Texas A&M University Health Science Center

Feeling a bit more puffy around the face than usual? Don't rush to blame it on !

Influencers around social media have been claiming lately that facial swelling and puffiness are due to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. However, our expert Maria Olenick from Texas A&M College of Nursing says there's more to facial swelling than just cortisol. It could be caused by medications, health conditions or lifestyle factors. In any case, it's important to talk with your health care provider about any concerns you have about changes in your face or body before trying home remedies or social media trends.

Learn more about the science behind cortisol face—also known as "moon face," or moon facies in medical terminology—at tx.ag/CortisolFace.

Varicose veins — just a beauty blemish or signs of something serious?

Vascular surgeon Dr. Paula Shireman from TAMU Medicine sheds light on why it's vital to inform your health provider about your visible veins before they cause major medical issues.

Learn what causes varicose veins, who's at risk, potential dangers and how to prevent and treat them:

Varicose veins: Purely cosmetic or cause for concern? - Vital Record Varicose veins' enlarged, twisted appearance is only the surface of possible underlying health concerns and uncomfortable symptoms.

Martha Parker from the Center for Worker Health (formerly the Ergo Center) at the Texas A&M School of Public Health didn't think twice about giving the ultimate gift of love and science—a kidney, to her dear friend George Packard, a Vietnam War veteran and retired bishop.

George, 80, had been in excellent health until 2023. After losing a kidney in 2005 to damage he suspects was caused by chemical exposure in Vietnam, he suffered further renal damage after an adverse reaction to contrast dye used in a medical procedure. Since 2023, he relied on dialysis to stay alive. Each treatment left him exhausted into the next day as his condition deteriorated. A kidney donation was the only way back to health.

Today, thanks to Martha and DOVE Transplant - Living Kidney Donation for Veterans, George is off dialysis and embracing a new lease on life!

Read their story: tx.ag/ParkerPackard

Want to squeeze all you can out of the last bit of summer? Put the blue light down and let the sunshine in! 🌞✨

Ali Wurster, nurse practitioner for the Texas A&M College of Nursing Mobile Clinic, recently weighed in on ways to begin a digital detox and take advantage of the health benefits associated with decreased screen time. When you step away from the screens, you may notice that you experience improvement in mental health, sleep habits, attention span and ability to develop deeper connections.

Learn more about digital detoxing 👉 tx.ag/DigitalDetox

As temperatures soar, so does the risk for heat-related injury! 🌡️ Protect yourself and your family with the following advice from Dr. Gabriel Neal of TAMU Medicine:

💧 Drink plenty of water — it's the best thing to drink to avoid dehydration
⛱️ Seek shade and wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing
🧴 Reapply sunscreen with SPF 30+ every hour
🌅 Try to stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
💊 Ask your doctor if your medication increases your risk for dehydration

If you're in the heat and experiencing any of the following symptoms, get into a cool area, drink water and seek help, if needed:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations (racing heart)
- Nausea
- Shaking
- Just feeling overheated

Learn more about heat safety: tx.ag/SummerSafety

You're never too old for a first day of school! 🎒📚 Going back to school as an adult—especially after taking a long break for a career and/or family—has its own set of unique challenges. Our own Mary Ellen Santerre, MS, MEd, is here with tips for transitioning back to the books! Check it out 👉 tx.ag/gtpBKgQ

Going back to school as an adult: Essential tips for navigating the transition - Vital Record Establish a back to school plan by prioritizing time management, stress management and building a community.

A career in public health dentistry has taken Aggie Dentist Richard Rodriguez ’21 from Texas to the tundra! 🌵🏔️

In Alaska, Dr. Rodriguez is a staff dentist with the Southcentral Foundation, a Native-owned nonprofit that serves roughly 70,000 Alaska Native and Native American people living in Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and nearby villages.

Twice a year, he also travels to St. Paul, a small island in the Bering Sea, where he offers dental services two weeks at a time. Only a few hundred people live on the island, and he said his visits provide the only dental care most of them ever receive.

“I’m really passionate about carving your own path in dentistry," he said. "Sometimes what is taught in school is not necessarily what might work for you. Dental school isn’t everything. Once you get out of school, there’s a whole world to explore. Don’t be afraid to explore and find what works for you."

Read more about Dr. Rodriguez's journey:

From Texas to the tundra: Aggie dentist answers call to serve the underserved in Alaska - Vital Record Texas native Richard Rodriguez ’21 is carving his own path as a public health dentist serving the underserved in Anchorage, Alaska.

