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Q&A: Facts vs. fiction of male ‘menopause’

Dr. Allan Alberton provides medical insight for men and what to expect during their change of life Menopause can be a traumatic transition for women. But what about men? What can they expect during their change of life? We talked to Dr. Allan Alberton, a board certified family medicine practitioner at Winter Haven’s Bond Clinic,…
Pop Quiz: Knowing your heart disease and stroke risk

Are you controlling those health factors within reach? For men, heart disease and stroke together are responsible for nearly 30 percent of all deaths in the U.S., and many of those are preventable. Every man out there should be aware of the health dangers that can lead to heart disease or stroke. While some contributing…
How chronic pain affects your mood

Q&A with Dr. Edward Lubin on the link between mental illness and pain that lasts longer than six months Chronic pain, which is defined as pain that lasts longer than six months, can be so much more impactful on a patient’s daily life than a seven-word description. The type of pain can vary in frequency…

Publisher’s Note: Update on Florida Health Choices

In early March, www.myfloridachoices.org became live. It is the website devoted to Florida Health Choices (the state’s health insurance marketplace, separate from the federal plans under the Affordable Care Act). The state’s health insurance marketplace offers a few options for discounted plans under dental, vision, telemedicine, and prescription coverage. It’s important to note that this…
Medical Advice: Awareness is key to stopping upward trend of STDs

Every year in April, we observe STD Awareness Month. This is an opportunity for individuals, doctors, and communities to address ways to prevent some of the nearly 20 million sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that occur in the United States each year. Half of all new infections occur among people between the ages of 15 to…
Ask a Nurse: Dental plaque & arterial plaque

Have you ever wondered what the dentist scrapes off of your teeth when you go in for your annual cleaning? Several studies over the past few years have found some surprising results. In 2010, Cornell University and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden collected samples from the mouth, gut, and arteries of 15 heart disease patients.…