THIS THIS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP WITH THE SEASONAL RAIN COMES THE PERFECT SITUATION TO SEE A MOSQUITO BOOM WE'RE BRINGING IN THE PEST CONTROL.

EXPERTS TO LEARN THE SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO ENSURE YOUR HOME IS READY FOR ANY BITING BUGS.

FOR MANY PEOPLE.

TODAY IS THE DAY FOR SOME LAST MINUTE.

SOME RELAXATION.

BUT FOR ANYONE DEALING WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, EVEN THE FUN DAYS CAN BRING ON UNEXPECTED HEALTH STRESSORS AND THE BUILDING A FOUNDATION AGAINST STEREOTYPES.

WE LEARNED HOW WOMEN ARE CARVING THEIR OWN PATH IN THE MALE DOMINATED CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD AND WE HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING LABOR DAY.

IF YOU'RE OUT HAVING A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION, THERE MAY BE TOO WORRIES REGARDING YOUR OUTDOOR PLANS, RAIN AND MOSQUITOES SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS IN PEAK MOSQUITO SEASON WITH THE DAILY RAIN SHOWERS, HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY.

THAT'S WHY FORT MYERS, PEST CONTROL IS ASKING EVERYONE TO DO WHAT IS CALLED A 24 HOUR BACKYARD MOSQUITO CHECK.

I'M JOINED IN STUDIO BY THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT FORT MYERS, PEST CONTROL.

IVAN STARKEY.

IVAN, WELCOME TO OUR STUDIO TODAY.

THANK YOU.

NOW, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS AN EXTENDED MOSQUITO SEASON.

IT'S AT LEAST 10 MONTH-LONG.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALL YEAR LONG AT TIMES.

WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH AN EXTENT THAT MOSQUITO SEASON LOW?

WE ARE IN A SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE WATER AND ISSUES AND RAINS THAT HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> WE ARE NOW IN THE PEAK OF OUR THIS KETO SEASON.

AND AS WE'RE GETTING MORE ON THE AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS, IT RAINS IT.

>> STARTING TO ADD UP THE RAIN DEFICIT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

>> AND WHAT CAN HOMEOWNERS DO TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BACKYARDS DON'T BECOME THESE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR MANY, MANY POPULATIONS OF MOSQUITOS.

SO I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY THAT AT THEIR HOME OR EVEN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX TO GO OUTSIDE THE HOME AFTER A MAJOR RAIN.

>> AND GET AROUND THE HOUSE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

CHECKING BIRD BASS AND AMBER BASS MAKING SURE ALWAYS HAS FRESH WATER STANDING WATER A POTTED PLANTS, GARBAGE KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE THE LIDS TARPS FROM HURRICANES HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE PAST THAT HE'S LAYING ON THE GROUND.

ALL THAT STUFF SHOULD BE PICKED UP SO NO WATER CAN HOLE ITSELF.

REMEMBER, A MOSQUITO CAN BREED AND UP.

SO TO BUY SODA BOTTLE CAP.

SO AND THEY'RE DOING ONE TO 300, EVERY FEMALE THAT LAYS ACTS.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF MOSQUITOES IN YOUR AREA AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

>> NOW, HOW OFTEN HOW OFTEN TO THIS CHECK BE DONE?

I WOULD PROBABLY DO AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

>> IT WILL HELP YOU OUT TREMENDOUSLY BEING OUTSIDE.

>> WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN WITH LETTING THESE MOSQUITOES BREED AND EXPLODE IN POPULATION?

OBVIOUSLY OTHER THAN GETTING THAT UNCOMFORTABLE THIS BUT THEY CAN CARRY DISEASE.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

SO SOME PEOPLE WILL REACT DIFFERENT TO ALL KINDS OF BITES, A SPECIAL MOSQUITO BITES BY DENGUE FEVER HAS BEEN IN THE >> PUBLIC EYE.

THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN LEE COUNTY.

WE HAVEN'T GOT ANY WRITTEN REPORTS OF THING.

THEY FEAR WE HAVE AN AMAZING LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL COMPANY THAT THEY GO OUT AND THEY KEEP US UNDER CONTROL AS HARD AS THAT JOB IS, THEY'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD THAT DOES THAT.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

>> COULD YOU GIVE SOME ADVICE TO OUR SEASONAL?

