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Rheumatological Care Can Be Life-Changing, Especially for Seniors

by MAGGIE THARP Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care How much thought do you give to daily activities like getting dressed, tending to hygiene, and preparing food? If these things are easy for you, the answer is probably “not much.” However, if you experience debilitating pain and joint stiffness, your ability to do these simple…
Pop Quiz! Drilling Down on Dementia

Our brains are responsible for all of our functions—thinking, feeling, and doing—but there’s a chance that your brain can falter in its duties, called dementia. The CDC maintains that approximately 4% to 10% of the US population age 65 and older has dementia. Take our quiz to explore what dementia is, what its symptoms are,…
Tiny Paws, Big Heart

Central Florida Therapy Dog Koda the Fluff Spreads Smiles Worldwide by REBEKAH PIERCEphotos provided by JENA McKINSTRY What’s more adorable than a fluffy Pomeranian sporting hip black sunglasses, jetting around town in a bright red pup-sized convertible? We’ll wait. Koda the Fluff is a registered therapy dog that works with area healthcare facilities, including Orlando…

Brain Attack (Stroke or Mini-stroke): Are You at Risk?

Approximately 700,000 strokes occur in the United States annually. 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 a blood clot most commonly. With the oxygen supply to the brain…
Punctal Plugs

Many patients suffer from dry eye, and eye care professionals have many tools at their disposal to help with symptoms. For many patients, over-the-counter lubricating drops such as Blink or Systane can be helpful. It is important to avoid redness relieving drops, as these tend to cause more problems over time. When over-the-counter drops are…
Understanding Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Last year, I wrote about heart failure. At that time, I had said that about half the patients admitted with congestive heart failure have normal systolic function. This is true. The most common way to express heart function is by measuring ejection fraction (EF). This is the proportion of the amount of blood in the…