Columns

Brain Attack, Stroke, and Mini-Stroke: Are You at Risk?

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

My Doctor Says I’m a Glaucoma Suspect – Now What?

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

Cryosurgery is a common practice in dermatology

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

The #1 health epidemic in the United States

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

There’s more than meets the (red) eye

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

Treatment Options for Deep Venous Thrombosis

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

Dry Eye Disease Not So Cut and Dry

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

Your Skin Type Can Offer Clues for Care

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

Risk Factors for Deep Vein Thrombosis

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

Kybella Injections Target Fat in Chin, Neck 

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

What is Bell’s Palsy?

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

When Do You Visit the Doctor for Hives?

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

A Closer Look at the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphedema

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

Diabetic Eye Disease By Terrance Hafner, O.D.

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

Lymphedema Is a Common Cause of Swelling

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

Your Eyes Are the Windows to Your Health

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

Photodynamic Therapy Effective in Fight Against Skin Cancer

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

Risk Factors for Peripheral Arterial Disease

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

Protect Your Vision as You Age

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

Seborrheic Dermatitis: A Complicated Name for a Common Condition

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

For Brighter Skin, Choose Microdermabrasion

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

How Are AV Fistulas and Grafts Formed?

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

August Is Children’s Eye Health/Safety Month

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

Kidneys and Your Vascular Health

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

Reducing the Need for Glasses at the Time of Cataract Surgery

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

Are You Suffering From Folliculitis?

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

Actinic Keratosis: What It Is and How to Treat It

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

Key Steps for Preventing Amputations

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

Action Plan for Healthy Vision

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

Platelet-Rich Plasma Can Prompt Hair Regrowth

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

Cholesterol a Big Factor in Vascular Health 

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

Demystifying the Eyedrop Aisle

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

The Role of Exercise in Vascular Disease Prevention

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

Doc, I Have Type II Diabetes. Will I Go Blind?

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

Itchy Skin? It Could Be Psoriasis or Eczema

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

Is It Melanoma? Learn the Warning Signs

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

A Watery Dry Eye

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

The Link Between Obesity, Vascular Disease

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

Hypertension and Vascular Disease

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

Common Vision Problems

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

You Have Options When It Comes to Treatment of Acne

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

Sugar Control and Vascular Disease

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

7 Ways to Save Money on Your Glaucoma Drops

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

How Do Neuromodulators Fight Signs of Aging?

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

Treatments Can Help Diminish Acne Scars

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

What to Ask Your GYN at Annual Check-Ups

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

“There’s a fly in my soup!”

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

The Connection Between Lifestyle, Vascular Disease

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

Diabetes — the Leading Cause of Blindness

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

Protect Your Joints and Help Your Golf Game

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

Diagnosis and Treatment of Shingles

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

Understanding Metastatic Bone Disease

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

Operative Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease

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

Breast Cancer Surpasses Lung Cancer as Most Common

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

What Is Peripheral Arterial Disease?

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

Revision Surgery After Total Joint Replacement

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

Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer

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

Contact Lens Care

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

Robotics Help Refine Hip, Knee Replacement

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

Unmasking the ‘Invisible Injury’: Knowing Concussion Signs Saves Lives

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

Happiness Happens… in the Sun!

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

Skin Cancer Screening a Necessity for Floridians

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

Diagnosis and Treatment Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

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

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

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

What Is Musculoskeletal Oncology?

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

Reducing Your Health Risks With Vaccines

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

August Is Children’s Eye Health/Safety Month

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

Learn How to Spot, Treat Rosacea

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

Herniated Disks in the Lower Back

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

July is UV Safety Month

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

Understanding Tailbone and Pelvic Pain

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

The Dangers of Diabetes

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

Get Ahead of the Class: Making the Most of Your Child’s Back to School Physical

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

Enjoy the Summer Wisely

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

Lower Back Pain and Sciatica: Where to Start

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

Understanding Hernias

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

“Doc, I Was Told I Have Granulated Eyelids”

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

Understanding Valvular Heart Disease

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

AdventHealth Heart of Florida Receives National Breast Cancer Accreditation

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

Brain Attack (Stroke or Mini-stroke): Are You at Risk?

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

Punctal Plugs

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

Understanding Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

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

7 Ways to Save Money on Your Glaucoma Drops

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

Stay strong with healthy hips

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

Colon Cancer: Knowledge is Power

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

Varicose Veins and When to Seek help

Spider Veins vs. Varicose Veins ...

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Eye

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

February Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month

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

Vascular Manifestations of COVID-19

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

Smoking Can Lead to Amputations

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

Glaucoma and Dry Eyes

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

Understanding Cataract Surgery

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

Treatments That Help Lower Cholesterol

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

The Role of Lipids in Atherosclerosis

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

Diabetic Eye Disease

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

Atherosclerosis

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

Halloween Eye Safety

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

A Closer Look at Cryptogenic Stroke

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

HOW DID I GET THIS STYE?

