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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…

Healthy Cook: Kid-approved summer snacks with blueberries

WE HAVE A PROBLEM. Too many of our children are overweight or obese. And that can lead to type 2 diabetes. The reasons are easy to figure out. Just look at the youngsters and compare what they are doing now with what kids did in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.
Hospice Help: Wake up, guys! It’s Men’s Health Month

LET’S FACE IT, as men, we find time for a round of golf, making a run to a home improvement store, or spending a Sunday afternoon with our family. But taking care of our health? It ranks low on the list of priorities. This year marks the 21st anniversary of when President Bill Clinton declared…
PCMA Letter: A look at men’s health and a save-the-date item

EVERY JUNE, Men’s Health Month is emphasized across the country with screenings, health fairs, and educational events. These efforts are to help ensure that every male, from boyhood to retirement years, is enlightened about some of the health risks that affect more men than women. Some of these health risks are life-threatening dangers, but the…