Approximately 700,000 strokes occur in the United States annually. Stroke, or brain attack, is a ...

Hearing that you may have a sight-threatening visual condition is scary to hear. So let’s ...

Cryosurgery is the use of extreme cold to treat medical conditions. It works by freezing ...

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk ...

by Anisa Patail, O.D. February is here, and Valentine’s Day is around the corner! We ...

For a long time, treatment of deep venous thrombosis centered on anticoagulation alone. Depending on ...

by Julia King, O.D. Dry eye disease, or dry eye syndrome, is a condition that ...

Knowing your skin type isn’t always easy, but it is essential knowledge to have when ...

Deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people but thankfully ...

If you’re self-conscious about the appearance of your chin and neck area, Kybella might be ...

By: Edward Attaway, O.D. Bell’s Palsy is a condition in which one side of the ...

Hives are itchy patches of skin that turn into swollen, itchy welts. They can vary ...

Lymphedema is largely a clinical diagnosis. When you see a vascular surgeon for the first ...

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States in adults. November is ...

Lymphedema, which is swelling caused by obstruction or reflux in the lymphatic vessels, is one ...

by DR. SELINA LIN Did you know that countless medical conditions can be detected during ...

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical treatment used to treat precancerous cells, as well as ...

September is Peripheral Arterial Disease awareness month. PAD is a chronic condition affecting 20 million ...

By: Dr. David Loewy While aging is a fact of life that one cannot escape, ...

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes red, scaly, itchy patches of skin ...

Looking for more youthful, fresh, glowing skin? If you don’t have time to let your ...

Last month, I talked about why a patient might need to undergo arteriovenous fistula surgery. ...

Children require clear and comfortable vision to be successful in school and extracurricular activities. ...

Your kidneys remove excess water and waste products from your body.  When the kidneys start ...

by Damon Welch M.D. & Daniel Welch M.D.   Cataract surgery is an extremely successful ...

Folliculitis is a skin condition in which hair follicles become inflamed. However, it has a ...

Actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, is a skin condition that, when left untreated, ...

More than 25% of American seniors have diabetes, and 10% to 15% of people with ...

By: Chelsea Hollier, O.D. Routine eye exams can help your eye doctor prevent, diagnose, and ...

Alopecia, or hair loss, can leave men and women alike struggling to accept their changing ...

This is the last part of the series focusing on lifestyle management for the prevention ...

Many eye disorders can be treated effectively with eye drops and products found over the ...

Spring is such a lovely time! We hope everyone has gotten used to the time ...

Patients who present with a diabetes history are worried about their vision.  If the patient ...

Experiencing a skin condition can be a little unnerving, especially if you’re not sure what ...

Melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer that comes from cells known as melanocytes. ...

A Paradox Gritty, sandy, scratchy watery? Can all those words be used to describe dry ...

Loving ourselves and taking care of our health to prevent or delay the onset of ...

In the previous two issues, we addressed smoking cessation and the importance of sugar control. ...

There are many types of vision problems that can affect your eyesight. The focus of ...

Acne is known to be common among teenagers, but it can affect individuals for years, ...

Happy New Year! This is the second part of our series focusing on lifestyle management ...

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that affect the optic nerve of the eye. It ...

Time takes its toll on all of us, and it would be nice if we ...

Many adults struggle with acne scarring, whether left over from their teenage years or as ...

Your annual well-woman exam is crucial to your whole health. So, what should you be ...

“There’s a fly in my soup!” No wait, that’s not a fly. It’s a floater. ...

I cannot really believe that the holidays are upon us already. This year has been ...

October may be National Diabetes Month, but for me as an eye doctor, every month ...

Many people injure themselves simply because they do not stretch. A survey showed that more ...

Shingles is a contagious virus (varicella zoster) that results in a painful rash. The virus ...

Cancer is always a frightening diagnosis, and knowing that the disease can spread from one ...

We’ve talked about what Peripheral Arterial Disease is in previous columns. Now, let’s look at ...

According to new information released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), breast ...

We’ve talked about what Peripheral Arterial Disease is in previous columns. Now, let’s look at ...

