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Medical Advice: How to stop a fall before it happens

It was reported earlier this year by the Centers for Disease and Prevention that the life expectancy for people in the United States is at an all-time high of 78 years and 9 ½ months. Women born in 2012 are now expected to live more than 81 years and men nearly 76 ½ years. It…
Pop Quiz: Is your home fall-proof?

Falling is the most common cause of household injuries. It is especially dangerous for older Americans, as a fall can be fatal or have serious long-term affects like physical impairment, loss of independence, and costly medical bills. Since six out of every 10 falls happen at home, take our quiz to test your IQ on…
What poses a greater threat to your health than Ebola?

The chances of catching the West African-born virus versus the threat of the flu and pneumonia Fears abound, but Americans have very little to worry about when it comes to contracting Ebola. While Ebola is serous and often fatal, outbreaks of the infectious disease are primarily in West Africa. “The risk to the general public…

UV ray eye safety tips to remember

In addition to the article about how to avoid heat stress – or worse – heat stroke on page 23, this month is also national UV Safety Month. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Polk County Medical Association want to help everyone understand the dangers of over exposure to ultraviolet radiation. UV rays…
Healthy Cook: How do I eat my protein? Let me count the ways

“Make sure you get enough protein. Eat your meat. You need a lot of protein,” Mom harped. We do need protein. We need a lot of different nutrients to keep our body machines humming along nicely. Protein is just one of them. And it’s easy to get. Experts in Washington decree how much nutrients we…
Publisher’s Note: We are your reader advocates

In a former life as a newspaper publisher, we sometimes had a position in the newsroom called a “reader advocate.” Our editors would rotate on this desk and some loved the assignment and some frankly hated it. Basically the job entailed taking phone calls or answering emails about this or that regarding the content of…