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Delivering Hope

For Many Seniors, Meals on Wheels Is More Than a Meal — It’s a Lifeline by REBEKAH PIERCE Meals on Wheels of Polk County offers locals more than just a meal. It offers a lifeline, and not just to the people receiving the meals. Established as a support network for our Polk County communities, the…
Opioid Addiction: Do You Know the Signs?

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care Opioid addiction is one of the biggest concerns here in the U.S. right now. It has affected people across our nation and right here in Central Florida. Central Florida Health Care’s Dr. Amber Popovitz-Gale, a licensed clinical psychologist, has worked extensively with patients struggling with opioid…
Pop Quiz!

Osteoarthritis Can Be a Real Pain in the Joint It’s common for most people to experience pain from time to time, especially as we get older; but if you’re experiencing pain and stiffness in your joints, like your hands or knees, then you may be experiencing osteoarthritis. It’s the most common type of arthritis, but…

Health Impacts of Opioid Addiction on Patients

As a spine surgeon, I routinely see various life-threatening consequences of opioid addiction. These could include severe spinal instability and paralysis that develops from infection, that occurs due to intravenous injections of opioids — by patients who are addicted to opioids. These patients typically started by taking that single initial opioid tablet, and quickly developed…
COVID-19 and the Heart

COVID-19 (coronavirus SARS 2) is obviously an infection that primarily affects the lungs. As we know, this is a pandemic that has affected all our lives. Does it have any cardiac issues directly or indirectly? Direct Problems COVID-19 has been known to cause weakening of the heart in some cases. Thankfully this is rare, but…
Myopia Control in the COVID-19 Era

My weekends are admittedly different now. Before my weekends were filled with time spent with friends, in person, but now they are Zoom calls, Brady Bunch style. We hosted our game night online, and we chat while we bake or make dinner. Even at our practice, we are utilizing the ability to work remotely, and…