>> RESIDENTS AND VISITORS THAT THEY'RE NOT FAMILIAR ABOUT OUR MOSQUITO BREEDING SEASON AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPACTFUL THAT CAN BE.

>> SO THIS KID IS NORMALLY PRIMARILY ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE DAWN AND THE DUST TIMES OF THE OF THE OF THE DAY.

>> SO WHAT I WOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT OR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING OUTSIDE.

>> AND THEN ALSO PROBABLY A MOSQUITO REPELLENT THAT WILL HELP YOU EITHER ALL NATURAL OR A D NOW THAT OF THAT NATURE.

>> NOW, IF SOMEONE ALREADY HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH MOSQUITOES IN THEIR BACKYARD, HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THEM PRODUCTS TO USE?

SO WE USE A FEW >> IDEAS ARE IN ONE WERE OUT THERE DOING A FULL INSPECTION OF THE HOME, MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE STANDING WATERS AND WE HAVE ISSUES ARE CONCERNED.

VERY WET AREAS.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT STILL BE RUNNING.

THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS THIS TIME OF YEAR, WHICH NOT REALLY NEED TO BE DONE RIGHT NOW.

I'M DOING THAT WILL HELP REDUCE THAT.

AND THEN WE GO IN WITH A MOSQUITO MACHINE BLOWER THAT WILL GO INTO THE PROPERTY AND SPRAY ALL THE SHRUBS BECAUSE MOSQUITOES, 10, THE LAY UNDERNEATH THE LEAKS.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO RESIDE AT NIGHT.

AND NOW AND THAT'S A PERFECT SPOT FOR THEM THE EVENING.

SO WHEN THEY'RE IN THE DARKER SHADED AREAS, THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE ACTIVE.

THAT.

>> AND THEY CAN BUY OUR PETS AS WELL.

THEY CAN.

THEY CAN.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR MEAL AND BLOOD MEALS AS IS THEIR NUMBER ONE CHOICE.

>> WHERE YOU STARTED THIS INITIATIVE, SEPTEMBER 1ST, AND WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE BEHIND IT?

>> WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT MOSQUITOES IN THE AREA AND WE HAVE OUR OWN MOSQUITO PROGRAM THAT WE FOR MARS.

PASS CONTROL.

I ALWAYS SAY COLE, LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL FIRST, THE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE'S A HOT SPOT NEAR AREA AND COME RIGHT BACK OUT.

NO CHECK THESE AREAS OUT FOR YOU.

BUT A LOT OF OUR CUSTOMERS THERE ON A REGULAR PROGRAM WITH US.

WE COME OUT AND WE DO A TREATMENT ON A REGULAR MONTHLY BASIS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE 10 MONTHS OF THE YEAR THAT WERE MOST ACTIVE.

>> SO YOU REALLY AUGMENT WHAT LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL DUST, RIGHT?

WE TRIED A.

>> BE COEXISTING WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PUT DOWN THE BIG STUFF FOR US TO KEEP YOUR HOME AT A NICE LEVEL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE TODAY YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

I'VE BEEN STARTING.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE STORIES ON MOSQUITO CONTROL AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT.

>> PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ON THE RISE THROUGHOUT THE SUNSHINE STATE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

BUT SOME LOCAL GROUPS ARE TACKLING THE PROBLEM BY CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS WITH RECRUITERS.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ESTIMATES THAT OVER 515,000 FLORIDIANS ARE JOBLESS.

THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS REMAINED STAGNANT AROUND 4.6% FOR MOST OF THE YEAR.

PEOPLE FIND JOBS, NONPROFIT GROUPS SUCH AS BETTER TOGETHER ARE ORGANIZING EVENTS THAT DIRECTLY CONNECT THOSE LOOKING FOR WORK WITH EMPLOYERS.

WGCUS AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE REPORTS.

WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY CHURCHES TO HOST JOB FAIRS.

>> TO HELP EMPOWER THESE PARENTS, BRING THEM HOPE AND DIGNITY AND GET THEM BACK TO WORK.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF WE CAN GET THEM BACK TO WORK, WE CAN TRY TO HELP RE STABILIZE THAT FAMILY UNIT.

>> VANESSA STRADA IS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BETTER TOGETHER'S SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REGION.

BETTER TOGETHER HOST SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIRS CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS FACING EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS SUCH AS PAST INCARCERATION.

HOMELESSNESS ARE GAPS AND WORK.

