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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…

Accidents at Home – What Can I Do?

Accidental injuries in the home account for thousands of ER and office visits in the US every year. The most common are falls. We are all conditioned to call 911 in an emergency, and more people are becoming certified in first-aid and CPR. It’s important to be familiar with some basic principles that can make…
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Children require clear vision to be successful in school and extracurricular activities. As children advance in school, the demand for clear vision increases because they spend more time reading and learning. Vision problems should be addressed at an early age to prevent visual and/or learning difficulties. There are many signs of difficulty with vision that may…
Manual, or Electric Toothbrush?

Brushing your teeth consistently is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a happy and healthy mouth. Gone are the days where the only choice we had to make with our toothbrush was which color or cartoon character we wanted. Now, there is a wide range of manual and electric toothbrushes that all seem…