Pain and loss of mobility in the joints of the leg due to arthritis can ...

There are few things in life as scary as learning that you have cancer. At ...

Contact lenses may look like simple pieces of plastic, but actually, they are medical devices.  ...

As we move further into the 21st century, more and more of the amazing things ...

National Concussion Awareness Day is September 17. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the ...

Despite the recent rain, we residents of the Sunshine State still make time to enjoy ...

It should come as no big surprise that simply living in Florida puts you at ...

Last month, I explained what an aortic aneurysm is, how it can be detected, its ...

An aneurysm is a “weakening” or “dilatation” in a part of an artery. An estimated ...

Musculoskeletal oncology is a branch of orthopedic surgery that specializes in diagnosing and treating tumors ...

Vaccines are one of the best ways to reduce your risk of illness and the ...

Children require clear and comfortable vision to be successful in school and extracurricular activities. They ...

Rosacea is a fairly common dermatological condition that can affect anyone of any age. It ...

This is the last of our three-part back pain series. So far, we have talked ...

When we think of summer, images of beaches, theme parks, and outdoor sports and activities ...

We’ve all heard it: “This is a pain in the butt,” right? As with most ...

Diabetes affects millions of people in the U.S. It is one of the most common ...

Summertime feels a little bit different this year, and going back to school might feel ...

In Central Florida, we are blessed with sunny days for about two-thirds of the year. ...

Lower back pain and sciatica can be a life-changing event.  There can be a lot ...

June is Hernia Awareness Month and to help educate you on what a hernia is, ...

Once in a while, a patient will tell me that a previous doctor told them ...

The heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. These valves ...

AdventHealth Heart of Florida is honored to have been recognized by the National Accreditation Program ...

Approximately 700,000 strokes occur in the United States annually. Stroke or brain attack is a ...

Many patients suffer from dry eye, and eye care professionals have many tools at their ...

Last year, I wrote about heart failure. At that time, I had said that about ...

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that affect the optic nerve of the eye. It ...

Expert care can get you there. We all hope to be able to walk, run ...

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If caught early, colorectal cancer is 90 percent ...

Spider Veins vs. Varicose Veins ...

Sleep apnea is a common but often undiagnosed disorder that has potentially serious general and ...

Age-Related Macular Degeneration, AMD, is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over the ...

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to wreak havoc around the world, with 88 million confirmed ...

While most people are familiar with the devastating consequences of smoking on their lungs (COPD, ...

Eye doctors are excited this year with 2021 rolling in. It’s an excellent opportunity for ...

Cataracts are the most treatable form of blindness worldwide. Millions of cataract surgeries are performed ...

Last month I discussed the role of lipids in atherosclerosis. This month, I’ll talk about ...

Last time we spoke of the various factors that play a part in plaque buildup ...

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States in adults. November is ...

Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on your ...

Knock knocktrick or treat A lot of your neighbors might be tempted to choose trick ...

A cryptogenic stroke (CS) is defined as cerebral ischemia of obscure or unknown origin. The ...

Medically a stye is called a hordeolum.  If we look at the eyelid’s anatomy, particularly ...

A stroke is when blood flow to a part of your brain is stopped either by a ...

Children require clear, comfortable vision to be successful in school and extracurricular activities. We use ...

A cataract is where the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. This is ...

In this column, I’ll talk about the varied tests done in cardiology in general and ...

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is among the most common conditions we see in our patients ...

Chronic pain syndrome involves both the body and the mind, resulting in brain chemistry changes ...

The new coronavirus sweeping the world has changed life as we know it. While there ...

As a spine surgeon, I routinely see various life-threatening consequences of opioid addiction. These could ...

COVID-19 (coronavirus SARS 2) is obviously an infection that primarily affects the lungs. As we ...

My weekends are admittedly different now. Before my weekends were filled with time spent with ...

There are 16 ounces in 1 pound; but it is true today, as it was ...

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular rhythm from the upper part of the heart. It is ...

Refractive error is the term used to describe the need for glasses or contact lenses ...