HISTORY WITH EMPLOYERS WILLING TO HIRE.

>> NATIONWIDE, GIVE SECOND CHANCES.

THESE EMPLOYERS ARE SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYERS SO THAT WE HAVE THESE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH JUST GIVES MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE JOB SEEKERS THAT ARE COMING IN FACING.

YOU KNOW, INCARCERATION PAST ITS FAITH IN ACTION.

>> DEMETRIUS THOMAS IS THE PASTOR OF SAINT MARY'S BAPTIST CHURCH IN GORDA THAT HOSTED THE JOB.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FIND OUT.

>> THAT WE COME IN HERE, WE WERE THAT WOULD BE THE PRICE OF THAT.

HE WAS OUT HELPING PEOPLE AND COMPELLING PEOPLE TO COME INTO PLAY.

SO IN THIS WHAT IT IS, IS THAT BE OUT THERE AND HELP PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE THE BEST THAT WE CAN >> LAFAYETTE WHEATON CAME TO THE JOB FAIR WITH HIS YOUNG SON.

HE RECENTLY MOVED TO FLORIDA AND HOPES TO NOT JUST FIND A JOB BUT DISCOVERED HIS PASSION.

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND SOME THERE'S NO RELIGIOUS BENEFIT.

JUST ROW.

MAKE ME HAPPY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO FIND A JOB, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND MY PATIENTS SO I MEAN, I'M HERE A SIGN WE'RE GOING TO BE THE NEXT THE >> ANGEL DIGGS RECEIVED MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE FROM BETTER TOGETHER AND IS LOOKING FOR WORK THAT WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT WITHOUT BETTER TOGETHER WITHOUT MISS AMANDA.

SO THIS IS GREAT CAUSE.

>> AND I SAY I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO FAR ENOUGH ON CLIMATE.

>> THIS IS GREAT.

IT'S GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WAYS HELPS OUT EVERYBODY.

ANGEL SON, DARIAN SNOWDEN HOPES TO LEARN AND PURSUE A CAREER AS AN ELECTRICIAN.

>> ALWAYS AIM FOR A JOB.

THIS AND MORE CONSISTENT WITH SOME THAT I LOVE TO DORSUM THAT I CAN FIND A LIKE A GOOD.

AND LIKE I SAID, A GOOD PATTERN IN DOING.

LIKE A GOOD GROOVE.

I CAN GET A GOOD GROUP IS OVER IT.

>> PASTOR THOMAS SAYS THIS EVENT IS ALL ABOUT HELPING TO SUSTAIN FAMILIES.

>> AND IT'S ONE THING TO ACTUALLY HAVE PANTRIES WAY PEOPLE COME IN AND AND GET FOOD AND ALL THAT.

BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACTUALLY PRESENT THEM A JOB WHERE THEY CAN AS THEY FEED THEIR FAMILY.

POLI TIME.

YOU KNOW, SO AGAIN IS ONE THING TO DO A HANDOUT.

BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING TO GIVE A HAND UP.

FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE.

>> NEARLY HALF OF ALL AMERICAN ADULTS ARE LIVING WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

AND ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ONLY 22% OF THOSE AFFECTED HAVE THEIR CONDITION PROPERLY UNDER CONTROL.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE ALSO KNOWN AS HYPERTENSION, PUTS A PERSON AT A HIGHER RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND STROKE AS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED THERE ARE MULTIPLE LIFE CHANGES PEOPLE CAN MAKE TO LOWER THEIR RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> SO JOINING ME NOW TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE RISKS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS DOCTOR PILE COLEY GENERAL IN PREVENTATIVE CARDIOLOGIST IN DENVER, COLORADO, AND ASSOCIATE ADJUNCT PROFESSOR WITH JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND DUKE UNIVERSITY DOCTOR.

CALLIE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> HYPERTENSION, OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IMPACTING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

BUT SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR?

>> YOU KNOW, HYPERTENSION, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO AMERICANS.

IN FACT, YOUR CHANCE OF DEVELOPING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN YOUR LIFETIME IS 80 TO 90%.

AND THERE'S 120 MILLION AMERICANS WALKING AROUND WITH THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE, ELEVATED AND NEARLY HALF OF THEM ARE NOT CONTROLLED.

DESPITE TAKING THE MEDICINES THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE IN.

