INNOVATIONS That Improve Your Care
At Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, innovation is more than just a buzzword. The latest technology is used throughout the hospital for one simple reason: to make your experience better and easier to navigate. Whether it’s in primary, specialty or hospital care, we seek out technology to achieve better outcomes for you and your family. This patient-focused approach is a longstanding part of Houston Methodist’s mission and is at the center of everything we do.
“We challenged ourselves to elevate the patient experience by incorporating innovative tools into the extraordinary care provided by Houston Methodist,” explained Julie Peterson, vice president of operations and chief operating officer at Houston Methodist Willowbrook. “While the technology itself is impressive, our goal is to increase connectivity and transparency for patients.”
At Houston Methodist Willowbrook, we invest in technology that creates a more personalized health care experience, giving patients more say and better visibility into their overall health and well-being.
When you enter our hospital, you will experience the innovation that backs your care,” said Nicole Twine, vice president and chief nursing officer at Houston Methodist Willowbrook. “Every room is equipped with advanced technology designed to give you control of your surroundings, while seamlessly enhancing your care through connectivity with our expert team.”
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Advanced technologies offer patients and providers alike new, convenient options that allow everyone to focus on what’s most important: The person-to-person interactions that ultimately result in exceptional patient outcomes and outstanding patient care. All Houston Methodist hospitals are equipped with this type of advanced, patient-focused technology. We are committed to promoting transformational growth by adopting leading-edge technology as quickly as possible, as well as with an eye to future change — both in terms of our patients’ needs and the evolution of the health care landscape — all while staying true to our promise of leading medicine. •
Better sleep and proactive attention.
Patients wear monitors that let your care team observe your heartbeat and other vitals in real time from the nurses’ station. This means you and your loved ones can rest, and your care team will only disturb you if necessary.
Fewer falls and better recovery.
So you and your family can focus on recovering, patient beds are outfitted with sensors that monitor your movement and alert your nurse if attention is needed.
More personalized time with your care team.
By using automated documentation to identify and record pertinent details that previously required manual charting, your doctor can provide more personalized care and attention to you and your family
More control over your surroundings.
Your room is your home while you’re with us, and we want it to feel as familiar and comfortable as possible. For example, with a simple voice command you can request white noise or relaxing music if you choose.
Virtual nursing helps get you home sooner.
FEEL EMPOWERED to Control Your Risk of Breast Cancer
Every day, new research suggests breast cancer may be more preventable than experts once thought.
“While there are cancer risk factors such as age and family history that are outside of your control, you can control your lifestyle,” said Dr. Federico Tozzi, breast surgical oncologist at Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center at Willowbrook. “If you want to reduce your breast cancer risk, make changes that have a significant impact.”
Here are the top lifestyle changes to reduce your chances for developing breast cancer:
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
One of the most overlooked risk factors for breast cancer is weight gain after menopause. Having a high body mass index (BMI) post-menopause can significantly increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer — anywhere from 20% to 60%.
“Women can gain weight in menopause due to changing metabolism, and that excess weight leads to higher estrogen levels,” Tozzi explained. “After menopause, your estrogen is made in fat cells. So having extra fat cells means extra estrogen, which increases your risk for breast cancer.”
EXERCISE REGULARLY
The American Cancer Society recommends 300 minutes of moderate exercise weekly to help reduce cancer risk, which breaks down to about 42 minutes each day. This can include low-impact activities such as brisk walking, cycling, Pilates or swimming. If you’re up for vigorous activities — think jogging, playing tennis, jumping rope or taking a HIIT class — then that overall number drops down to just 22 minutes each day.
“Moderate to vigorous activity not only helps in managing weight and reducing your cancer risk, but also boosts your overall health,” Tozzi added.
LIMIT ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Alcohol intake is another often underestimated cancer risk factor. Many people enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a drink at social events, but regular alcohol consumption is strongly associated with increasing your risk of developing breast cancer.
“More than one drink per day can significantly increase the risk,” Tozzi warned. “For women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer or for breast cancer survivors, we recommend averaging less than one drink per day.”
