June, 2021

Reframing Negative Feelings

The struggles of the pandemic have left many people feeling down, impatient or angry. But with the availability of multiple vaccines, there’s finally reason to hope. That's an example of positive self-talk. It's a way to break out of a cycle of negative thoughts. It's OK to acknowledge painful, frustrating or sad feelings. But getting stuck there can make it harder to cope, according to the National Center for PTSD. Instead, when you have negative thoughts or feelings, practice reframing t...

Robotic surgery for hysterectomy

If you need a hysterectomy, you'll have access to our highly skilled surgeons. You may also have the option of having your surgery done using the latest in robotic surgical technology. Hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus and sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes. For women, it is one of the most common operations in the U.S. Many conditions can trigger a need for a hysterectomy, such as: • Fibroids, benign growths in the uterus that can cause troublesome symptoms. • Abno...

Blood Pressure and Your Brain

Stopping your blood pressure from climbing too high is one of the healthiest things you can do for many reasons—including that it may help lower your risk for having a stroke or developing dementia. Over time, untreated high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain, making it more likely that they will: • Become narrowed and clogged, which reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. • Rupture or burst. Both of these changes to the blood vessels can lead to s...

Rethink Vaping

If you're trying to quit smoking, switching to vaping might seem like a good idea. After all, it's not the same thing as inhaling burned tobacco, right? That's true. But vaping is not without health risks. We're still learning about the long-term effects of using vaping products—such as e-cigarettes, JUUL devices and vape pens. But we do know that the aerosols from these products could expose you to potentially harmful chemicals and particles, including: • Diacetyl, a flavoring that ...

Sunglasses: Pick the perfect pair

Slipping on the right pair of shades can make you feel celebrity cool. But don't lose sight of this: Sunglasses are much more than a fashion statement. Their main purpose is to protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet UV rays, which can cause cataracts and macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. To choose wisely, remember these tips: Keep it 100. Look for a tag that says the sunglasses block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Low-cost glasses with this UV protection will work...

Men: Take Control of Your Health

If you're like a lot of men, you may pay less attention to your own health than to other important matters, like your job, home and family. But you deserve good health—and a good, long life. And isn't it time you did something about that? To start to prioritize your health, you need a primary care provider PCP , such as a family physician or an internist, that you trust. You might ask your friends for recommendations. Whether you feel more comfortable with a male or a female provider is to...

80 Years of Quality Healthcare

In the summer of 1941, the classic Citizen Kane premiered in theaters, baseball great Joe DiMaggio began a 56-game hitting streak for the New York Yankees, and a new car would set you back an average of $925. It also marked the season when Watson Clinic first opened our doors to the community. The seedlings of Watson Clinic were planted long before they sprouted into existence 80 years ago. The future of healthcare for residents of Lakeland and surrounding communities had its origins in Metter, ...

Learn the eye-opening facts about cataracts

As we get older, our bodies start to change, putting us at increased risk for many conditions and diseases, including a common one that affects our sight: cataracts. Here are some answers to questions you may have about the disease. Q: What is a cataract? A: A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. At around age 40, proteins in the lens of your eye start to break down and clump together. This clump—or cataract—makes a cloudy area in your eye's lens. Over time, the catarac...