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Painting the town red with heart disease prevention

How Polk is taking steps to increase awareness and lower your risk Bill Mutz thought he was just going to help with a demonstration when he volunteered for an ultrasound at a Lakeland Leadership Cardiology group. But what he learned actually helped him: The ultrasound showed blood was not flowing properly through his heart’s mitral…
New year, New you!

How Polk County is Tackling Obesity and Residents are Making Healthier Lifestyle Choices Fifty-one year-old Ann Good topped 200 pounds last May. She lacked energy and was short of breath. Concerned about a family history of heart disease and diabetes, she decided to act. Today Good is 50 pounds lighter and breathing easier, in more…
Pop Quiz: Could it be premature menopause?

Is it just the after-effects of the holiday rush getting to you, or are you encountering possible symptoms of premature menopause? It’s definitely not easy to be a woman, especially as you age. Yet, could the unusual hot flashes, mood swings and feminine “discomfort” you are feeling be the precursor for premature menopause? Find out…

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…