HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest

08/12/2025

is a chronic autoimmune disorder, and for people who have it, certain foods can trigger a flare-up. Learn how diet can affect inflammation from psoriasis, and how to identify your food triggers:

Although there isn't a definitive "psoriasis diet," what you eat — or don't eat — can help you manage your psoriasis symptoms.

08/12/2025

This August, we honor the beautiful journey of breastfeeding and the benefits for both mothers and infants. Breast milk is the best food for babies in the first year of life to help then grow healthy and strong. It also boosts the baby's immune system, reduces the risk of various illnesses, helps with digestion and can reduce the risk of allergies. For moms, breastfeeding is cost-effective and helps mom bond with her baby. Our hospital has an experienced team of lactation consultants that work with our patients to ensure they have every opportunity to breastfeed their baby. Lactation consultants are healthcare professionals specializing in breastfeeding, offering education and support to new mothers. They help with various breastfeeding challenges, including latch difficulties, milk supply issues and pain management, ensuring a positive breastfeeding experience. As a Level III NICU with expert care for our tiniest patients, the lactation consultants work with our moms to help them transition and provide the most natural breastfeeding experience available.

08/11/2025

We are committed to patient safety. As a Healthgrades 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient, we consistently put our patients and staff first, with safety as the number one goal. This achievement reflects our clear commitment to safe, patient-centered care and puts our hospital in the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety. Joel North, chief executive officer says, "Patient safety is at the forefront of everything that we do and our physicians, nurses and entire staff of professionals work diligently each day to provide safe, high-quality care to our patients." Where you are treated matters, especially when it comes to patient safety. Learn more about our Patient Safety Excellence Award and our other Healthgrades awards at https://bit.ly/4owRBDM

08/08/2025

Falls, muscle strain and overuse are some of the most common ways hip injuries occur. No matter how it started, if is affecting your quality of life, consider taking our free online assessment. It can help you determine the best next steps based on your symptoms, activity level and health history. You will receive your results right away. Get started today: https://bit.ly/41AGbou

Looking for compassionate care? Our orthopedic experts can work with you to create a personalized care plan. If your hip pain is mild, physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments might offer the relief you need. In more severe cases, hip replacement surgery may be an option. Across our larger HCA Healthcare system of care, our experts performed over 28,000 hip replacements and 22,000 hip fracture repairs last year, helping patients regain mobility. Meet our experts and schedule an appointment: https://bit.ly/4myE7FK

08/08/2025

Falls, muscle strain and overuse are some of the most common ways hip injuries occur. No matter how it started, if is affecting your quality of life, consider taking our free online assessment. It can help you determine the best next steps based on your symptoms, activity level and health history. You will receive your results right away. Get started today: https://bit.ly/3UQ28Mu

Looking for compassionate care? Our orthopedic experts can work with you to create a personalized care plan. If your hip pain is mild, physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments might offer the relief you need. In more severe cases, hip replacement surgery may be an option. Across our larger HCA Healthcare system of care, our experts performed over 28,000 hip replacements and 22,000 hip fracture repairs last year, helping patients regain mobility. Meet our experts and schedule an appointment: https://bit.ly/45saG19

08/07/2025

"It was a very scary situation, but the NICU and ECMO teams made the experience better for us," said Ana Sophia's mom, Maritza. After her delivery, Ana Sophia was admitted to the Level IV Advanced NICU at The Woman's Hospital of Texas and began ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) treatment the next day. The lifesaving technique supported the function of her heart and lungs allowing her to rest while her organs were able to heal. Ana Sophia spent six days on ECMO and graduated from the NICU after 35 days.

To celebrate the 5th anniversary for the ECMO program, Woman’s hosted a reunion for graduates and their care team. Ana Sophia and her family were excited to reconnect with the care team that saved her life. "She received amazing care and you could tell that everyone that was taking care of her treated her like she was their child. We are so thankful for all of the staff that were involved in her treatment," said Maritza.

