Saturday, December 10, 2016 • Page 1B
Thomas Street Health Center continues fight against HIV/AIDS By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader
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Northwest ChiropraCtiC George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com
Major Hospitals
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
Photo contributed Carolyn Watson (front), volunteer patient mentor and HIV-positive patient, and Janese Bustillos, service linkage worker, place ornaments in honor of those lost to AIDS on the “Tree of Remembrance” located in lobby of Harris Health System’s Thomas Street Health Center. The tradition of decorating the tree is part of Harris Health’s 18th annual World AIDS Day observance.
St. Joseph Medical Center as heterosexual, and we treat about 1,900 woman with HIV; about 29 percent of our patients are female.” How do the ages breakdown in HIV-infected individuals in Harris County? About 21 percent fall into the 13 to 24-year-old group, 53 percent in the 25 to 44-year-old age group, and about 24 percent fall into the 45 to 64year-old age group. The Thomas St. Health Center operates under an unusual partner-
ship. Physicians from both Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas Health Science Center work in concert creating an opportunity for learning. There are about 20 research projects underway at the clinic at any given moment. The situation attracts some of the finest doctors in the U.S. The physician who first identified the AIDS virus to the CDC is among the constellation working at Thomas St. In 1981,
Don’t let shin splints spoil your sports plans Memorial Hermann Greater Heights For The Leader
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Lutheran North High School, St Pius X High School and the University of St. Thomas. “A running analysis can detect subtleties in gait mechanics that can be corrected to prevent this injury.” Along with improving calf strength, athletes should work on hip abductor strength and pelvic stability. The hip extensor muscles, hamstrings and glutes work together to generate a powerful stride and help avoid shin splints. “Core muscles are also important to build a strong, balanced structural system and avoid injuries,” adds Dr. Shani who will provide medical support during next month’s Chevron Houston Marathon.
See Thomas Street P. 2B
Include HSAs for your insurance
in The Heights 1917 Ashland Street Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-757-1000 Physician Referral 713-757-7575
Medical Suppliers
Complete Medical Supply 1714 W. 18th Street (At Ella Blvd) Houston, TX 77008 Tel: (713) 880-4000 www.CompleteMedicalSupply.net
For The Leader Navigating health insurance plans can be confusing. One health insurance product that’s relatively easy to understand is a health savings account, or HSA. This type of account can help account holders save money on the costs associated with their healthcare. What is an HSA? HSAs are like any other savings account, except they can be used for medical, vision and dental expenses. HSAs are tax-advantaged, meaning that income can be deposited into an HSA before it is taxed. HSAs can only be opened and used in conjunction with a high-deductible health insurance plan, or those with a deductible of at least $1,300 for an individual or $2,600 for a family.
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A retirement saving vehicle In addition to the other benefits mentioned, HSAs can be used as a way to invest in retirement. The resource NerdWallet, which offers financial tools and objective advice to help people understand their options and make the best possible decisions, says an HSA is a good retirement savings option, especially for high-income earners who can’t make deductible contributions to a traditional IRA or any contributions to a Roth IRA. HSAs can help offset healthcare costs and even help with long-term financial planning.
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HSA details and eligibility requirements Although HSAs have contribution limits, they’re advantageous in that the savings accumulated can be used to pay for noncovered, qualified medical expenses, such as copays, vision and dental care and even deductibles. HSAs may be established through an employer-sponsored insurance plan or through a bank or other financial institution. To qualify, a person must be under the age of 65 and have a high-deductible health insurance plan. What are the advantages and disadvantages of HSAs? There are advantages and disadvantages to HSAs. HSA account holders can control how their saved money is spent, and there’s no risk of losing the money at the end of the year because it rolls over. Taxes are not paid on money going into the HSA. In addition, employers can contribute to HSAs, and account holders do not lose their balances when they change jobs. Disadvantages include the challenge of setting aside money to put into the HSA, especially if finances are tight. One who has certain medical situations that are urgent may find that budgeting for an HSA is impractical.