YOU KNOW, HYPERTENSION IS CALLED THE SILENT KILLER FOR REASON.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OFTEN EARLY IN THE DISEASE, THERE'S NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS.

AND IT'S REALLY ONLY WHEN THE BLOOD PRESSURE GETS VERY, VERY HIGH THAT YOU CAN HAVE DIZZINESS, HEADACHES.

BLURRY VISION IS EVEN HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.

BUT EARLY IN THE DISEASE, THE WAY THAT WE DIAGNOSE IT IS BY CHECKING.

SO I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY LISTENING HERE EMPOWERS THEM SELVES TO KNOW THEIR NUMBERS AND KNOW THEIR RISK IN WHETHER YOU HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION OR DON'T IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE CHANCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP HYPERTENSION, AS YOU GET OLDER IS SO HIGH.

>> AND THEN ARE THERE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT ARE PRE DEPART DISPOSED TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR IS THIS A RISK OF DEVELOPING FOR REALLY ANYBODY?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY MOST ANYBODY CAN GET HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND THAT'S WHERE THE 80 TO 90% LIFETIME RISK COMES FROM.

AND PART OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS OUR MODERN DIET BECAUSE 90% OF AMERICANS CAN STILL WAY TOO MUCH SODIUM IN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN DIET THAT WE'RE HAVING.

BUT PART OF IT IS ALSO AS WE TEND TO AGE OR BLOOD VESSELS TEND TO GET STIFFER.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CONDITIONS THAT CAN INCREASE YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HYPERTENSION, CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, IF YOU HAVE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, IF YOU HAVE HEART FAILURE, IF YOU HAVE A CONDITION CALLED SLEEP APNEA, OUR ONE CALLED A TOOL FOR RELATION.

THESE ARE ALL TARGETS SIGNS THAT GET PUT ON YOU TO DEVELOP HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

BUT IT CAN HAPPEN TO JUST THE EVERYDAY AMERICAN.

IT CAN HAPPEN TO THE THE THE YOUNG, THE FIT, THE HEALTHY AMERICAN.

AND I OFTEN TELL MY FEMALE PATIENTS AFTER MENOPAUSE, THERE'S A HUGE TRANSITION THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIFE AND OUR HEALTH AND THE ESTROGEN LEVELS GO DOWN, WHICH CAN CAUSE BLOOD VESSELS NOT ONLY TO GET STIFFER, BUT IT CAN ALSO CAUSE AND A HORMONE CALLED AL DOSTER OWN TO GO UP.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY PLAYERS AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

SO REALLY IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, WHICH IS WHY ONE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO KNOW THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> AND THEN IF IT DOES GO UNTREATED, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LONG-TERM RISKS THAT PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT NOT MY SOCKS OFF IS THAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CAN AFFECT ANY ORGAN IN THE BODY BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EVERY SINGLE ORGAN IN THE BODY HAS A BLOOD VESSEL, RIGHT?

AND SO THE PRESSURE INSIDE THOSE BLOOD VESSELS IS VERY HIGH.

YOU CAN REALLY DAMAGE THOSE ORGANS.

AND SO CERTAINLY WE TALK ABOUT RISK LIKE CARDIOVASCULAR DEATH, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES AND HEART FAILURE.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO GET KIDNEY DAMAGE OR KIDNEY DISEASE.

YOU CAN GET DEMENTIA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEARS THAT WE ALL HAVE AS WE AGE.

AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN EVEN DEVELOP CONDITIONS LIKE BLINDNESS, WHICH IS AGAIN, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE FACT THAT IT'S PREVENTABLE IN MODIFIABLE AND THAT IT HAS SUCH SEVERE OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH IT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL LIKE EVERY AMERICAN TO TAKE CONTROL.

>> AND NOW THERE ARE MANY MEDICATIONS ON THE MARKET THAT SAY THEY HELP WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR HYPERTENSION, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT TAKE MEDICATIONS FOR OTHER REASONS.

MAYBE THEY INTERACT WITH OTHER PRESCRIPTIONS.

THEY'RE ON.

SO WHAT CAN FOLKS DO THAT ARE STEPS TO HELP WITH THEIR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WHEN MAYBE MEDICATIONS ARE NOT THE ANSWER FOR THEM OR MAY NOT WORK WITH THEM.

