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How a life-saving transplant transformed my life

| Annemarie Ward shares her journey of keeping hope alive amidst heart disease | NEARLY 15 YEARS AGO, Annemarie Ward was walking the family’s three dogs with her mother Polly and sister Emily when she collapsed. At age seven, Annemarie had suffered a heart attack. She was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or enlargement of the…
Pop Quiz: Maintaining optimal optical health

| Understanding the causes of low vision and taking precautions as you age | EYESIGHT is a precious thing, and unfortunately there are many threats to optimal optical health. One common eye problem is low vision, and it affects seniors the most. Low vision, in its simplest terms, is any vision loss that interferes with…
Celebrating Black History Month with a look at local African-Americans in medicine

ALEX ALEXANDER Registered Nurse Bartow Regional Medical Center As a black registered nurse from North Carolina, 56-year-old Alex Alexander has had his run-ins with prejudice. But he’s learned to remember who he is, treat others like his brothers and sisters, forgive, and … not believe everything he hears. “You earn things by your merit and…

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 Lake Wales Medical Center have joined the health system as AdventHealth Heart of Florida and AdventHealth Lake Wales. This acquisition includes both hospitals’ related businesses, physician clinic operations and outpatient services. AdventHealth is also welcoming more than1,200 new employees to…
Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States in adults. Over the past several years, the incidence of diabetes has grown as well as the rate of vision loss due to the disease. Diabetes can cause many eye problems. Here are three important things every diabetic should know to help preserve their…
Holiday Tips for a Healthy Smile

Holiday season is fast approaching, and with it all the treats and goodies that are synonymous with the season. At Winter Haven Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we want to help you protect your teeth throughout the year, without forsaking the tasty foods and beverages that will be offered over the next few months. Here are…