Dr. David Roberts, director of UT Health San Antonio Transitional Care Clinic, discusses the impact of quality social interactions in the life of someone who battles mental illness. During a segment with KENS5 News, Dr. Roberts shared some key signs to look out for, tips on how to start a conversation, and the importance of creating a well-being response plan., Someone may be at risk of suicide if:, They are experiencing depression Have a history of attempting suicide Had people in their lives that have attempted or committed suicide Use drugs or alcohol at a higher risk than they normally do They are prone to impulsive behavior and are experiencing any recent loss or disappointment A person at risk of suicide could also make statements about not seeing a future for themselves. Such as, "I…, Start the conversation:, “Say something like, ‘last week I heard you say, my life is useless’. Using that concrete example is helpful and shows them you're paying attention,” said Dr. Roberts. “One of the most important things we can do is be comfortable bringing up the question of suicide. People thinking about suicide, often feel ashamed, alone, alienated and like they can't talk with other people about it.” “One thing…, Create a Response Plan:, “Research shows friends and family members can be helpful by creating a suicide safety plan. We’ve actually started thinking about it as a form of mental health first aid. In the same way that you don’t have to be a doctor to do CPR, you don’t have to be a doctor to do first aid for someone feeling suicidal,” explained Dr. Roberts. He suggests making a crisis response plan. It’s a list that shows…
Every day we face stressful events. Most of these events are minor. But other events are clearly major sources of stress. These include things such as a separation or divorce, or trouble at home or work. You may need help from others, like your health care provider, to get a handle on a stressful situation. They can help you plan and implement changes to ease your stress. You also need to look…, Don't make unneeded changes in your life. , Instead, save what energy you have for dealing with the major stressor at hand. If possible, try to make your work and home environments stable while working out the main problem. , Quiet your mind. , Use deep breathing and visualization methods to calm your mind and slow your breathing. When you're stressed, your mind can make things seem worse. It does this by creating endless versions of coming disaster. This affects your body, too. The body can't tell the difference between what's real and what's not. So it reacts with a greater physical response. , Stay in the present. , You can calm both your mind and your body by keeping your mind in the present. The present is hardly ever as stressful as an imagined future or a past full of regrets. To stay in the present, center your attention on your breathing, a sound or visual pattern, a repetitive movement, or meditation. , Bravely and aggressively face the stressor. , Don't just ignore whatever is causing you stress. Instead, carefully think about the seriousness of the problem. But don't blow it out of proportion. Ask yourself, "What's the worst thing that is realistically likely to happen?" Then remind yourself of all the good things that will still be a part of your life even if the worst happens. Talk with others to confirm your view of the stressor. Make…, Review your coping responses. , Confidence is helpful in fighting stress. And it builds on memories of past successes. Think about successes you've had with other stressful life events. Recall some of the things you did to cope. Think about writing this down. , Take action. , Commit to a reasonable way to deal with what is causing you stress. Action is powerful in helping you to reduce stress. Studies show that your body lowers the amount of a powerful stress hormone (epinephrine) when you shift into action. Don't stop taking action because you're afraid you'll make the wrong decision. There are many ways to successfully handle a stressful situation. , Take time out to relax., At least once or twice a day, take time to calm down by relaxing. Try listening to soothing music, taking a walk, gardening, reading, or exercising. You could also choose to do more formal relaxation, such as deep breathing, meditation, yo ga, or tai chi. , Be mindful of your time., Consider making a day-to-day prioritized list of what you need to do and cross off items as you complete them. This can help give you a sense of achievement and decrease a sense of being overwhelmed. , Get enough sleep. , Lack of sleep can cause additional physical and emotional problems, such as drowsiness, memory problems, and trouble concentrating. , Stay away from alcohol and drugs , . Far from helping you cope, these can actually make symptoms worse. If you're struggling with alcohol or drug use, consider talking to a parent, friend, professional counselor, healthcare provider, or a faith leader. Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can also be helpful. Treatment can be located through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment…
March 28 is Diabetes Alert Day and UT Health San Antonio wants you to understand the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk. Carolina Solis-Herrera, MD, Chief of the Endocrinology Division at UT Health San Antonio, joined several local news stations to discuss the issues affecting South Texans., Did you know? , - One in six San Antonians has Type 2 Diabetes, and a third of San Antonians are pre-diabetic. - Diabetes affects about 30.3 million Americans or about 9.4 percent of the U.S. population. - Nearly one in four adults living with diabetes, or 7.2 million Americans, are unaware that they have the disease. - Another 84 million Americans have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are…, Watch the KSAT interview, Take the Diabetes Risk Test , Click here to learn more about diabetes or to make an appointment.
Dr. Timothy Wagner, a radiation oncologist, explains the innovative way Mays Cancer Center is treating breast cancer without damaging the heart. This radiation technology is known as C-RAD, and the therapy procedure is called "Deep Inspiration Breath Hold." This helps prevent long-term cardiac complications because of typical radiation treatments. Doctors have the patients take a deep breath to…
Ahmed Sabbah, DDS, with UT Health San Antonio Dentistry, reveals the main causes of teeth stains and how patients can receive treatment for a brighter and whiter smile in this KENS 5 Medical Minute, a collaboration between UT Health San Antonio and KENS 5., Watch the Medical Minute > , Request an appointment at UT Dentistry >,
Turns out good overall health can also help prevent a stroke. Justin Mascitelli, MD, a vascular neurosurgeon at UT Health Physicians says while strokes can be fatal, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk. Those lifestyle changes include seeing a physician annually, maintaining a healthy diet and not smoking. He also explains the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms and…, Did a stroke of luck save Belinda’s life?, March 22, 2021, is a day Belinda Trevino Scholz will never forget. “I was outside doing yard work and came inside,” she said. “Suddenly, I got this massive headache on my right side that went from my head to my toes.” She called a nurse friend who told her to rush to the hospital. Scholz and her husband, Jay, took action and arrived at the Northeast Baptist Hospital emergency room. “The last…, Types and treatment of stroke explained, Mascitelli, MD, FAANS , who treated Scholz, said only about one-third of patients who suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm survive and return to their normal life without impairments. Another third is disabled, while the rest don’t survive. Mascitelli said 70% of all strokes are ischemic, in which a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain. He said 30% of strokes are hemorrhagic, where there is…, Sobering statistics and warning signs, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, close to 800,000 people have a stroke. Most are a first stroke. It is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability. Eighty percent of strokes are preventable, according to the American Stroke Association. Mascitelli said heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking are the…
UT Health Hill Country is nominated in four categories in the Boerne Star’s Best of the Best competition! Vote for UT Health Hill Country in the medical care, dermatology, physical therapy and write in categories to help us secure a top spot on the Best of the Best list! Ballots can be found inside each edition of The Boerne Star newspaper and at UT Health Hill Country . Ballots can be submitted…
Listen to the TPR interview "As waves of omicron and other extremely contagious subvariants burn through previously uninfected populations, it has become clear that people with mild or asymptomatic cases aren’t immune from long COVID." Texas Public Radio talked to Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD, professor and distinguished chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science…
Wednesday, Dec. 20, will mark the successful completion of a $28 million renovation project started more than two years ago at the Mays Cancer Center. The aim of the project was to provide expanded patient care for the new Multispecialty and Research Hospital. Beginning December 2024, the new hospital will provide biomedical research, patient care […]
The university community is among those invited to attend the inaugural Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARP-H, Customer Experience Hub, for an opportunity to collaborate through the federal program’s $2.5 billion research and health innovation network initiative. The event, hosted by UT Health San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio, will take […]