>> SO I WOULD SAY THAT YOU DON'T WALK AWAY FROM MEDICATIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT CLASSES OF MEDICATIONS THAT CERTAINLY IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADOPT THE RIGHT DIET, THE RIGHT LIFESTYLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, REDUCING THE SODIUM, INCREASING THE POTASSIUM.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, EXERCISING GETTING 5 DAYS OF ACTIVITY, AT LEAST 30 MINUTES A DAY, GETTING THOSE 7 TO 9 HOURS OF SLEEP, TREATING SLEEP APNEA.

IF YOU HAVE IT, THESE ARE ALL GREAT PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, LOSING WEIGHT ALWAYS HELPS WITH REDUCING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IF YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE.

BUT DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE MEDICATIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES A LIFESTYLE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TO GET THAT BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN.

AND IT'LL PRODUCE YOUR SYSTOLIC YOUR TOP NUMBER BY A FEW POINTS.

BUT YOU MAY NEED A 2030, POINT REDUCTION TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GET TO.

AND IN FACT, THE NEW AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, BLOOD PRESSURE GUIDELINES SAY THAT WE REALLY SHOULD BE TARGETING BLOOD.

PRESSURE IS LESS THAN ONE 20 OVER 80 FOR EVERYONE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA TO REDUCE RISK OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE.

SO IT'S SAFE.

YOU CAN'T TAKE SOME OF THE OLDER MEDICINES.

AND ONE OF MY CHALLENGES AS A CARDIOLOGIST, US THE MEDICINES THAT I'M USING TO TREAT BLOOD PRESSURE OLD.

THERE.

ONE OF THEM IS 68 YEARS-OLD.

YOU KNOW.

AND SO SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK OR A CAUSE OF SIDE EFFECTS.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE ONES THAT CAUSE HORMONAL SIDE EFFECTS.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MEDICATIONS.

AND THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THESE NEW MEDICATIONS THAT ARE NOW COMING ONTO THE MARKET THAT DON'T HAVE AS MANY SIDE EFFECTS COULD POTENTIALLY BE GAME CHANGERS FOR SOME OF THESE PATIENTS.

>> DR COLI, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND BE SURE TO CHECK THAT BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> YOU CAN STAY UP WITH ALL OF THE MEDICAL HAPPENINGS.

THAT HEALTH TIPS BY HEADING TO OUR WEB SITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CAN ALSO TAKE A TOLL ON A PERSON'S MENTAL WELL-BEING TO HELP COMBAT THE STRESSORS THAT CAN COME WITH THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

SOME PROFESSIONALS ARE MAKING CHANGES AND TRYING TO PRACTICE MINDFULNESS WGCU REPORTER YOUN-JOO PARK TALKED WITH ATTORNEYS ON HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR STRESS.

>> AND ATTORNEYS OFFICE IS A SIDE OF DEEP CONCENTRATION AND A RAPID SHIFT IN PRIORITIES >> ITS AN OKAY.

YOU MAY FAVOR PLEASE.

AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

ANOTHER CONSTANT IN THE LAW PROFESSION AS THE BUILDUP OF STRESS.

>> AS THE LAWYER, MIKE COLOMBO CAN ATTEST.

I'VE SEEN IT WITH A LOT OF COLLEAGUES.

I'VE KNOWN.

>> WHEN I WAS A NEW LAWYER PRACTICING TO NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I USED TO WORK WITH MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO THEY DON'T PRACTICE.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE STRESS.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO IS NOT BEING ABLE TO BALANCE CERTAIN THINGS.

BUT THIS PROFESSION IS TRUST.

IN FACT.

>> THE REVOLVING DOOR IS A COMMON PHENOMENON RESEARCH SHOWS THAT OVER 80% OF LAWYERS DON'T MAKE IT PAST 5 YEARS ON THE JOB.

ATTORNEY MICHAEL WRIGHT HAVE TALKS ABOUT CAUSES OF PROFESSIONAL DISCONTENT AND PERHAPS CHATGPT AND THINGS LIKE THAT HASN'T HELPED BECAUSE EVERYONE THINKS THEY'RE A LAWYER.

>> BECAUSE EVERYONE SAYS, WELL, I SAW THIS ON THE INTERNET AND SO THAT BECOMES STRESSFUL ON THE LAWYER BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING BACK WAS I READ THIS AND I READ THAT.

SO.