Pacemakers and defibrillators have become so common. Everyone has questions and concerns about these. Here ...

What do Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, and Chris Farley have in common? These are celebrities ...

Age-Related Macular Degeneration, AMD, is a leading cause of vision loss in adults over the ...

By Chukwuka Okafor, MD, MBA, CIME, FAAOS On Thursday October 26, 2017, the Department of ...

Congestive Heart Failure: the term conjures up visions of a death sentence. And, understandably so. ...

Eye doctors are excited this year with 2020 rolling in. It’s an excellent opportunity for ...

Heart health should be an aspect of personal healthcare that we are all concerned about. ...

As you decide on your new year’s resolutions and goals, you should also consider your ...

Not everyone is blessed with perfect teeth. Sometimes things happen that detract from our smile. ...

Though we love this time of year, it can be pretty stressful. Crazy schedules. Financial ...

Dry eye is one of the most common conditions that we deal with in eye ...

Losing your teeth can be a painful and traumatic experience, whether it’s due to age, ...

Effective September 1, 2019, the 193-bed Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center and the 160-bed ...

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States in adults. Over the ...

Holiday season is fast approaching, and with it all the treats and goodies that are ...

Common visual symptoms of floaters present themselves in my office on a daily basis and ...

Now that the kids are back in school, autumn is just around the corner! Fall ...

While aging is a fact of life we cannot escape, there are certain measures that ...

Diabetes mellitus is a well-known disease in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal. ...

Very often I see patients who have swellings or lumps in the neck and their ...

It’s hard to believe August is already here. Where has summer gone? With family vacations ...

Children require clear vision in each eye and both eyes working together properly to be ...

  On June 6, Central Florida Health Care held their Teaching Kitchen Workshop focused on ...

Hair loss, baldness, or alopecia is often a concern raised by both male and female ...

By:  Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan With the nice weather of summer, school being out, and ...

By: Daniel Smith, O.D. With the Fourth of July festivities quickly approaching, it is important ...

With Summer officially in full swing, that means hot temperatures, pool days, and family vacations! ...

by DR. JOY JACKSON As the temperature begins to rise outside and the water begins ...

by GERALD V. CERDAN, DMD   One little known fact about wisdom teeth: While many ...

Dr. Tincy Thomas Healthy vision involves several different elements including preventive eye care and appropriate ...

By William Nerestant, DDS With June here, that means the Florida summer heat is back ...

by SANJA COSIC, MD   We have several locations throughout Polk, Highlands, and Hillsborough counties ...

By Shiva Seetahal, MD Cholesterol is a word everyone is familiar with but few can ...

by GERALD V. CERDAN, DMD Biting and chewing your food.  It’s something we do every ...

by ARCHANA ANTONY, DDS It’s not easy, but somebody has to do it.  If you ...

Dr. Trishanna Sookdeo Diverticular disease describes the formation of small pouches in the large intestinal ...

By William Nerestant, DDS With the weather getting hotter and hotter, the summer months are ...

By David Loewy, MD Refractive surgery is designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and ...

With one in every five Americans having some kind of allergy, it’s pretty common. There ...

Whenever I tell a patient that he or she has cataracts they immediately ask if ...

Biting and chewing your food.  It’s something we do every day and without thinking.  That’s ...

The month of April is considered National Oral Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society’s ...

Making the effort to exercise regularly is an admirable pursuit. Physical activity can play a ...

We’re now three months into 2019, and if you can’t remember the last time you ...

The gift of sight is one of our most valued senses and often not paid ...

by GERALD V. CERDAN, DMD If the tint of your teeth has you hesitating to ...

by KIMBER VASQUEZ, MD With our deep roots in the Central Florida community and with ...

Did you know over 2 million Americans are affected by glaucoma? With proper treatment, the ...

Did you know that your race or ethnicity can put you at higher risk for ...

If you or a loved one struggles with heart disease, you probably already know that ...

While aging is a fact of life that one cannot escape, there are certain measures ...

Investing in your personal health should always be one of your top priorities. For this ...

