Category Archives: Blog

Last June, Ria Health’s chief financial officer, Jen Douglas, met the women who run the Ignite Healthcare Network Fire Pitch Competition. Sponsored by the Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute and the Texas Halo Fund, the competition recognizes healthcare companies founded and led by women. Over the next few months, Jen spent a considerable amount of […]

Mental health care is among our society’s greatest needs, yet it’s also one of the most neglected. Mental health apps are giving people convenient new ways to get help without breaking the bank or upending their schedule. From depression and anxiety, to addiction and other challenging behavior patterns, below are nine of the best ways […]

For years, researchers, scientists, and families affected by substance abuse have wondered, “What causes addiction?” Why do some people become addicted to substances, while others do not? Genetics can play a role, as can experimentation with drugs and alcohol at an early age. But research also shows a strong connection between addiction and childhood trauma. […]

Addiction and mental illness are issues that affect our lives and communities every day. National Recovery Month, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) every September, is a great opportunity to bring these stories into the open, reduce stigma, and seek solutions. While we place special focus on this topic in […]

How many times have you heard that a glass of red wine is good for your health? Or that one drink can safely melt away the anxieties of a long day? We often hear of new studies on the health benefits of alcohol—to the point where it can distract us from the known downsides. However, […]

From the final week of Oktoberfest, through that spookiest of holidays, Halloween, October offers many opportunities to share drinks with friends. It might surprise you, then, to learn that many people have started taking this month off from drinking. Sober October has joined Dry January as a chance to take a break from alcohol. While […]

If you’ve decided that it’s time to quit or cut back on alcohol, we congratulate you. We also know that the search for the most effective strategy can be daunting. These nine tips for quitting alcohol should serve as a good starting point. Included are important things to keep in mind when creating a plan […]

As scientists investigate the causes of dangerous and deadly diseases, they’ve found one factor common to almost all of them: chronic inflammation. Could alcohol be connected? Chronic inflammation plays a role in cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and possibly depression. It’s also been linked to alcohol-related medical conditions, like liver disease. Recent research suggests […]

According to recent statistics, women are drinking more than they used to. This doesn’t always mean they are drinking to excess, but it does mean more attention is needed on alcohol and women’s health. One often overlooked issue is how alcohol affects women’s hormones. The impact of alcohol on women’s health is complex, but one […]