>> RAW HAVE SAYS THESE HEIGHTENED EXPECTATIONS FROM CLIENTS HAVE BECOME AN ADDED STRESSOR TO BETTER HANDLE STRESS.

HE ATTENDED A WORKSHOP WHERE A DOZEN LAW PROFESSIONALS TOOK A BREATHER FROM WORK TO DECOMPRESS SOUCE JEFFRIES DEMONSTRATED CONSCIOUS BREATHING AND EMPHASIZED SIMPLICITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE.

>> ROCK CREATING DEEP AND JUST MOVE OUT AND TOUCH THERE.

>> I HAVE ALSO SHARED WITH COLLEAGUES THAT ONE UPSIDE OF CHATGPT IS FORMULATING MORE DIPLOMATIC EMAILS TO CLIENTS.

BACK AT THE OFFICE AND APOLLO CARDOSO SAYS HER ROLE AS A PARALEGAL IS FILTERING INFORMATION BEFORE IT REACHES THE ATTORNEY CARDOSO SHOWED THE FIRM'S SCHEDULE BOOK.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE PUT LIKE LITTLE TABS CALENDAR.

>> YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO CONFLICTS AND THEN WE TRY TO SOLVE THE CONFLICT BECAUSE THE LAWYER CANNOT BE IN 2 PLACES AT ONCE.

>> ACCORDING TO WRITE HAVE CRIMINAL SANCTIONS AND FLORIDA HAVE BECOME MUCH HARSHER FOR CLIENTS IN RECENT DECADES.

ADDING EVEN MORE LAYERS OF STRESS.

THE ISSUE IS THE STRESS IS MORE.

I THINK >> THAN IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

SO WHILE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE STRESS BECAUSE WE'RE MORE MATURE AND LIFE'S EXPERIENCES BROUGHT US THAT THAT ABILITY TO WORK WITH STRESS.

IT'S BEEN MEASURED AGAINST.

I FEEL GENERALLY IN THE LAW, MORE STRESS IN THE CROSS, THE BOARD.

YOU HAVE A LOT MORE LAWYERS DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, WHICH TELLS YOU IT IS MORE STRESSFUL GAME.

>> WE'LL HAVE THE MIKE COLOMBO TOOK A MOMENT TO ASSESS WHAT MAKES HIM PERSONALLY PRONE TO STRESS.

>> IT'S A LOT OF TIME.

SADLY, WE WANT TO IMPRESS PEOPLE.

WE SAVINGS WE CAN PACK.

I HAVE A CONSCIENCE.

I CAN'T DO THAT.

I ALWAYS SO SHORT.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SELL HIGH BECAUSE I WANT WHATEVER I DO SECRETLY MY MIND.

I WANT TO DO BETTER THAN WHAT I EXPECT.

SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DO CRIMINAL LAW IN PEOPLE'S FREEDOMS, THEIR LOOKING TO YOU BOTH AGREE THAT SELF CARE IS CRUCIAL.

>> SO THAT THEY IN TURN.

>> CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR CLIENTS.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M YOUN-JOO PARK.

>> MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT ACROSS ALL PROFESSIONS.

IF YOU OR ANYONE IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, YOU CAN CALL 9, 8, 8, COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

PUTTING UP WALLS AND SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS.

MEET THE COMPANY THAT IS INSTALLING MORE WOMEN ON CONSTRUCTION WORK SITE.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS BEEN MALE DOMINATED FOR GENERATIONS.

THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SAYS WOMEN MAKE UP JUST 11% OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE.

BUT THAT IS CHANGING AS WGCUS KATE CRONIN REPORTS NEW PROGRAMS ARE INTRODUCING WOMEN TO THE INDUSTRY.

>> FOR SOME THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS FELT LIKE A MAN'S GAME WITH WOMEN ONLY MAKING UP 11% OF THE WORKFORCE.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND GENDER BIAS.

ACCORDING TO THE INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S POLICY RESEARCH.

BUT AT ONE CONSTRUCTION SITE IN FORT MYERS, WOMAN ARE BLAZING A NEW TRAIL.

THE NEWLY HEALTH FORT MYERS BUILDING WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2028, THANKS TO SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER.

SURE EAST TRAVIS WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE SHE SEEN THE INDUSTRY SHIFT.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STUBBORN ENOUGH TO STICK AROUND BECAUSE MY GOAL AND DESIRE HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

>> TO MAKE SURE THAT MY PRESENCE ALLOWS OTHER WOMEN TO SEE THAT IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A FUN CAREER.

