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When knowledge is more than power

Citizen CPR event and health fair provides training that can help save a life CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a critical life saving skill that is simple enough for us all to learn. At some point our lives, a friend or loved one may need immediate medical attention because their heart stopped, and we may…
Pop Quiz: Pedestrian rules of the Road

Test Your Knowledge of Pedestrian Safety and Prevent a Fatal Injury or Death! Polk County ranks at the top of many lists, but one high ranking that definitely needs to decrease is Polk County’s instances of pedestrian deaths. In such a beautiful climate, there is always going to be a high number of pedestrians sharing…
Knowing whether or not to call 9-1-1

Recognizing an emergency versus non-emergency and how to get help Imagine this— it is 11 o’clock at night and you’re at home watching television. You see lights from a vehicle driving past your home. You can hear that the vehicle is slowing down and you look out the window to see the lights have been…

Skin Cancer Screening a Necessity for Floridians

It should come as no big surprise that simply living in Florida puts you at an increased risk for skin cancer. The reason for this is simple: The biggest cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV light) from the sun. There’s a reason that Florida is called “the Sunshine State,” and while…
Diagnosis and Treatment Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Last month, I explained what an aortic aneurysm is, how it can be detected, its presentation and risk factors. How Is It Diagnosed? An abdominal aortic aneurysm can be diagnosed with the help of an ultrasound, a safe, painless test that does not involve any radiation. If confirmed and found to be larger than…
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm is a “weakening” or “dilatation” in a part of an artery. An estimated 15,000 people die of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) every year in the US. About 200,000 new cases of AAA are diagnosed every year. Most of these are diagnosed by tests that are done for unrelated reasons. The aorta is…