Health News

Features

  • Q&A on the most lethal form of dementia

    Q&A on the most lethal form of dementia

    Dr. Gordon J. Rafool shares the symptoms and treatment options of Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America. In Polk, 11.8 percent of Medicare beneficiaries were treated for Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia in 2013, according to Healthy Tampa Bay. We interviewed Dr. Gordon J. Rafool, a geriatrician…

  • Pop Quiz: Establishing a solid oral care foundation

    Pop Quiz: Establishing a solid oral care foundation

    Will your child have a future Filled with healthy smiles? Teeth add to your smile, allow you to enjoy delicious foods, and rip apart that plastic wrap off your new DVD.  However, as a parent, you might be wondering whether you’re setting up proper oral hygiene habits for your child, or if the little tike…

  • To smile or not to smile

    To smile or not to smile

    Dr. Karen Teston and other local experts on oral hygiene and your overall health Some folks are afraid of pain.  Some know they haven’t done a good job of taking care of their teeth, and don’t want to be lectured.  Still others lack cash.  Whatever the reason, many avoid the dentist until an emergency arises.…

Columns

  • Word of Mouth: Facts and myths about wisdom teeth — what you need to know

    Word of Mouth: Facts and myths about wisdom teeth — what you need to know

    WHEN IT COMES to wisdom teeth and myths, the tall tales rank right up there with toads causing warts! You’ll hear a lot of information about wisdom teeth, but not all of it is true.

  • Surgery Facts: Chronic acid reflux? You may have a hernia

    Surgery Facts: Chronic acid reflux? You may have a hernia

    MOST FOLKS associate a hernia with a swelling in the groin or belly, but the term can be broadly applied to any unnatural defect that exists in the body. Hiatal hernias are a type of internal hernia that occurs in the diaphragm, specifically right where the esophagus crosses to the stomach. These hernias don’t present…

  • Medical Advice: Five easy steps to preserve a man’s health

    Medical Advice: Five easy steps to preserve a man’s health

    JUNE IS MEN’S HEALTH MONTH. This is an important time of year to bring heightened awareness to preventable health problems and encourage routine doctor’s visits for early detection and treatment of certain conditions. Some of the leading health concerns among men are heart disease and cancers.

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