Health News

Features

Pop Quiz: Cracking the Code on Hunger

If you’ve made resolutions this New Year, statistics say that one of those resolutions is likely about losing weight and eating healthier. Unfortunately, reports show that not even 10% of resolutions are kept by the end of January! One reason for giving up on resolutions to lose weight is many people don’t understand the science…
Don’t Miss Out on Open Enrollment

Time Is Running Out to Make Changes to Your Coverage by REBEKAH PIERCE The end of the year means holidays and open enrollment. The clock is ticking if you need to sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance through the marketplace. In 2022-2023, Florida led the charge with a record-breaking number of marketplace enrollees…
BayCare Health System Acquires Winter Haven’s Gessler Clinic

by K. MICHELE TRICE BayCare Health System, Central Florida’s largest non-for-profit healthcare provider, is acquiring Gessler Clinic, Winter Haven’s physician-owned health care clinic, effective December 2. “Gessler’s long-standing dedication and high-quality service to its patients make it a natural fit to expand BayCare’s commitment to the community,” BayCare Co-Chief Operating Officer Lou Galdieri said in…

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…