Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc.

09/25/2025

11th Annual GCHC Community Health Fair!

09/23/2025

What Moms Should Know About Tylenol and Autism Risk

Recently, President Trump shared that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning doctors about a possible link between Tylenol and autism when used during pregnancy. This news has made a lot of people nervous—but what does it really mean?

Tylenol is a medicine taken for pain or fever. Some scientists have looked at whether taking Tylenol while pregnant could be connected to autism or ADHD in children. A few studies say there might be a small link, but others say there’s no proof at all. The FDA says more research is needed before we can know for sure.

Autism is a condition that affects how people think, learn, and interact with others. It is not caused by one thing – it is a mix of many factors, including genetics and environment. Just because a child has autism doesn’t mean someone did something wrong during pregnancy.

Most doctors still say Tylenol is the safest choice for pregnant women who need relief from pain or fever. In fact, having a high fever during pregnancy can be dangerous for the baby, so treating it is important. One doctor said: “Telling moms that Tylenol causes autism can be scary and confusing. Right now, the science doesn’t prove that.”

So What Should Moms Do?
If you’re pregnant and wondering what’s safe, here are some smart steps:
• Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine.
• Use the smallest amount you need and only use when necessary.
• Try natural ways to feel better, like resting, drinking water, or using a cool cloth for fevers.

Being pregnant can be exciting—and a little scary. There is a lot of advice out there, and not all of it is clear. That’s why it’s important to ask questions, learn the facts and make choices with help from trusted doctors.

09/19/2025

Thursday night, Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc. had the honor of co-sponsoring the city of Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses’ 90 Day Community Progress Meeting. The event was held at the PA Department Club and more than 100 citizens were in attendance. A variety of speakers, both city officials and leaders from several organizations including GCHC shared status reports and outlined the progress being made in our city.

Dr Marsha Thigpen, Executive Director of GC shared information about our clinics and the services we offer patients. She announced that GCHC is the “best kept secret” in Port Arthur and invited those present to utilize the services and wonderful care GC provides its patients.

09/17/2025

Gulf Coast may have a Great Job for YOU!

09/17/2025

Looking for a great career in Healthcare?

Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc. has a variety of job opportunities available now in our Port Arthur, Orange, Jasper and Silsbee locations. Come join a great team and get a wonderful package of employee benefits.

Call 409.983.1161 ext. 789 for more details!

09/17/2025

Let's Celebrate!!!

09/02/2025

Texas Health Steps & Sports Physicals
Saturday, September 6, 2025 - 8am - 5pm
P.A. West Side Clinic - 601 W. 7th St. (Ransom Howard Blvd)
Appointments (409) 983-1161 or Walk-ins

08/26/2025

Early detection saves lives. Gulf Coast Health Center is offering FREE FIT Tests and screenings for colorectal cancer to qualifying patients.

📍 Available for Southeast Texas residents

✅ Ages 45–75

✅ No previous colon cancer diagnosis

✅ No colonoscopy in the last 10 years

This project is especially for individuals without health insurance or those who don’t have enough insurance coverage.

👉 Learn more and see if you qualify: www.gulfcoasthc.org

📲 Follow us Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc.

08/26/2025

Texas Bill Could Make Drug Available Without A Prescription

Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Legislators want to expand access to a controversial drug which became popular during the coronavirus pandemic. House Bill 25 could make Ivermectin accessible at Texas pharmacies without a prescription.

Ivermectin is a drug typically used to treat parasites. The kinds of parasites you might get from traveling in foreign countries. But people from the U.S. can get infected while traveling overseas. Doctors can use Ivermectin as a treatment for more common parasites in the U.S., such as head lice or scabies.

Abbott added an agenda item to expand access to Ivermectin last Wednesday as part of his second special session. However, misuse has become a concern with Ivermectin, particularly after it spiked in popularity after claims were made that it could treat COVID-19.

The National Poison Data System reported a 245% jump in exposure cases reported to poison control centers, just between July 2021 and August 2021. Although there is no published data that shows that it is effective, people are still taking it. So where there’s clearly no benefit, people really may be putting themselves at risk for side effects - including nausea, dizziness and skin rash, among others.

Due to the risk of side effects, people should ask their pharmacist questions about any new drug they are taking. If passed, the bill would require pharmacists to give each patient instructions on the proper use of Ivermectin. Pharmacists would also be required to send an annual report on the number of Ivermectin doses that they sell each year.

Some states, including Tennessee and Louisiana, already offer Ivermectin in pharmacies.

08/04/2025

07/31/2025

One Egg Per Week Linked To Lower Alzheimer's Risk

Eating eggs regularly is linked to less buildup of toxic proteins in the brain, according to a recent study on human brains. Eggs have been a dietary staple for centuries. Although they are packed with nutrients, not very expensive and easy to get, they have been the subject of much controversy in health and wellness circles for years.

A recent study has improved their good reputation. The study concluded that eating one egg per week was associated with a 47% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk compared with eating eggs less than once each month. The study showed that those who eat eggs have a reduced buildup of the toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s.

So are eggs good for you or bad for you??? One hundred years ago, eggs were considered essential. Full of vitamins and rich in protein, eggs were a staple throughout the world. Then, a few decades ago, scientists found that high levels of cholesterol in the blood were a risk factor for heart disease, so high-cholesterol eggs were considered undesirable. However, it has now become clear that dietary cholesterol does not significantly impact blood levels of cholesterol.

Thanks to this new understanding, and a healthy dose of research funding from the Egg Nutrition Center, eggs have edged slowly back into play. Because their saturated fat content is still a concern, eggs are still partially sidelined. However, they are likely to be much healthier than many of the low-fat, highly processed snacks that have replaced eggs in modern kitchens.

So today, doctors have a neutral view of eggs. In general, the advice is that they can be part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, but at the same time, eating multiple eggs per day may be unhealthy.

Eggs and Alzheimer’s: What is the link?
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and despite decades of research, there is no cure, and treatments that can slow the disease are severely lacking. Previous research has shown that choline is important for cognitive function. And, eggs are the top food source of choline.

Although our body can produce some choline, it's not enough to meet the body’s needs, so some choline must be taken in with our diet. Eggs also contain essential omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain health as we age. Unfortunately, studies show that the majority of adults in the United States do not consume enough of these essential fatty acids. These facts led researchers to investigate links between egg consumption and Alzheimer’s risk.

The recent study included data from 1,024 older adults with an average age of 81.4. All participants lived in retirement communities and residential facilities and the researchers followed them for an average of 6.7 years. During this time, over one-quarter of them developed Alzheimer’s disease.

The study found that people who ate at least one egg per week had a 47% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with those only eating one egg per month or fewer. Researchers also looked at the brains of 578 participants and found that those who ate one or more eggs each week were more likely to have less Alzheimer’s protein buildup. Overall, the research suggests that consuming at least one egg per week may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

So for now, if you like eggs – enjoy them! They may reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s, but if not, they will at least provide you with a good, healthy dose of protein!!!

06/18/2025

Did You Know............

Gulf Coast Health Center Inc. offers a range of dental services at the 2548 Memorial (Port Arthur) and 561 State Street (Jasper) locations. Dental services include:

Emergency Office
Extractions (Limited)
Preventative Services
Exams
Hygiene (Cleaning)
X-Rays
Fluoride
Sealants (Ages 6 - 18 years old)
Restorative Services
Fillings
Root Canals (Limited)
Dentures
Medicaid Dental Services (Ages 6 mths - 8 years)
Referrals

Make an appointment for you and your family for any of these dental services. Call 409-983-1161 today!!!