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Seven work-related issues that may affect your health

Disease saps our energy. Our productivity slips, we miss work or school, and our healthcare expenses rise. We may blame our work, or work environment, for the illness. But that may only be part of the equation. “Is it the chicken or the egg?” asks Dr. Ulyee Choe, Polk County Health Department director and a…
Trends and observations in child health

A Look at An Emerging Frontier in Healthcare and Other Relevant Issues The Academy of Pediatrics has designated the month of October as Child Health Month. The Academy strongly feels that newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 21 years in the United States should have access to comprehensive healthcare.…
New programs to help improve foster care

Heartland for Children Calls for 80 Additional Foster Homes While Improving Child Protective Services There is no gift greater than giving one’s time to a child. For 155 local families, that means serving as a foster family to a child in need. Heartland for Children is the lead community based care agency responsible for re-designing…

The 50+ job landscape: The Good, the Bad, and the Promising

With the ever-increasing life expectancy and an improving job market, our nation’s experienced workers are finding new opportunities to reinvent their careers later in life. However, some challenges do remain, as Richard Eisenberg points out in his recent Forbes article, “What You Should Know about the 50+ Job Market.”
A healthier future for you and your children

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and, while this disease is serious and at times life threatening, it should not be looked at with fear. We at the Polk County Medical Association (PCMA) are here to help educate and equip the members of our community to live healthier lives, and subsequently, hopefully prevent serious illnesses…
Steps for a breast self-exam

About one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. There are a few things that can be done for early detection, such as an at-home breast self-exam. This exam helps women know what is normal for them. They can then report any changes to their healthcare provider.…