08/06/2025

🧠⏱️ Every second counts when someone is suffering from a stroke. At HCA Houston Healthcare, we're proud to be part of our larger HCA Healthcare system of care, which collectively responds to strokes 45% faster than the national standard. We know door-to-needle (DTN) time is critical. Here, we explain what DTN time is and why it matters.

DTN time is the amount of time between an ischemic stroke patient's arrival at the hospital (“door”) and when they receive a clot-busting medication (“needle”) to help restore blood flow to the brain. The faster the medicine is given, the more brain cells can potentially be saved, helping to reduce the risk of long-term disability or stroke.

Know the signs of stroke. Act FAST. Call 911 immediately. To learn more about our expert, lifesaving stroke care, visit https://bit.ly/45rYwFC.

08/06/2025

🧠⏱️ Every second counts when someone is suffering from a stroke. At HCA Houston Healthcare, we're proud to be part of our larger HCA Healthcare system of care, which collectively responds to strokes 45% faster than the national standard. We know door-to-needle (DTN) time is critical. Here, we explain what DTN time is and why it matters.

DTN time is the amount of time between an ischemic stroke patient's arrival at the hospital (“door”) and when they receive a clot-busting medication (“needle”) to help restore blood flow to the brain. The faster the medicine is given, the more brain cells can potentially be saved, helping to reduce the risk of long-term disability or stroke.

Know the signs of stroke. Act FAST. Call 911 immediately. To learn more about our expert, lifesaving stroke care, visit https://bit.ly/40TXnVS.

08/04/2025

Looking for a place to complete your child’s sports physical as they get ready to go ? Most schools, recreational leagues and other organizations require this exam annually to check for any health concerns that could be aggravated by physical activity.

CareNow Urgent Care can tackle it fast for $35 through August 31st! No appointment necessary at 29 locations across the greater Houston area. Find your closest clinic - https://bit.ly/4lZBOLR

08/04/2025

Looking for a place to complete your child’s sports physical as they get ready to go ? Most schools, recreational leagues and other organizations require this exam annually to check for any health concerns that could be aggravated by physical activity.

CareNow Urgent Care can tackle it fast for $35 through August 31st! No appointment necessary at 29 locations across the greater Houston area. Find your closest clinic - https://bit.ly/4omwynk

07/30/2025

Congratulations to our nurses, Katherine Kuchenski, Laura Sabinske, Taylor Larson and Lachikita Warren who are bronze award winners for the Good Samaritan Foundation's Excellence in Nursing awards. Nurses are nominated by their peers for their passion, leadership, mentorship and service to our communities. Nominations are then reviewed and scored by a selection committee. These skilled nurses go above and beyond each day when treating their patients and working with colleagues. We are proud to have them as part of the HCA Houston Healthcare family.

07/30/2025

Small businesses play an important role as job creators and are a pillar in communities nationwide. More than 4 million small business owners purchase healthcare coverage on their own and rely on Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) to keep premiums affordable.

But unless Congress acts soon, these tax credits will expire at the end of 2025. Many small businesses may face increased costs or be forced to reduce or eliminate employee health coverage.

Find out how you can help protect access to care at https://bit.ly/478kVdo

07/30/2025

Small businesses play an important role as job creators and are a pillar in communities nationwide. More than 4 million small business owners purchase healthcare coverage on their own and rely on Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) to keep premiums affordable.

But unless Congress acts soon, these tax credits will expire at the end of 2025. Many small businesses may face increased costs or be forced to reduce or eliminate employee health coverage.

Find out how you can help protect access to care at https://bit.ly/4l8TELo

07/28/2025

Are you getting enough ? If you wake up feeling groggy after what should have been a restful night, the answer may be no. To catch your best 💤, try these healthy : https://bit.ly/41aEQVg

What is deep sleep good for? Physical and mental health, for starters. Learn the benefits of deep sleep and discover tips for improving sleep quality.

07/28/2025

Are you getting enough ? If you wake up feeling groggy after what should have been a restful night, the answer may be no. To catch your best 💤, try these healthy : https://bit.ly/45ahDE4

What is deep sleep good for? Physical and mental health, for starters. Learn the benefits of deep sleep and discover tips for improving sleep quality.

