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Expanded Footprint

Lakeland Commission Approves New AdventHealth Hospital by PAUL CATALA Christine Konior has lived in South Lakeland for nine years and has a bit of a commute to the nearest hospital should that become necessary. But soon, Konior and her husband, John, will only have about a four-mile drive from their home to get themselves to…
Mammograms Matter

Survivor Turns Breast Cancer Diagnosis Into Mission to Help Others by REBEKAH PIERCE For most of us, celebrating our birthdays means lighting some candles on a cake, perhaps enjoying a nice dinner out with family and friends, or going on a relaxing weekend trip. Caitlyn Grady’s 40th birthday plans looked a lot different last year. …
Take Charge of Your Health This Breast Cancer Awareness Month

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and though it’s widely recognized, its message remains crucial. But breast cancer isn’t the only women’s health concern that gets the spotlight in October. The month is also Menopause Awareness Month. To learn more about these issues, we reached out…

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 disease that involves the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that brings oxygen to the brain gets blocked by a blood clot most commonly. With the oxygen supply to the brain…
Punctal Plugs

Many patients suffer from dry eye, and eye care professionals have many tools at their disposal to help with symptoms. For many patients, over-the-counter lubricating drops such as Blink or Systane can be helpful. It is important to avoid redness relieving drops, as these tend to cause more problems over time. When over-the-counter drops are…
Understanding Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Last year, I wrote about heart failure. At that time, I had said that about half the patients admitted with congestive heart failure have normal systolic function. This is true. The most common way to express heart function is by measuring ejection fraction (EF). This is the proportion of the amount of blood in the…