Health Articles

Don't give up on your New Year Resolutions

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Michael Kelly

It is well into the new year and while some people have kept their New Year’s resolutions, others have not. If you are one who has set (and kept) a resolution to be healthier, congratulations; if not, don’t feel too bad. Changing the way one eats, exercises, consumes alcohol, smokes, sleeps or engages in any number of health behaviors is complex.

If just knowing the benefits of exercise would cause people to be active, then we would all exercise; if knowing that smoking was harmful, we would stop smoking. But, this is not the case. While information is helpful and frequently necess…

2017 Highlights: Improving Health and Quality of Life

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Tracy J. Yellen

One of our 2017 high points was welcoming home the first two Texas Tech Paul L. Foster School of Medicine graduates who elected to set up practices in El Paso after their residences. Dr. Iris Tomas and Dr. Jennifer Lopez-Perez were among the first participants in the Health Foundation’s “forgivable loan program,” established at Texas Tech nearly a decade ago to reward medical students if they practiced in El Paso.

The forgivable loan program is one of many investments that the Health Foundation is making to promote health and prevent disease in the region. Here are a few additional high…

15 years of breathing clean indoor air

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Jana Renner

This year, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation joins a consortium of partners to celebrate a milestone that has improved our community’s health and quality of life – fifteen years of clean indoor air. Fifteen years ago, in 2002, El Paso became the first Texas city to adopt a Clean Indoor Air Ordinance. Since then, El Pasoans have enjoyed smoke-free restaurants and bars and employees have enjoyed smoke-free work environments. The adoption of the ordinance was revolutionary at the time yet smoke-free indoor spaces is now the norm. In fact, my teenagers do not remember a time they’ve eate…

El Paso Giving Day ignites the spirit of giving in our community

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Guest Author

Over 165 local nonprofit agencies are joining together on November 15 for El Paso Giving Day – a 24-hour social media campaign designed to raise awareness (and funds!) for worthwhile charitable causes in our community. And, we are upping the ante for this second annual event with a goal of raising $250,000 in a single day. It’s ambitious but, with your help, we know we can do it!

Nonprofits do incredibly important work in our community. As the fifth largest employer taken together, nonprofit organizations provide after-school child care, organize cancer support groups, feed and house …

Program in schools to help prevent teen dating violence

Posted on October 4, 2017

I was invited to a local middle school’s career day, where I was given the opportunity to explain my work developing a teen dating violence prevention curriculum.

To avoid complete boredom during my presentation, I immersed them in a curriculum activity.

(Life tip: Tell a middle school student they are the first to try your product, and they will enthusiastically agree to do it!)

The lesson consisted of identifying attitudes on “okay” and “not okay” behavior in a teen dating relationship. To my surprise, most of the students thought it was okay for their partner to engage in unheal…

Take time to learn about the warning signs of mental illness

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Enrique Mata

My daughter and I recently watched the 2017 Video Music Awards (VMA). We were touched by the performance that Logic, Alessia Cara and El Paso’s Khalid gave from the song ‘1-800-273-8255,’ which raises awareness for suicide prevention.

Kesha, an American singer, songwriter and rapper, introduced the performance making her own statement of support saying, “Whatever you are going through, however dark it may seem, there is an undeniable truth and strength in the fact that you are not alone. We all have struggles, and as long as you never give up on yourself, light will break through the da…

Diabetes: I have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, now what?

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Michael Kelly

Not long ago, a man who was newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes walked into the El Paso Diabetes Association (EPDA) along with his wife. He seemed depressed, atrophied, exhausted, and agitated. Goaded by his wife, he registered for the next available diabetes management class. When the class started a few days later, he sat with a blank stare and seemed disengaged from learning. At a break, the diabetes educator asked the man, “Why are you here?” His response was unenergetic and monotone, “I don’t know. I don’t have anyone to live for and I don’t know what to do.”
Sandra …

Parents influence youth decision to drink or not to drink

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Jana Renner

A friend and I were recently trading stories about parenting teenagers. The topic moved to underage drinking parties and how to talk to our teenage children about expectations around underage drinking without sounding preachy or overbearing. Parents of teenagers may be surprised to learn that research shows that parents’ opinions do matter. In fact, 80 percent of youth between the ages of 10 and 18 report that their parents, not their peers, influence their decision to drink or not to drink.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) has resources for paren…

Parents need to pay attention to their own well-being for a healthy summertime

Posted on June 16, 2017 by Guest Author

The end of the school year is such a happy time with graduations, field trips, kid performances and summertime fun. Wait…Summertime? Kids out of school? This is a time that can quickly lead to high stress for many families, moms in particular. When kids are off from school with little to do, very tense situations can develop for parents.

To keep a happy and healthy home environment, parents should not ignore their own well-being. Signs that you may not be coping well with stress can manifest in the form of regular headaches, feeling angry, irritable, anxious or moody. The National Ins…

Think Summer

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Bianca De León

As another school year ends and with summer on the horizon, it is not too early to start thinking about what kids will be doing during the summer break. To avoid the summertime cry of “I’m bored”, consider enrolling youth in a summer program. Planned activities by reputable organizations have the benefits of providing a safe environment for learning and making friends while also diverting youth from potentially harmful activity.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), first time use of marijuana amongst youth is highest during the summer mont…