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

Types of Strokes

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

Vision and Learning

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

Are You Considering Cataract Surgery?

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

Cardiac Testing in a COVID-19 World

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

What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?

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

Evidence-Based Strategies for Achieving Effective Results in Chronic Pain Treatment:

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

Virtual Care for Cardiac Patients

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

Health Impacts of Opioid Addiction on Patients

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

COVID-19 and the Heart

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

Myopia Control in the COVID-19 Era

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

Journey from Initial Opioid Use ???? Opioid Dependence ???? Addiction

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

Atrial Fibrillation: What You Need to Know

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

Refractive Surgery – What does it mean?

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

Gaining a Better Understanding of Pacemakers and Defibrillators

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

Use of Opioids as First-Line Treatment a Slippery Slope

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

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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

THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC: STILL A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

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

Living With Heart Failure

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

Glaucoma and Dry Eyes

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

Oral hygiene and Heart Health

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

Learn About LASIK and Other Refractive Procedures

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

Dental Implants Help You Look Your Best

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

Have a Heart Healthy Holiday

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

How can my eyes be dry if they are watering all the time?

Dry eye is one of the most common conditions that we deal with in eye ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

Dental Implants Can Help You Save Face

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

Whole-Person Health Care is Now in Polk County

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

Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States in adults. Over the ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

Holiday Tips for a Healthy Smile

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

Floaters in Your Vision

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

Fall Treats Your Teeth Will Enjoy, Too

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

Protect Your Eyes

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

Diabetes Mellitus: It’s not just about the sugar!

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

Lumps in the Neck – Should I be Concerned?

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

Back to School Oral Health Tips

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

Children’s Eye Health

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

Central Florida Health Care Hosts Teaching Kitchen Workshop

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

Getting to the Root of the Problem

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

When Summertime Sports Lead to Dental Dilemmas

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

Important Firework Safety Reminders

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

Oral Hygiene Travel Tips

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

Drowning Prevention

by DR. JOY JACKSON As the temperature begins to rise outside and the water begins ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

Wisdom Teeth Facts to Brush By

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

Proper Preventative Eye Care

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

Kickoff Summer with Clean Teeth!

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

Celebrating Our New Pediatric Center with a Free Summerfest and These Safety Tips

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

Cholesterol and Healthy Eating

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

A Cautionary Tale for Frequent Biting, Grinding, or Clenching

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

Caring for Your Kid’s Teeth

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

Diverticular Disease

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

Teeth Whitening

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

Learn About LASIK and Other Refractive Procedures

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

Is It a Virus or Allergies?

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

The “Ripe” Time for Cataract Surgery

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

A Cautionary Tale for Frequent Biting, Grinding, or Clenching

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

Oral Cancer Awareness Month

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

What Counts as Exercise?

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

The Importance of Regular Cleanings

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

Taking Care of Your Eyes

The gift of sight is one of our most valued senses and often not paid ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

The Facts About Whitening Your Teeth at Home

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

Our Commitment to Providing Care for Migrant Patients and the Local Community

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

Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight

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

Minorities are at a Higher Risk for Heart Health Problems

Did you know that your race or ethnicity can put you at higher risk for ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

Dental Care Reminders for Patients with Heart Conditions or History of Stroke

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

Advice for Aging Eyes

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

Love Your Oral Hygiene This Valentine’s Day

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

Persistent Stomach Aches? You May Have Gallstones

In previous columns we explored the gallbladder and its role in digestion. What we have ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

Are Dental Problems Hindering Your Weight Loss?

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

It Takes a Community to Heal A Warrior

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

Does your child struggle with reading or schoolwork?

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

New Year, Healthy Mouth

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

Get Going Into The New Year

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

It Takes a Community to Heal A Warrior

The holiday season is a time of catching up with friends and family and spending ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

Three Reasons to Smile This Holiday Season

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

Heartburn and the Holidays

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

Oral Hygiene Tips for the Cooler Months

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

Learn About LASIK and Other Refractive Procedures

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

Pre-Diabetes and the Type 2 Diabetes Struggle is Real— You Don’t Have to Manage It Alone

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

Fighting the Flu

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

Oral Hygiene Routines

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

Collaborative Psychology and Medicine

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

How to Get Rid of Bad Breath

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

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes is a disease that affects small blood vessels throughout the body. The retina is ...
Dr. Gerald V. Cerdan

Crowns in One Day? Yes, it’s Possible with CEREC Technology

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

Support Systems and Cancer

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

Facts About Breast Cancer

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

Avoid Stained Teeth with These Helpful Tips

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

Macular Degeneartion (AMD)

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

Don’t Let Your Teeth Get Scary this Halloween

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

Health Hero: Kia Troutman

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

5 Ways to Help with Smarter Nutrition

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

Oral Hygiene and Your Mental Health

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

LASIK and Other Popular Refractive Procedures

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

Bridging the Gap Between a Healthy and Unhealthy Smile

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

Diabetes Mellitus: Not Just About Controlling Your Blood Sugar

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

Benefits of Breastfeeding Your Baby

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

The Difference Between a Sports Versus School Physical

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

Back to School Checkups

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

Accidents at Home – What Can I Do?

