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Making choices that lower your risk

How African-Americans Can Avoid High Blood Pressure Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is a heavy weight that the African-American community has been destined to cope with. While no one is immune from high blood pressure, it is a proven fact that the African-American population has a 40 percent higher rate over any other ethnic group…
Talking to your teen can make a difference

New Data Reveals Teen Pregnancy Rates Have Fallen in Polk County For the past decade, the teen pregnancy rate in Polk County has been among the top in Florida, but the latest figures show the rate has dropped. “Community partnerships and civil dialogue has worked to lower teen pregnancy,” says Dr. Daniel Haight, director of…
Kicking the smoking habit for good

A resolution easier said than done, but not impossible With the holidays behind us, we stand at the threshold of another New Year. In an effort to improve our lives over the next 12 months, we’ll make resolutions that if achieved would make a difference for the better. If yours is to get healthy, fantastic!…

Medical advice: Poison help in the home

If you suspected that a member of your household had ingested a potentially poisonous substance, would you know what to do? Did you know you can call the Florida Poison Information Center—sometimes referred to as Poison Control—at 1-800-222-1222 for assistance with any possible poison event? A health care professional is available 24 hours a day,…
Editor’s Dose: I’d Rather Be… at the Dentist

Okay, it’s confession time. I used to be one of those people who was afraid to go to the dentist. I know it sounds silly, but just the thought of having someone staring down my mouth was mortifying. I would gladly go through natural childbirth with no medication, speak in front of a crowd of…
PCMA Letter: The big picture of your health

Everyone knows the old expression “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, in the field of medicine, we take special care to look at the big picture of your overall health— not just the symptoms. As physicians who understand that healthy lifestyle choices are key to a long and fruitful life, it’s important to…