Some of our leadership joined Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh in the heart of Texas this week to learn more about how our students are preparing to serve rural communities!

During their visit to Mason County, they met with key stakeholders who are driving change in the community, including local officials, educators, health care providers, and the TAMU Medicine and Texas A&M School of Nursing students benefitting from the rural health initiative. The stories of impact shared by community members underscore how our rural programs are not just about education but about revitalizing rural health care and fostering a sustainable workforce.

Students shared how much they have enjoyed being part the Mason community, finding fulfillment in the pace of patient appointments, the relationships with patients, work-life balance, and the broader scope of practice in rural medicine. Many have said the experience has shown them how wonderful it can be to live and work in rural America.

Mason's success has expanded the rural health initiative to 27 counties, with more in the pipeline, driven by community engagement and collaboration—a testament to our commitment to service and our land-grant mission. We’re feeling inspired and ready to continue making a difference in rural Texas!

Thinking of switching to a standing desk? Science supports it: recent research from Texas A&M School of Public Health suggests that alternate workstation options like standing or sit-stand desks can help alleviate health issues related to sedentary work and boost productivity. Learn more:

Does the type of workstation you use make a difference in your health and productivity? - Vital Record New research finds that alternate workstation options, such as standing and sit-stand desks, can be a win-win solution for both employees and employers.

Has science caught up to the ancient belief in the healing powers of gemstones? 💎 In a word: Yes.

Research by TAMU Medicine and Texas A&M Engineering has unraveled how inorganic minerals, in the form of engineered inorganic biomaterials, could revolutionize tissue regeneration in modern medicine.

"Enhancing bone density and formation in patients with osteoporosis, for example, can help mitigate the risks of fractures, lead to stronger bones, improve quality of life and reduce health care costs,” researcher Akhilesh Gaharwar said. “These insights open up exciting prospects for developing next-generation biomaterials that could provide a more natural and sustainable approach to healing.”

Read more:

Harnessing the healing powers of minerals for tissue regeneration - Vital Record Minerals can interact with enzymes that then regulate healing and regenerative functions that keep our bodies steady, healthy and alive.

“Ozempic babies," or unexpected pregnancies while taking GLP-1 agonist medications, brings the popular weight loss medication a new claim to fame. Dr. Hector Chapa’s perspective, as a board-certified OB-GYN, provides insight to fertility changes when taking these medications.

His expert review covers:
- What’s a GLP-1 agonist?
- What explains the increase in fertility?
- Do GLP-1 agonists decrease birth control efficacy?
- Are GLP-1 agonists safe for pregnancy?
- What’s the alternative to a GLP-1 agonist?

Read more:

You asked: Can Ozempic improve fertility? - Vital Record OB-GYN answers questions about increased fertility, birth control efficacy and pregnancy safety while on Ozempic and similar medications.

Texas A&M School of Nursing and key partners are preparing to launch a new home-visiting program for pregnant and new mothers navigating substance abuse treatment and recovery.

This project, generously supported by a $1.5 million grant from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is called the Golden Crescent Management of Opioid Risk in Mothers (GC-MOMS). It will focus on neonatal abstinence syndrome, which occurs when babies are exposed to drugs, like opioids, in the womb and experience withdrawal.

The program will serve four counties in the Golden Crescent area of Texas—Lavaca, DeWitt, Jackson and Calhoun—expects to launch home visits later this summer.

Learn more:

School of Nursing leads $1.5 million grant addressing neonatal abstinence syndrome - Vital Record The Texas A&M University School of Nursing and key partners are preparing to launch a home-visiting program designed to curb neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in the Golden Crescent area of Texas.

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We are proud to celebrate our Texas A&M Baseball team, who embody the Core Values that Texas A&M stands for.

Join us today, as Aggies everywhere show their support for the true Aggie Spirit exhibited by the players not just in Omaha, but every day.

What an honor to see the Texas A&M School of Medicine's Integrated Behavioral Health program recognized by the White House! 🇺🇸

This innovative program is working hard to help build a future where every American has access to the best available care when and where they need it. Its holistic, team-based approach allows patients receive primary care and behavioral health care services in the same location. The interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff and trainees in family medicine, psychology, social work and pharmacy works collaboratively to provide behavioral health services as part of the whole-person care provided at the Texas A&M Health Family Care clinics in Bryan and Navasota.

So proud of this team for leading the way in integrated behavioral health clinical service, training and research!