In previous columns we explored the gallbladder and its role in digestion. What we have ...

by GERALD V. CERDAN, DMD It’s the New Year and I’ve already spoken with many ...

The holiday season is a time of catching up with friends and family and spending ...

The majority of vision problems that interfere with reading and learning are easily treatable. Even ...

As we say goodbye to 2018 and ring in the new year, what better time ...

As we usher in the new year, many plan to make health and wellness a ...

The holiday season is a time of catching up with friends and family and spending ...

by GERALD V. CERDAN, DMD Since this is the Health & Beauty Edition and the ...

The holiday season is upon us and for many, it is a time of indulgence ...

When it’s cold outside, exposed skin isn’t the only part of your body that can ...

Refractive surgery is designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism to effectively reduce ...

By DAWN C. HILL, DNP, ARNP, CDE Central Florida Health Care IF YOU ARE wondering whether ...

The flu season is here again and with it concerns for protecting not only ourselves ...

Yahira Ferrer, Dental Assistant October is National Dental Hygiene Month, an effort to celebrate the ...

What happens when you get a few people around a table who are looking for a ...

Having bad breath is something that is a reality for millions of Americans. Researchers estimate ...

Diabetes is a disease that affects small blood vessels throughout the body. The retina is ...

by GERALD V. CERDAN, DMD Modern dental care has made some amazing advances in recent ...

Breast cancer is one of those conditions which frightens everyone just by the mention of ...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. To honor that I wanted to discuss some facts ...

Luz Cubero-Perez Dental Assistant, Haines City Dental Having a healthy smile is important for your ...

By Neil J. Okun, M.D. Board Certified Ophthalmologist   Macular Degeneration affects one in five ...

Halloween is fast approaching meaning mounds of sugar-filled candy from trick-or-treating are soon to be ...

Heading Polk County’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign a Personal Crusade for Kia Troutman ...

Polk County nutritionist at Central Florida Health Care shares how he helps patients make smarter ...

The connection between mental health and overall health is under-researched in the medical community, and ...

Refractive surgery is designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism to effectively reduce ...

Bridges and crowns are both great tools to help improve your smile if you have ...

Ever too often, I encounter patient who are diabetic and practice blood sugar monitoring only. ...

Here are some facts about the benefits of breastmilk from the medical staff at Central ...

Before you schedule your child’s back-to-school physical during Back to School Week at Central Florida ...

It is almost that time of the year again, when children all over the country ...

Accidental injuries in the home account for thousands of ER and office visits in the ...

Children require clear vision to be successful in school and extracurricular activities. As children advance ...

Brushing your teeth consistently is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a happy ...

Are you living your best life? Staying youthful? Part of living your best life is ...

To understand how the mouth can affect the body, it helps to understand what can ...

Does your child struggle with reading or schoolwork? He or she may benefit from a ...

A concerning complaint from patients, that causes grave concern is that of rectal bleeding ., ...

The Fourth of July is a time of great celebration, and no one wants the ...

You may have heard of the Annual Wellness Visit and wondered, “Is that something I ...

While aging is a fact of life that one cannot escape, there are certain measures ...

Your smile is one of the first things people notice when they see you and ...

Local Firefighter Named EMT of the Year After Heroic Actions by TERESA SCHIFFER Superheroes don’t ...

Diverticulitis is a disease that affects the GI tract, primarily the colon. It increases with ...

Oral health is of the utmost importance, but unfortunately, many people don’t understand the link ...

Your yearly physical is an important part of your health care regimen, but that’s not ...

Whether you call it seasonal allergies, allergic rhinitis or hay fever, it affects millions of ...

When an elderly parent starts hearing music that isn’t there, or seeing objects that aren’t ...

by DR. JEFFREY EPSTEIN You may be wondering what exactly an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) ...

By Heather Hafner, Patient Relations Coordinator, Haines City Dental Most of us have times when ...

by WILLIAM NERESTANT, DDS Dreams can be confusing and intense experiences, and those that involve ...

by William Corkins, O.D. Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida Whenever I tell a patient that he ...

by Trent Rowe, Food Editor This month’s Recipe Spotlight is focused on the Easter Holiday. ...

