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Chat and Chew: The end of dieting and the beginning of a healthier year

“I GIVE UP ON DIETS — they don’t work …” It’s a familiar refrain in America. Dr. Joel Fuhrman in his new book, The End of Dieting, explains, “If you eat American food, you will inevitably develop the diseases common in America, will become overweight, and you will eventually develop high blood pressure and high…
Supporting a cause that helps save lives

| We Care Think Pink and the Susan G. Komen Race (or Sleep-in) for the Cure | BREAST CANCER AFFECTS NEARLY one in eight women at some point during their lifetime. However, with proper preventive care, such as annual mammograms, early detection is much more likely; as with all cancers, early detection results in a…
Your allies on the road to weight loss

| How lifestyle changes through medically supervised programs can benefit your waistline and your overall health | AFTER THE INDULGENCES of holiday parties and family gatherings, weight loss may top your list of New Year’s resolutions. As we embrace a new year and new goals, few people engage their doctor during their weight loss journey.…

Signs & symptoms: When your skin needs medical attention

As a surgeon who often treats and cares for patients whose ailments of the skin have gone too long without medical attention, I’d like to talk about the importance of seeing a doctor right away if you find abnormalities on the skin. I hope people can be aware that it is not only important…
Body, mind & spirit: Integrating primary and behavioral care

When you go to the doctor complaining of stomach pain, you probably don’t expect your problem to be depression. But it just may be. When you complain of headache, clumsiness, dizziness, shakiness, blurred vision, tingling around the mouth and seizures, you might expect an anxiety or bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. You may be surprised if…
Mediterranean diet for cardiovascular health

Dr. Sean P. O’Rourke is a board-certified cardiologist at Watson Clinic. With a subspecialty in cardiovascular disease, Dr. O’Rourke often sees patients suffering from heart disease. He took the time to answer some questions about heart disease, which has a higher death rate in Polk County than in the rest of Florida. Health…