White House recognizes School of Medicine’s Integrated Behavioral Health Program - Vital Record The innovative program at Texas A&M Health provides accessible whole-person care while training future health professionals.

Happy Father's Day to all the great father figures of the world! We hope your day is filled with all your favorite things—including the ones who get to call you "Dad"! 🥩 ⚾ 🎣 ⛳️ 🌾 🔧

Boost your health and mood with this powerful combo! 🏃‍♂️🌳 Studies show combining exercise with nature amplifies the physical and mental benefits of both. A stroll in the park or a run through a forest could be a wonderful health booster, according to a recent review of the research by Jay Maddock of Texas A&M School of Public Health and his colleague Howard Frumkin.

“It is clear that the use of parks and natural settings for physical activities could be a potentially powerful tool for promoting two important health behaviors simultaneously,” Maddock said. “This could be especially important given that the majority of Americans do not get enough exercise or spend enough time outdoors.”

Read more, including how health professionals might “prescribe” nature contact to patients, something known as "ParkRx," at tx.ag/ParkRx.

Does greenspace plus exercise boost the individual health benefits of each? - Vital Record FacebookTweet Health practitioners and fitness buffs have long known that regular physical activity offers numerous health benefits, including the prevention of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some cancers and osteoporosis. In addition, exercise enhances immune function....

School's out for summer! ☀️ Although summer usually is, and should be, a time for kids to take a break from the stimulation and academic challenges of school, maintaining some sort of structure is good for them.

Stacey Brown, MEd, coordinator for the Texas A&M School of Nursing HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program, shares some ideas to keep your kids’ minds and bodies engaged, even over their long break from school.

🕥 Maintain some kind of routine. When kids know what to expect, it helps them wrap their little brains around what’s going on, and they're less likely to throw tantrums or shed tears when moving from one activity to the next.

🎲 Disguise mental stimulation as games. A tried-and-true tactic is giving kids activities that seem to them like a game but are also educational. This can include puzzles, word searches and scavenger hunts.

🍳 Get them cooking. Your kids get the stimulation of reading a recipe and working with their hands, and you get some help making lunch or dinner.

💦 Do some tactile activities. There are a lot of ways to have some summertime fun while also letting kids explore different textures and consistencies.

Read more: tx.ag/GoodSummer

Are the products you use to keep things fresh and clean actually making your home less healthy?

Environmental toxicologist, Natalie Johnson, from Texas A&M School of Public Health says these 7 potentially harmful chemicals are found in everyday products like shampoo, all-purpose cleaners, air fresheners and even cookware: tx.ag/dWZVrRq

"While we don’t live in a chemical-free world—chemicals are all around us—environmentally friendly products are available," Johnson said. She recommends some free resources available to help consumers make informed decisions about the products they use. More in the story.

7 potentially harmful chemicals in everyday products - Vital Record FacebookTweet More than half of all adults in America experience rashes and other skin irritations after exposure to common cosmetics and personal care items, as well to cleaning, cooking and gardening products. Natalie Johnson, PhD, an environmental toxicologist with the Texas A&M University School...

Today we pause to remember and honor the Americans who gave everything for our great nation. Let the magnitude of their sacrifice be reflected in our gratitude.

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Congratulations to the Aggie Dentists and Dental Hygienists who are graduating from Texas A&M Dentistry today! You are exactly where you once dreamed of being. 🎓 Now, the good work of changing lives begins! Gig 'em, Class of '24! 👍❤️🪥

You can call them Doctor 🎓 🩺 Congratulations to the newest Aggie Docs and Aggie Pharmacists who graduated this weekend! Years of hard work, grit and passion got you here — now it's time to go change some lives!

Congratulations to all the students who will become Aggie Docs and Aggie Pharmacists today! The long days, late nights, tears, sweat (and maybe even a little blood) have finally paid off. You did it!! 🎉

So proud of all the Texas A&M School of Nursing and Texas A&M School of Public Health students who became Former Students this weekend! ✨

Congrats, grads, and Gig 'em forever 👍 We can't wait to see what you accomplish next!

Congratulations to all our Texas A&M School of Nursing and Texas A&M School of Public Health students who are graduating this weekend! You've accomplished so much during your time here, and the best is yet to come! ✨

Nurses rock! Happy National Nurses Week to all the amazing Aggie nurses in the world 🎉

National Nurses Week: Thank you, Aggie nurses! The Texas A&M University community thanks Aggie nurses for 2024 National Nurses Week