Health News

Features

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!…
When less is more in exercise

How to boost the health benefits of your workouts It’s easy to fall into the routine of walking or jogging at the same pace every time. But to get the most of our exercise regimen, we need to challenge ourselves. “The number one thing to do is to increase the intensity that you work out…

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Diagnosis and Treatment

Last month, we learned what an aortic aneurysm is, how it can be detected, its presentation, and risk factors. This month, we’ll discuss diagnosis and treatment. How Can It Be Diagnosed This can be done with the help of an ultrasound, a painless, safe test that does not involve any radiation. If confirmed and found…
New to Contact Lenses? Here Are Some Healthy Habits

by Ryan Peardon, O.D. Contact lenses, when used properly, are a safe and effective method to provide good vision for those who require vision correction. However, poor compliance can wreak havoc on your eyes and vision. Here are some tips to protect your eyes and maximize your vision with contact lenses: All contact lenses are…
Understanding Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm is a weakening or dilatation in a part of an artery. About 15,000 people die of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) every year in the U.S. 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 the…