Fall 2026 7 Protect your family from seasonal illness Germs are in season—the kinds that cause illnesses like colds, flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and stomach bugs. The good news? There’s plenty your family can do to avoid getting these germs. Update vaccinations. “Start by making sure everyone is up-todate on recommended vaccines,” says Kimberly Petrie, FNP, DNP. Yearly flu shots are for everyone 6 months and up. Some family members may also need COVID-19, pneumonia or RSV vaccines. Ask your provider. Wash those hands with soap and water. “Hand sanitizers often are not effective against stomach viruses,” Kimberly says. Stay home if you’re sick. “Practice the 24-hour rule,” Kimberly says. If you’ve had a fever, stay home until you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without using feverreducing medicine. Share holiday cheer, not germs. Don’t share cups, plates, utensils, or bites or sips of food or drink at holiday parties. Bolster your immunity. Kimberly says that getting plenty of rest, exercising daily, managing stress and eating nutritious foods are ways to do that. Healthy habits may reduce your lung cancer risk To lower your lung cancer risk, know the first move. “If you or someone you love smokes, we can help you find a way to quit,” says Lung Nurse Navigator Julissa Escamilla, RN. Tobacco smoke causes 80% to 90% of cases of lung cancer and is by far the most important risk factor. Family history of cancer, diet, age and certain jobs that expose you to carcinogens also increase risk. Ask your doctor and employer about precautions. Screening is another vital move If you’re a former or current smoker between age 50 and 80, talk to your doctor about yearly lung cancer screening with simple, low-dose CT scans. Screening can detect lung cancer early. “Our goal isn’t to find any bad news,” Julissa says. “It’s to find anything concerning as early as possible, because finding lung cancer early, when it is easiest to treat, can save lives.” State-of-the-art lung cancer care If your screening finds something, Texas Health Huguley Hospital offers diagnostic testing, biomarker testing, and robotic-assisted biopsies and surgery. A nurse navigator guides you at every step. Make an appointment Visit TexasHealthHuguley.org/Petrie. Take the next step today To schedule a lung scan, call Julissa Escamilla at 682.469.5318.
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