Kennedy Health System

More than one in three adults in the United States has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. A normal blood pressure is 120/80; if your blood pressure is consistently higher than this number, you are at increased risk for heart attack, stroke and other complications.

No matter what that silly groundhog in Punxsutawney has to say, winter weather will be with us for a few more months. Here are some tips from a family doctor to help you stay safe during cold weather.

Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI), also known as C. diff, is a bacterial infection that can be diagnosed year-round.  While medications are available to treat C. diff, there are times that surgery is needed.  In severe cases, complications like sepsis, renal failure, and even death can occur.  For these reasons, we should all have more awareness about the dangers of C. diff.

Last month, I encouraged you to consider getting the influenza vaccine to protect you and your loved ones from contracting the flu, a potentially deadly upper respiratory infection. As a follow-up, I would like to address a similarly important (and vaccine-preventable) illness: pneumococcal pneumonia.