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From playing basketball to starting a running program to training for the Chevron Houston Marathon, athletes who run and jump are susceptible to shin splints. This overuse injury, caused by improper running mechanics, conditioning or footwear, includes pain that runs along the front or inner edge of the large tibia bone of the lower leg. Shin splints are preventable and often occur with a change in training intensity or running surface, particularly on sloped or uneven surfaces. TreatNever play through the ment includes rest, ice, antipain inflammatory medications and stretching. A stress fracture in the “If self-care measures do tibia or fibula bones of not relieve lower leg pain, it the lower leg can feel exis important to seek mediactly like shin splints, so cal treatment to make sure Dr. Shani urges athletes the pain is not due to a stress not to ignore lower leg pain fracture or a more serious and especially to never underlying condition,” says “play through the pain.” Raj Shani, M.D., a board-certiHe points to an undetected fied orthopedic surgeon affilistress fracture as the probated with Memorial Hermann able cause of University of Greater Heights Hospital Louisville basketball player and the Memorial Hermann Kevin Ware’s shattered tibIRONMAN Sports Medicine ia and fibula upon landing Raj Shani M.D. Institute. from a routine jump during Board-certified orthopedic surgeon the 2013 NCAA Midwest RePreventing shin splints Shin splints disrupt the gional finals. connective tissue that atOther conditions that taches the muscles to the tibia. In addition cause lower leg pain include exertional comto pain, there may be mild swelling. The pain partment syndrome, an exercise-induced generally worsens with activity and eases with muscle and nerve condition, and popliteal rest, though pain can be intense upon rising aneurysm, a ballooning of the popliteal artery from sleep. behind the knee. Tight calf muscles, caused by muscle imbal“It is important that these aneurysms be ances and flat feet, increase the risk of shin closely monitored or corrected surgically, splints. Proper warmups, including calf stretch- as they present a risk for blood clots,” says ing, are necessary, as is the avoidance of hard Dr. Shani, an assistant professor of orthopesurfaces when running and jumping. Orthotics dic surgery at McGovern Medical School at can provide arch support to flat feet. UTHealth. “If an athlete experiences reoccurring shin To learn more about sports medicine care splints, a gait analysis may help,” says Dr. Shani at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights, visit who lives in the Heights and serves as team memorialhermann.org/heights. physician for athletes at Waltrip High School,
Dr. Wayne Shandera was practicing in Los Angels when he noticed a cluster of unusual symtoms in five gay male patients. It was too coincidental to be ignored. Shandera alerted the CDC and the CDC then reported his observation on page 2 of their publication, “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports.”
Advance H e
On December 1 each year, people who have been touched by HIV/ AIDS observe World AIDS Day. It is both a celebration of the enormous strides made battling the deadly virus, and a day of sadness remembering the two million American souls lost in the journey. Many people don’t worry about HIV/AIDS anymore but, according to the American Center for Disease Control, the virus remains active in the population. In 2015, 39,513 people were newly diagnosed with HIV. The CDC estimates that 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Remarkably, about one in eight of these are unaware that they are infected, making detection paramount. On the edge of the Houston Heights, Harris Health System’s Thomas St. Health Center continues to fight the disease. As the first free-standing clinic dedicated specifically to HIV/AIDS in the U.S., professionals working in the four-story, 100-year-old building are currently treating about 6,000 patients and have saved many more since opening in 1989. Once considered a gay male’s disease, who are Thomas St.’s patients today? They could be anyone – any age, race, sexual preference or background. While there have been advancements, the virus remains an “equal opportunity killer” if left untreated. “Today, HIV is still found more frequently in males, but these patients are not only gay men anymore,“ stated Pete Rodriguez, Director of HIV Services and Health Care for the Homeless for Harris Health Care. “Many of our patients self-identify
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Sharon Smith, M.D. & Amber Dobyne, M.D. The Preserve 2010 N. Loop West, Suite 260 Houston, Texas 77018 Tel: 713-697-8555 www.obgyncaretx.com
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Now open in Heights area 4500 Washington Avenue, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77007 713.861.6490 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Daily Walk-ins welcome mhmg.memorialhermann.org