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Aging gracefully

What will your health look like in 40 years? Medical science has made inroads against major diseases that snuff short our lives. But by the time we reach 45, disease beats out accidents as the leading cause of death. The National Vital Statistics System shows cancer is the leading cause of death for 45 to…
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

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…

Word of Mouth: More to lose than just a tooth

MANY ADULTS will lose a tooth or have one pulled at some point in time. While losing a tooth can be a less-than-desirable experience, you and your dentist still have work to do. If you have missing teeth, the sooner you get them replaced, the better.
Healthy Cook: Keep memory sharp with the foods you eat

IF YOU SOMETIMES can’t remember where you put your keys, screw cup hooks inside a cupboard near the garage door. To never have to ask “Why did I come into this room?” live in a one-room house. Both work, but neither is tasty.
Hospice Help: Preparing yourself for the final chapters

EACH AND EVERY DAY, we make hundreds of decisions. We decide what time to wake up in the morning, which shoes to wear, what to have for dinner, or what TV show to watch. But have we taken the time to make a decision that could matter the most? Maybe we have waited and not…