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Long-term health: Considering your BMI

The importance of discussing your Body Mass Index with your physician Since 2003, Polk Vision has been bringing together community partners to work toward Polk County’s collective vision. Going a step further, several Polk Vision members are working towards reducing the obesity rate in our communities with our Building a Healthier Polk Initiative. Of course,…
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…

April Is Sports Eye Safety Month – Protect Your Vision on the Field & Court

by the Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida Eye Care Team Did you know that 30,000 people are treated for sports-related eye injuries each year? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, these injuries are becoming more common, making eye protection more important than ever. Which Sports Cause the Most Eye Injuries?While many sports pose a risk,…
Medical Management and Treatment of Carotid Stenosis

Let’s talk about medical management of carotid stenosis. Risk factors for carotid artery stenosis are advanced age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and family history of strokes. Most of these factors can be managed by medications and lifestyle changes that include active exercise for 30 minutes or so on…
Understandings the Causes of Strokes and TIAs

Are you at risk for brain attack ( stroke or mini-stroke)? Approximately 700,000 strokes occur each year in the United States Stroke, or brain attack, is a disease that involves the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that brings oxygen to the brain gets blocked by…