women in the medical field today. Elizabeth faced many obstacles on her path to a medical degree and continued to fight for women’s access to this education after her graduation. She opened up the Woman’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary in 1867 to support other women hoping to pursue careers in medicine.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Marie Curie worked with her husband to discover two chemical elements in the periodic table: polonium and radium. This discovery led to many medical advancements including the development of the x-ray. During World War 1, Curie developed mobile x-ray machines that she brought to the frontlines to diagnose injuries in wounded soldiers.
She received many awards for her work, and later created the Curie Institute in Paris, in 1920. Today, the institute serves as a leading medical research center.
Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919)
Mary Edwards Walker was the first and only woman to receive the Presidential Medal of Honor. She was the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. In addition to her work in the army, she was a strong advocate for women’s rights.
Virginia Apgar (1909-1974)
Virginia Apgar graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in 1933. She pursued anesthesiology as a career and later became the first director of Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital’s division of anesthesia in 1938.
In 1953, she created the Apgar score, which serves today as a gold standard in determining the health of a newborn.
Apgar later pursued a master’s degree in public health from John Hopkins University. She worked as the vice president for medical affairs for the March of Dimes. There, she worked to create public attention on how to prevent birth defects. She served as a pioneer to improve the health of mothers, babies, and unborn infants for future generations.
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These inspiring women in medicine faced stereotypes and discrimination but endured through these hardships to build hospitals, win awards, lead medical schools, and improve the health of millions of people. At Townsen Memorial, we have trailblazing women among our medical staff. We are proud to support them as they work to make a difference in our society.
About Townsen Memorial
Townsen Memorial Hospital is located in Humble, TX off of FM 1960 and Highway 59. We have 2 imaging center locations. Townsen Memorial Imaging Center-Med Center is located at 3003 S. Loop W. Suite 140 in Houston, Texas. Townsen Memorial Imaging Center-Spring is located at 3301 Spring Stuebner Rd., Suite 120 in Spring, Texas. Our innovative facilities and experienced staff mean you’ll be comfortable during treatment and that you can trust us with your medical care. If you have any questions visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
March is about commemorating and observing the vital role of women’s contributions in history. Townsen Memorial is celebrating by highlighting some of history’s most influential women that have changed the field of medicine.
Metrodora (C. 200-400 Ad)
Metrodora was a Greek female physician and author of On the Diseases and Cures of Women which is the oldest known medical text written by a woman. Her work has been referenced often by other medical writers. Metrodora is known to have covered all areas of medicine related to women, including gynecology, but not obstetrics. She developed various therapies and surgical techniques that were revolutionary in her time.
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She graduated first in her class in 1849, and in 1957, she opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children along with her sister, Dr. Emily Blackwell, and Dr. Marie Zakrzewska. She has served as an inspiration to many women in the medical field today through her book Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Marie Curie worked with her husband to discover two chemical elements in the periodic table: polonium and radium. This discovery led to many medical advancements including the development of the x-ray. During World War 1, Curie developed mobile x-ray machines that she brought to the frontlines to diagnose injuries in wounded soldiers. She received a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and another in Chemistry in 1911. She later went on to create the Curie Institute in Paris in 1920. Today, the institute still serves as a leading medical research center.
Gerty Cori (1896-1957)
Another Nobel Prize winner, Gerty Cori, earned the award for her work in medicine/physiology in 1947. She worked with her husband, Carl Ferdinand Cori, to prove vital concepts in genetics. Their work led to the discovery that an enzyme deficiency could be responsible for metabolism disorders. They also carried out multiple studies on the action of hormones, focusing on the pituitary gland. Throughout her lifetime, Cori won several other awards in recognition for her contributions to science and earned honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Boston University, Smith College, Yale, Columbia, and Rochester.
Gertrude Belle Elion (1918-1999)
American chemist Gertrude “Trudy” Belle Ellion shared a Nobel Prize with George H Hitchins and Sir James Black for innovative methods of rational drug design which focused on understanding the target of the drug rather than simply using trial and error. Elion came from a scientific background and was inspired to pursue medicine when her grandfather passed away from cancer when she was 15 years old. She became dedicated to discovering a cure for the disease. Using the methods she had designed, Elion and her team developed 45 patents, including drugs to combat leukemia, herpes, AIDS, and treatments to reduce the body’s rejection of foreign tissue in kidney transplants between unrelated donors.
Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)
Rosalind Franklin is best known for her work in understanding the structure of DNA. Her identification of the double helix has led to huge advances in the field of genetics and modern medicine. Franklin also led pioneering work on the molecular structures of RNA viruses and Polio. Franklin had a passion for science from an early age and decided to become a scientist at the age of 15. She continued to work towards higher education against her father’s wishes and graduated from Cambridge University in 1941. She worked for many years as a first-rate scientist and died from cancer in 1958. Had it not been for her untimely death, it is highly likely she would have shared Nobel Prizes for the work she had a huge part in.
Patricia Goldman-Rakic (1937-2003)
Neuroscientist Patricia Goldman-Rakic is recognized for her studies of the brain, particularly, the frontal lobes and how it relates to memory. She received her bachelor’s degree in Neurology from Vassar in 1959, and then her doctorate from the University of California in Developmental Psychology in 1963. Her research significantly contributed to the understanding of neurological diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Additionally, her study of dopamine and its effects on the brain is essential to modern-day understanding of conditions such as schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Townsen Memorial Hospital Is Here For You
At Townsen Memorial, we have trailblazing women among our medical staff. We are proud to support them as they work to make a difference in our society. Safe, effective, and affordable care is our top priority and we strive to provide the best patient experience across all Townsen Memorial affiliated sites. The high-quality care starts at our Emergency Room and carries on through our Imaging Centers, Surgery Centers, and up through our Townsen Memorial Hospital. Our medical sites are located in Houston, TX, and the surrounding areas, to provide the best care to patients in and around Harris County. To learn more, visit our website or call 1-877-494-9487.
