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When Neck Pain Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Local Heart Disease Survivor, Mary Hunt, Shares Her Diagnosis and Treatment Story by TERESA SCHIFFER Do you know what the number one killer of women is, causing one in three deaths each year? You might be surprised to learn the culprit is heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, approximately one woman dies every…
Exercise Helps Keep Hearts Young & Happy

Polk Senior Games Include a Heap of Heart-Healthy Activities by MARY TOOTHMAN Introducing or stepping-up regular exercise programs can result in dramatic improvements to the lives of the 65 and older population— and the emphasis on heart health this month offers an ideal opportunity to spread the word. In a 2010 Center for Disease Control…
Is It Cardiomyopathy or a Heart Attack?

Knowing the Difference and Getting Treatment Early Could Save Your Life story by CHERYL ROGERS portrait by LUIS BETANCOURT When it comes to women and heart disease, it’s not one size fits all. Breast pain, shoulder or neck pain, arm pain, back pain, stomach or jaw pain, and even pain in your fingers can be…

Ask a Nurse: Andropause → Male Menopause

Yes guys, you too have hormones and will eventually go through “the change” unless you are proactive. Beginning as early as 30 years old testosterone levels steadily decline at a rate of about one to two percent per year (1)(3). Some studies have shown this decline to begin even earlier! Symptoms of Andropause include loss…
PCMA Letter: Men’s health reminders and your save-the-date

Every June, Men’s Health Month is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, educational, and outreach events. Why, you ask? Well, first off, I think we all know that men are usually the last ones to admit when they need a checkup, or when they should go see a doctor for a routine screening. But,…
Does having a sense of purpose help you live longer?

Published in the journal Psychological Science, the research from Patrick Hill of Carleton University in Canada and Nicholas Turiano of the University of Rochester Medical Center is reinforcing the idea that a sense of purpose reduces mortality risks. From PsychologicalScience.org: “Our findings point to the fact that finding a direction for life, and setting overarching…