Health News
Features
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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,…
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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…
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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…
Columns
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Word of Mouth: Myths about implants debunked, part I: Are they practical?
Dental implants are a viable option for most patients experiencing tooth loss. Fused with the patient’s jaw, implants can replace bridges and dentures, and they look and feel very natural. However, there are many myths out there; don’t let these dissuade you of the practicality of dental implants. Myth: I don’t have enough bone. There…
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PCMA Letter: An easy way to find the specialist you need
As you might already know, the 2014 Central Florida Physicians Directory and Medical Professionals Guide was made available early and can be found at convenient medical facilities all around the region, as well as online at www.CentralFloridaHealthNews.com. We published the directory early for several reasons, but one of them was to make sure you have…
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Ask a Nurse: A closer look at Vitamin D deficiencies
As many of us swallow down one, two, three, or even four vitamins and supplements every morning, do you ever stop and think, “Do I really need to take all these vitamins?” Well, more research is being conducted for this very reason. In this column, I’d like to focus on vitamin D. Do you know…