SO I WATCHED THE TRAJECTORY OVER THE LAST 24 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN THE GROWTH AND IN HONESTLY BRINGS ME EXTREME JOY TO SEE THE PROGRESSION OF THE INDUSTRY IN THE PAST.

24 YEARS.

SO WHAT I SAY I WAS INTIMIDATED INITIALLY PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'M YOU KNOW, A SHORT GIRL FROM TEXAS WHOSE VERY STUBBORN.

>> SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS WOMAN FACED IN A MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY ARE DUE TO ISOLATION AND LACK OF MENTORSHIP.

ONE OF THE GREATEST TOOL SCOTT'S CONSTRUCTION OFFERS IS IT'S WOMEN'S NETWORK.

THE PROGRAM CONNECTS NEW OR EMPLOYEES WITH MENTORS AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM SUCCEED HIM.

TORY GABRIEL IS A MEMBER AND WORKS ON SITE AS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT >> I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED WHEN I JOIN ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL TO SEA THAT ARE YEAR WAS ABOUT 50, 50 WOMEN AND MEN.

AND IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING TO SEE THAT THE INDUSTRY IS STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD AND THERE'S MORE WOMEN JOINING AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS AN OPTION FOR US.

AND COMING IN AND DOING INTERNSHIPS AND JOINING WITH A COMPANY LIKE SKANSKA.

WE HAVE A CORE VALUE OF BETTER TOGETHER WITH A BUNCH OF SUPPORT FROM MALE AND FEMALE COUNTERPARTS.

BOTH HIRED SENIORITY, AN ENTRY LEVEL.

SO IT JUST CONTINUES TO EXPAND.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY INSPIRATIONAL.

>> AND THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES TO GROUND JUMPING BY 70% FROM 2017 TO 2022, ACCORDING TO THE I W PR PROFESSIONALS LIKE ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER ON A COVER, A STENT ATTRIBUTE THE RISE TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUE SKILLS WOMAN OFFER.

>> TIMMY, 11% FEELS LIKE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT COMPARED TO HOW IT WAS HISTORICALLY.

AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THE STANDARD IT ARE THEY CHANGING AND EVOLVING AND THE INDUSTRY IT HAS BECOME WAY MORE WELCOMING TO WOMEN AND YOU KNOW, WOMAN, A VERY COLLABORATIVE AND WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

WE HAVE GREAT OWN INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.

I WOULD SAY AND COMMUNICATION IS PROBABLY AT THE TOP A SKILL THAT YOU NEED TO WORK IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.

I WOULD SAY THAT WOMAN HAVE A LOT TO CONTRIBUTE.

AND ALTHOUGH WE MAKE UP A SMALL PERCENTAGE IS GROWING EVERY DAY.

>> WOMEN ONLY GAINED THE RIGHT TO WORK WITH THAT DISCRIMINATION BY 50 YEARS AGO.

THANKS TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

BUT WOMEN STILL MAKE UP A FRACTION OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND AVERAGE LOWER WAGES.

SCOTT'S THE CONSTRUCTION IS SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF A WOMAN CAN CHIEF AND ENCOURAGING MORE WOMEN TO CONSIDER A CAREER IN THE INDUSTRY.

>> I SAY CALL ME.

WE'RE HIGH.

THIS IS A FUN CAREER TO BE IN THERE.

SO MUCH TO LEARN SO MUCH TO DO.

LOTS OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.

I SAY DO IT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK.

EVERYONE NOT JUST WOMEN ALONE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF COLLEGE.

BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A WOMAN, YOU KNOW, JOIN OUR TEAM OR JUST THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT TO GIVE.

RIGHT.

AND WE ARE VALUED AND WE ARE SUPPORTED.

>> SO I SAY CALL ME.

FOR WGCU NE I'M KATE CRONIN.

WITH PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN SMITH.

>> COMING UPON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE NATION OF NEPAL FROM A FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WHO LEADS ANNUAL TRIPS TO THE NATION.

WE FIND OUT WHY HE'S READY TO RETURN ONCE AGAIN TO HELP THE COUNTRY RECOVER FROM THE FLOODING THAT HAS DEVASTATED THAT AREA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT LABOR DAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.