Also, taking a daily multivitamin with folate or a folic acid supplement may mitigate breast cancer risk associated with alcohol consumption.
STAY INFORMED ON HORMONE THERAPY
For many women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a common treatment
to manage menopause symptoms but knowing where to start and how HRT will impact your breast cancer risk is important.
“Hormone replacement therapy is really a discussion for each woman to have with her doctor — usually her gynecologist or primary care physician — about what options are out there,” Tozzi explained. “Hormone replacement is important, because it can help maintain weight, improve bone density, and fight fatigue, hot flashes and insomnia, menopause symptoms that affect women’s everyday lives.”
GET REGULAR SCREENINGS
Even if you follow all of this advice, every woman has at least a 12% risk of developing breast cancer, which is why it is extremely important to have screening tests, such as an annual mammogram beginning at age 40. Mammography is still the most effective tool to diagnose early-stage breast cancer, before tumors are large enough to feel or cause symptoms. •
TAILORED BREAST CANCER CARE
Every woman is different, and your treatment should be tailored to your specific health needs. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer and would like to schedule an appointment, visit houstonmethodist.org/breast-cancer-hmwb or call 713.790.2700.
Schedule Your Mammogram
To schedule your mammogram at a Houston Methodist Breast Care Center, visit houstonmethodist.org/mammogram-scheduling or call 346.356.PINK (7465)
Breastfeeding
The longer a woman breastfeeds, the greater the protective effect for fighting breast cancer. While the reasons behind the risk reduction aren’t clear, one possible explanation is that women who breastfeed have fewer menstrual cycles throughout their lives, and, therefore, less estrogen exposure.
REINFORCEMENT MEASURES
Additional ways a woman can reduce her breast cancer risk
Consuming Olive Oil
Studies indicate a diet rich in monounsaturated fats such as olive oil may protect against breast cancer, too. Olive oil also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which can help reduce breast cancer risk.
Taking Preventive Medications
Your doctor may recommend tamoxifen and raloxifene medications if you're at an increased risk for breast cancer. Since these medications can produce menopause symptoms, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
Genetic Testing and Intervention
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, ask your doctor if genetic testing is right for you. Mutations in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, increase breast cancer risk. Women with this gene mutation may have more frequent screenings or prophylactic surgery (breast removal).
Dr. Federico Tozzi
What Causes PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
If your first few steps out of bed cause stabbing pain, you may be experiencing plantar fasciitis.
“Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot orthopedic complaints and a common cause of heel pain,” said Dr. Michael Cotton, an orthopedic surgeon who focuses on foot and ankle surgery at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Willowbrook.
SYMPTOMS
The plantar fascia is a stretchy band of connective tissue that connects the heel to the ball of your foot and toes, encircling the bones to help support the arch. It is a shock absorber and can endure significant wear and tear over time.
Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, often caused by microtears. “Patients describe significant heel pain, often worse in the morning with the first few steps or after rest, but it can also intensify with increased activity,” Cotton explained. It’s viewed as a temporary issue, primarily among athletes, those who are increasing their physical activity after an extended break, or runners enhancing their mileage for a long-distance race.
PREVENTION
Anyone can develop plantar fasciitis, and your risk increases after age 40. And, if you’ve experienced heel pain in the past, you’re more likely to experience the condition again. Tips to prevent plantar fasciitis include:
■ Replacing old, broken-down running shoes with a new pair
■ Wearing supportive shoes or shoe inserts
■ Starting a new exercise slowly and building intensity gradually
■ Adding rest, warmups and cooldowns, into your movement routine
“Stretching is the number one daily habit to prevent plantar fasciitis,” Cotton said. “It is especially important to stretch out the
Achilles tendon, as well as the calf and the plantar fascia, if you have any calf tightness.”
TREATMENT
Plantar fasciitis does require treatment, but it doesn’t usually involve surgery.
“Conservative treatment, such as stretching your calf, Achilles and plantar fascia, massage, icing your arches by rolling your foot over a frozen water bottle, and wearing supportive shoes, are effective,” Cotton said.
Resting and taking breaks from high-intensity exercise is essential for healing. If you’re active, choose low-impact exercises like cycling or swimming to prevent overworking the plantar fascia.
