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Painting the town red with heart disease prevention

How Polk is taking steps to increase awareness and lower your risk Bill Mutz thought he was just going to help with a demonstration when he volunteered for an ultrasound at a Lakeland Leadership Cardiology group. But what he learned actually helped him: The ultrasound showed blood was not flowing properly through his heart’s mitral…
New year, New you!

How Polk County is Tackling Obesity and Residents are Making Healthier Lifestyle Choices Fifty-one year-old Ann Good topped 200 pounds last May. She lacked energy and was short of breath. Concerned about a family history of heart disease and diabetes, she decided to act. Today Good is 50 pounds lighter and breathing easier, in more…
Pop Quiz: Could it be premature menopause?

Is it just the after-effects of the holiday rush getting to you, or are you encountering possible symptoms of premature menopause? It’s definitely not easy to be a woman, especially as you age. Yet, could the unusual hot flashes, mood swings and feminine “discomfort” you are feeling be the precursor for premature menopause? Find out…

Body, Mind & Spirit: Restoring confidence while reconstructing the breast

Reconstruction of a breast that has been removed due to cancer or other disease, in my experience, is one of the most rewarding surgical procedures. New medical techniques have made it possible for us to create a breast that can come close in form and appearance to matching a natural breast. Frequently, reconstruction is possible…
Beyond breast cancer: Looking after your health

You’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and undergone the first phase of treatment: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy. Now comes the next step in your journey: taking good care of yourself, monitoring your health, and learning habits to promote good health for the long run. As a breast cancer survivor, healthy habits and…
Publisher’s Note: Will the Medicaid overhaul favor certain FL-based HMOs?

It seems only yesterday it was August 2, when hundreds of pages describing the Florida Medicaid overhaul were released. The goal of this overhaul is to shift Medicaid beneficiaries into “managed-care plans” by 2013 while using a heavily debated pilot program until then to set the wheels in motion. But which companies stand to benefit most…