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The Heart of the Matter

Area Physicians Weigh In on ECGs for Student Athletes by PAUL CATALA As the school year ramps up, parents are busy lining up appointments so their student athletes can get their sports physicals. Over the past decade, there’s been increased interest in the incorporation of electrocardiogram heart screenings in these physicals. An electrocardiogram, or ECG,…
When Heroes Need Help

New Initiative Seeks to Connect Veterans and First Responders With Mental Health Resources by RYAN MILEJCZAK A new initiative here in Central Florida seeks to help veterans and first responders struggle with mental health challenges. The Heroes Wellness Collective, launched by Lake Wales-based Operation Recovery, seeks to create a centralized, online platform that connects veterans…
A Different Kind of First Aid

Peace River Center Offers Mental Health First Aid by REBEKAH PIERCE An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This timeless adage is something we think about often when it comes to our physical health, but not necessarily what’s going on inside our heads. Yet the reality is that, in 2024, mental health…

Colon Cancer: Knowledge is Power

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If caught early, colorectal cancer is 90 percent curable. If precancerous polyps are found during screening, the disease is often altogether preventable. New guidelines: Get screened at 45. Men and women are affected equally by colorectal cancer. For patients of average risk with no family history, it is…
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 eye health consequences. Approximately 25% of men and 10% of women are affected, but unfortunately, 80% of these are undiagnosed. High rates of undiagnosed patients may be due to the fact that the best test, a polysomnography sleep study, is…