Health News
Features
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Taking the Pulse of Polk Healthcare
Access and Population Growth Emerge as Top Challenges at Forum by PAUL CATALA During a recent forum on healthcare issues affecting Lakeland and Polk County, key players in the health community came together to share insight and perspective. About 80 guests attended “Let’s Talk Lkld: Health Care” on March 26 in the Hollis Cancer Center…
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Angels Among Us
Healthcare Facilities Honor Nurses Who Have Gone Above, Beyond Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, caring for physical and mental health alike. Learn more about some of the outstanding nurses in Polk County, including insight into why they chose the profession and what it means to be a “good nurse.” AdventHealth Heart of…
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Something to Smile About
Annual No-Cost Dental Clinic Coming to Lakeland in May by JULIE BUTTERFIELD Although all three of her stepdaughters have beautiful smiles, Skylar Fuller noticed they were smiling with their mouths closed in family photos. That’s not how someone with a great smile like theirs should pose for photos, she remembers thinking. They were using Mom…
Columns
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3 Options for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Management
In the previous two columns, I discussed aneurysms that occur in the aorta situated in the chest cavity. In this article, I will explain the various types of treatment options available for those thoracic aortic aneurysms. In general, outcomes favor endovascular repair over open repair as open repair is associated with higher rates of morbidity…
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Doc, What Are These Floating Things I Am Seeing?
by DANIELA FERNANDEZ, O.D. Floaters are small specks or particles that float within the vitreous humor, which is the gel-like substance that fills the back portion of the eye. These floaters can appear as dots, circles, lines, or cobweb-like shapes that move or drift around as your eyes move. They are particularly noticeable when looking…
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Aortic Dissection: Diagnosis and Management
In the June article, we discussed aortic dissection, its symptoms, and its classification. Let’s discuss other aspects now. Aortic dissection is most commonly diagnosed when the patient presents with tearing chest or back pain that is unrelenting and associated with severely elevated blood pressure. Other signs indicative of various important organs not getting enough oxygen/blood…