Centex Blog

Did you know 30-40% of the US population is living with a fatty liver right now, but have no idea? A fatty liver could quickly lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis of the liver, or even liver cancer. The scary part is people rarely have symptoms until the damage is irreversible. So, how can you detect a fatty liver before it’s too late? In the past, the only way to know was an invasive procedure known as a liver biopsy. However, now there is a quick and easy ultrasound-like procedure using a machine known as a FibroScan.

Is it just us, or is just about everything on the news these days about COVID-19, or more specifically, a vaccine for preventing COVID-19? With all of this coverage, it may get you thinking, “what will a vaccine REALLY do for this world-wide pandemic?” Look no further as we discuss not only what a vaccine will do, but also how this could look in the future, and how far away we are from actually getting there.

Becoming a mom can be one of the most significant times in a woman’s life, but it is also one of the most stressful, especially during COVID-19. Your body is going through some extreme changes, your hormones are all over the place, and let’s face it, you’re exhausted. After all, you spent ten months creating a tiny human just to push it out and be sleep deprived for about the next 18 years. Being a new mom is hard! So, why don’t we talk about it? It’s time to break the stigma and start a conversation about postpartum depression.

Alzheimer’s and other dementias are a growing public health issue, with over 50 million people currently diagnosed. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and it serves as an opportunity to learn more about brain health, increase research opportunities, and early interventions.

Ladies, it’s time to represent! We all know gender-bias is a thing, especially in healthcare, but we’re making strides to change that. This week, May 10-16, is National Women’s Health Week (NWHW), and we want to take the time to talk about the importance of women’s participation in clinical trials.

First of all, congratulations on taking the first step to helping us provide a better tomorrow for future generations! There could be no medical advancements without clinical trials, but there would be no clinical trials with out volunteers like you. You are so important and so appreciated!

Although most events and celebrations are cancelled due to COVID-19, April is still National Minority Health Month. According to the NIH, “National Minority Health Month is an effort to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minority populations.”[1] In honor of this awareness month, we will be discussing the importance of diversity in clinical trials, especially for minority groups.

Amidst the crisis COVID-19 has brought, our doctors are being tried more than ever. We should never forget the risk they put themselves at every single day, but today, March 30th, 2020 is National Doctor’s Day, and we are honoring our brave Principle Investigators at each of our locations.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last few weeks, you’ve heard all the commotion around coronavirus. With epidemics like this happening more and more often, the researchers of other viral infections need to be on top of their game! Flu season is already upon us with the peak just right around the corner. Some sources even stated that the US might be “gearing up for one of the worst flu seasons in years.”[1]

1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture. Those statistics surpass the likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Men are also frequently older than women when they experience their first fracture, making it more likely to have severe consequences or death. Given these facts, there are still a lot of misconceptions surrounding osteoporosis in men. We are setting the record straight and debunking some of the most common myths so men can be aware of their risk and get the help they need.