Health News

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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…

Publisher’s Note: Affordable Care Act update

As 2013 comes to a close, we can expect major changes to our nation’s healthcare system next year under The Affordable Care Act (ACA). But amidst the inevitable confusion, many still are unable to make concrete decisions regarding their healthcare. With President Barack Obama admitting the law needs changes, we’re left to play the waiting…
PCMA Letter: A Letter of Encouragement

This edition of Central Florida Health News magazine is full of valued insight on how to stay healthy this holiday season— and beyond. You’ll find key observations on home safety during the holiday crunch, managing stress with healthy foods, the fact and fiction about antibiotics, and a killer disease: Pancreatic cancer. As a radiation oncologist,…
Pancreatic Cancer update

National Research and Local Alliance Efforts Keep Hope from Being Blown Away John Rodda was sitting to dinner with his wife, Becky, when she noticed his eyes were bright yellow. Although he’d had a horrible stomachache a couple of weeks earlier, they didn’t realize it was anything serious. Unknown to them, the Lakeland-based commercial contractor had…