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Features

  • Q&A on the most lethal form of dementia

    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

    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…

  • To smile or not to smile

    To smile or not to smile

    Dr. Karen Teston and other local experts on oral hygiene and your overall health Some folks are afraid of pain.  Some know they haven’t done a good job of taking care of their teeth, and don’t want to be lectured.  Still others lack cash.  Whatever the reason, many avoid the dentist until an emergency arises.…

Columns

  • Proper Foot Care Goes a Long Way for Diabetics

    Proper Foot Care Goes a Long Way for Diabetics

    More than 25% of American seniors have diabetes and 10 to 15% of people with diabetes have leg and or foot ulcers. Simple things like managing your diabetes and performing daily foot care can help prevent ulcers, which can be difficult to treat and may eventually require amputation.  More than 80% of amputations begin with…

  • Caution: Certain Eye Drops May Cause You Problems!

    Caution: Certain Eye Drops May Cause You Problems!

    by WILLIAM CORKINS, OD When the FDA approves eye drops, the drops are required to have a preservative added. Most people think a preservative makes the eye drops last longer, which it does not. If I am instilling an eye drop in my eye and I accidentally touch the tip of the bottle to my…

  • There’s More Than Meets the (Red) Eye

    There’s More Than Meets the (Red) Eye

    February is here, and Valentine’s Day is around the corner! We see red hearts everywhere as a sign for the holiday, but let’s talk about what red eyes are a sign for. There are several conditions that can cause this very common finding. Depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing, and the amount/severity of inflammatory signs…

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