“Taping your own injuries won’t work for plantar fasciitis,” Cotton noted. “I suggest a night splint or brace that keeps your foot stretched during the night to jumpstart your pain relief first thing in the morning.”
You should also avoid wearing thin shoes without support, such as flip-flops. Being barefoot for prolonged periods can also worsen pain.
If your pain lingers, you may consider physical therapy or other non-surgical treatments, but for most, the conservative approach will alleviate the pain. See a foot and ankle specialist if symptoms persist after a year of treatment. •
Get Relief From Your Heel Pain
Is your heel pain keeping you from enjoying your life? Our foot and ankle specialists can help. To make an appointment, visit houstonmethodist.org/footankle-hmwb or call 281.737.0999
Headaches can bring varying levels of discomfort, from mildly annoying to more seriously impacting your day-to-day life. Each person’s experience with headaches is unique — sometimes they occur just occasionally, while other times they are a frequent hassle.
“Headaches are likely the most common complaint doctors encounter,” said Dr. Shirine Majmudar, neurologist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. “In many cases, |these are ‘primary headaches,’ meaning the discomfort is directly within the head and not caused by an underlying medical condition.”
COMMON HEADACHE TRIGGERS
“We don’t fully know why headaches occur,” Majmudar explained. “However, it is likely that a combination of chemical and electrical signaling changes as well as inflammation and tension of the muscles of the head and neck contribute to head pain.”
Understanding what may cause migraine headaches is important in avoiding them. Some common headache triggers are:
■ Alcohol
■ Caffeine
■ Certain foods or smells
■ Dehydration
■ Eye strain
■ Lack of food
■ Overusing headache medication
■ Poor posture
■ Sleep disturbances, particularly lack of sleep
■ Stress
While these common triggers play a role in headaches, how they impact the brain remains largely unknown. There are also many times when headaches have no clear identifiable trigger. Treatment of headache is variable between people as multiple factors can affect the final headache diagnosis and response to treatment. These include location of pain, time of onset, duration,
and frequency of head pain to name a few. When headaches are mild or infrequent, you probably take a pain reliever and go about your business. But what about a migraine, which is characterized by more intense and lasting pain?
MIGRAINE SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENTS
Migraines can be disruptive to home and work life and can sometimes last for days. They are characterized by throbbing or pulsing discomfort on one side of the head that progresses and worsens over time. They are aggravated by light and noise and can cause nausea and vomiting. There may be other associated symptoms such as brain fog, visual disturbances, dizziness, fatigue, and weakness.
“Migraines are often genetic,” Majmudar noted. “If your mother or father gets migraines, you’re more likely to have them as well.”
Often, stress can trigger migraines along with sleep deprivation or a general change in your normal routine. In some women, migraines can be hormonally triggered and coincide with ovulation or menses. Preventive measures include getting plenty of rest, eating well, staying hydrated, and getting regular exercise.
“It is important to keep a headache diary as that can help track potential triggers and quantify how often they are happening and affecting day-to-day life. A headache diary will also let your health care provider know how to best treat your headaches,” Majmudar added. "Doctors may prescribe preventive headache medication for those who suffer five or more headache days per month. Prescription rescue medication can be used for treatment of acute headache attacks that are not responsive to over-the-counter medication or non-pharmacologic remedies.” •
DoYou Suffer From Migraines?
Make an appointment with a neurologist to uncover the cause of your pain. Visit houstonmethodist.org/ headaches-migraines-hmwb or call 281.737.1167
Dr. Shirine Majmudar
Dr. Michael Cotton
houstonmethodist.org/willowbrook
LEADING MEDICINE IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON
Taking care of your breast health is important. And early detection starts with your annual mammogram. That’s why Houston Methodist Breast Care Centers offer:
• Innovative imaging technology
• Board-certified breast radiologists
• Online scheduling available when you are
• 13 convenient locations across Houston
Using cutting-edge breast screenings, such as 3D mammograms, to detect even the smallest lumps with accuracy, our breast experts have decades of experience and are all here to support you.
That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it. For you.