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

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

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

Manual, or Electric Toothbrush?

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

A PEAK Annual Wellness Visit Preserves Youth

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

Mouth – Body Connection

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

Eye Exams for Your Child

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

Bleeding with a Bowel Movement

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

Tips to Keep Your Mouth Happy During 4th of July Celebrations

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

Peak AWC: Your Personal Inspectors

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

Healthy Aging

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

Getting Back Your Smile

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

Health Hero

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

Diverticulosis or Diverticulitis

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

Common Myths Regarding Oral Health

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

Annual Wellness Visit Provides Comprehensive Screening

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

All about Allergies

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

Lake Wales Medical Center’s Golden Care Unit is filling a need for behavioral health care specifically aimed at seniors.

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

What is the Annual Wellness Visit?

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

Benefits of CareCredit

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

What Dreams About Your Teeth Falling Out Might Really Mean

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

The “Ripe” Time for Cataract Surgery

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

Recipe Spotlight: Lamb and Barley Soup & Easter Ham

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

Risk Factors for Cavities that May Surprise You

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

Urgency Versus Emergency: Know the Difference!

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

Three Great Reasons to Schedule Your Annual Wellness Visit

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

The Thyroid Gland and Weight Loss

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

Glaucoma: The Silent Thief of Sight

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

Dr. Narmo Ortiz Offers Advanced Treatments for Infected Wounds

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

Tips for Helping Relieve Your Child’s Pet Allergy in the Home

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

A Reason to Celebrate: We’re Here to Help Seniors Lead Healthier Lives

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

A Pain in Your Foot

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

Does Charcoal Toothpaste Really Whiten Teeth?

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

What You Need to Know About Pediatric Heart Murmurs

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

Wine: Good or Bad for Your Teeth?

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

The Four Killer ‘Bs’ of Health

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

Pilonidal Cysts— A Pain in the . . .

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

Exercise and its Benefits

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

Make a Resolution for a Healthy Mouth

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

Heart of Florida Adds Plastic Surgeon to Physician Group

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

Medical Advice: National Nutrition Month challenge — ‘Put Your Best Fork Forward’

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

Word of Mouth: How to know your mouth — and your mouthwash needs

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

Family Health: How to beat peak allergy season in Central Florida

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

Healthcare Buzz: Oral healthcare and your child — back to basics

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

Healthy Cook: A fresh look at meals for Easter time

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

Health Facts: Tired … thinning hair . . . tearful? It may be your thyroid gland

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

Senior Care: Oral hygiene and its importance for your senior loved one

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

Editor’s Dose: Daily steps toward a healthier heart — so you don’t skip a beat

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

Senior Care: Talking to your loved one about senior driving safety

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

Senior Care: Improving the senior lifestyle with a healthy diet and exercise

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

Healthy Cook: Three steps to make positive strides toward portion control

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

Publisher’s Note: Save the dates for these Central Florida Health Expo shows

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

Family Health: Watch for these pneumonia symptoms

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

Mental Health Moment: Recognize and avoid narcissistic abuse

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

Health Facts: Break an old habit for the new year

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

Editor’s Dose: If you take nothing else away from Amanda’s story, remember these three things

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

Word of Mouth: Resolving to be better about dental care

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

Senior Care: Signs of the season to watch for

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

Word of Mouth: Life impacts of dental implants

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

Senior Health: Exercise to ease arthritis pain

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

Editor’s Dose: This is diabetes

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

Holiday tips to help keep the whole family healthy

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

Health Facts: The ABCs of bone health

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

Q&A on the continued care needed to combat childhood obesity

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

Family Health: Is it a headache or migraine?

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

Editor’s Dose: A thank-you note to teachers and educators

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

Medical Advice: Drain and cover reminders to prevent mosquito bites

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

Can giving a compliment impact my confidence?

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

Pedriatic Health: Healthy habits with 5-2-1-0

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

Word of Mouth: The importance of being earnest about flossing

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

Editor’s Dose: Tips for minimizing back-to-school stress

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

Making the choice to breastfeed

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