07/25/2025

☀️The dreaded sunburn – it can happen even when you take precautions to protect your skin. Learn what not to do for a sunburn, how to find soothing relief, and more: https://bit.ly/4obJ5tO

Sunburn self-care starts with protecting yourself from damaging UV sunrays. If you do get a sunburn, these tips can help you feel better sooner.

07/25/2025

☀️The dreaded sunburn – it can happen even when you take precautions to protect your skin. Learn what not to do for a sunburn, how to find soothing relief, and more: https://bit.ly/4mhsnaG

Sunburn self-care starts with protecting yourself from damaging UV sunrays. If you do get a sunburn, these tips can help you feel better sooner.

07/24/2025

A lead imaging transporter, Todd never imagined he would be facing his own health concerns during a shift at HCA Houston Healthcare West.

He felt lethargic, experienced stomach pain and he knew something didn't feel right. He went to the emergency room where tests and a CAT Scan revealed an 8cm lesion on his colon. Todd was swiftly transferred to HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood where he underwent emergency surgery and received the diagnosis of Stage 3 colon cancer.

"During my 12 rounds of chemo, I never felt alone. My faith, my family and work family all carried me through," Todd stated with the warmest of smiles. "My boss checked on me daily. My colleagues became my village of support. I shared my personal journey with patients traveling a similar path. I made a choice early on to stay positive, stay strong and to never give into fear. Working during my treatment gave me strength and purpose to help myself and others."

Recently, Todd not only rang the bell to mark the end of his treatment but recognized 29 years of service at HCA Houston Healthcare. We’re honored to celebrate his continued positivity and strength and so grateful to have colleagues like him that .

07/24/2025

Be confident in consistent care. Our dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care has earned us the Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus with Advanced Therapy with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award by American Heart Association. This in-hospital program for improving stroke care promotes consistent adherence to the latest scientific guidelines. We are also certified as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, which is the highest level of stroke certification for hospitals to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases. We offer customized treatment for brain and neurological conditions including stroke care, neurological surgery and rehabilitation. To learn more about our stroke and neurological services, visit https://bit.ly/46szJn4

07/23/2025

Whether you hit the gym at sunrise or go jogging after dark, you might wonder what’s the best time of day to exercise and why. Learn how exercise timing can affect your .

Do you like exercising early in the day or later? Discover how morning vs. evening workouts can impact your heart health, blood pressure and fitness.

07/18/2025

About 80% of stroke risk factors are preventable, including poor eating habits, obesity, smoking and drug abuse, which can lead to hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, significantly increasing the risk of stroke, said Dr. Sleiman El Jamal, the medical director of neurology at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest.

Dr. Sleiman El Jamal, the medical director of neurology at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, said nationwide, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds with over 800,000 strokes a year. Stroke cases are up 15.7% for ages 45-64 nationally in the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pr...

07/17/2025

Meet Jessica. She’s a cancer survivor and her daughter has Type 1 diabetes. They’re among millions of Americans who are about to face a major increase in health insurance costs.

Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) are currently helping 24 million people – including our patients – afford high-quality healthcare coverage through the insurance Marketplace (https://bit.ly/44RkSzN). Americans who purchase insurance on their own and rely on the tax credit are now facing skyrocketing costs if Congress allows the credit to expire at the end of 2025, putting at risk the health of children like Jessica’s daughter.

“We were living a perfectly normal life, and we suddenly had a child that had a chronic illness,” said Jessica. “We’re not wealthy. Money can get tight…we need Congress to take action now. It’s vital for us.”

Learn how you can help protect access to care at https://bit.ly/3IsYRA9

07/16/2025

many everyday items shed tiny pieces of plastic known as ? Because they’re so small, microplastics can enter your body through foods, drinks and even the air you breathe.

Find out how they may affect your health and how to limit your exposure: https://bit.ly/3IzkKgV

Wondering how to avoid microplastics? While you can't eliminate microplastics entirely, you can reduce your daily exposure to them. Here are some tips.