Everyone knows that cavities are caused by too much sugar and poor oral care like ...

When you are sick or injured, the last thing on your mind is the cost. ...

You’ve had a physical, you’ve had your eyes checked, and your hearing.  You have gone ...

Maintaining a healthy body weight can be frustrating – trying to balance sensible eating with ...

Did you know over 2 million Americans are affected by glaucoma? With proper treatment, the ...

A festering wound on the leg or foot can result in amputation, but advanced treatments ...

Everyone loves the family pet, especially children.  Dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, fish, whatever the friend ...

As I write this column, our grand opening party is just around the corner, and ...

Your feet shouldn’t hurt.  When painful feet prevent you from walking, running or wearing shoes ...

If you’re like most people, you want your smile to be as white as possible, ...

We all want our children to be healthy and active, so what do you do ...

Wine is a favorite beverage of many people, and the various studies indicating wine’s heart ...

Do you know your health numbers? There are four numbers that can help paint a ...

Pilonidal cysts and sinuses are conditions that occur from hairs growing downward into the skin ...

Physicians assess patient levels of exercise at least once a year with the adult well ...

This New Year’s, we want to switch it up a bit and challenge all of ...

Dr. Tutu Cheng Talks About the Rewards of Helping Patients Renew their Confidence Dr. Tutu ...

MARCH IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH, and The Florida Department of Health in Polk County is ...

NOT ALL MOUTHS are created equal, and not all oral concerns are the same. It’s ...

SPRINGTIME IN CENTRAL FLORIDA is beautiful. Temperatures are pleasant and the warm breezes carry the ...

FLOSSING is an important part of any oral care routine, and experts advise you do ...

EASTER IS A TIME of rejoicing for Christians all over the world. It’s a time ...

THE THYROID GLAND is a butterfly shaped organ that sits in the lower front of ...

DENTAL HEALTH is important at any age, but it’s especially true for our senior populations. ...

IN MY FAMILY, there is a history of a blood disease, which causes the person ...

DRIVING OFFERS freedom and self-sufficiency to us all, but there could come a time when ...

ONE OF THE BEST and easiest paths to good health is through healthy eating and ...

HERE WE GO AGAIN. It’s that time of year when we look at our waistlines ...

ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, we hosted our inaugural Central Florida Health Expo. We’re pleased to ...

THE FLU is especially common during the winter months and can be a dangerous illness, ...

NARCISSISTIC ABUSE is one of the most prevalent reasons people seek counseling. Because we live ...

RARELY DO WE have the chance to start over, but when it comes to health, ...

IF YOU’VE READ the fitness story in this edition of Central Florida Health News, then ...

YOU’VE LIKELY MADE resolutions to change bad habits when it comes to diet and exercise, ...

THE HOLIDAYS are a joyous time when we visit senior family members who we might ...

THE RESULTS are in: seniors who lead an active lifestyle are healthier, live longer, and ...

MORE THAN 50 MILLION adults suffer from arthritis, and there are 100 different types and ...

NOVEMBER is American Diabetes Month. It’s a time when the American Diabetes Association (ADA) works ...

AS WE ENTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON, the excitement of fall festivals, family gatherings, and holiday ...

For better bones, activity, bone density, and calcium intake are key BONES … The framework ...

Jessica Maxwell, ARNP, offers insight from the front lines of the weight-loss battle LESS THAN ...

WHEN A HEADACHE HITS, it can prove to be debilitating. Headaches often come with sensitivity ...

AS A MOTHER, you experience so many emotions on the first day of school. You ...

AS FLORIDA’S LATE-AFTERNOON showers continue to roll in, the standing water around our homes, schools, ...

IF YOU NEED CONFIDENCE, one of the quickest ways to achieve it is to look ...

THE 5-2-1-0 CAMPAIGN was designed to curb childhood obesity by encouraging healthy habits. The message ...

FLOSSING LIKELY IS NOT your favorite part of your oral routine, but it’s necessary for ...

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, then come early July you were already thinking about preparations ...

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Polk County (DOH-Polk) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program ...