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Let’s Talk About Sickle Cell Disease

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care Sickle cell disease may be a familiar phrase to many, but most people are still unfamiliar with the condition. “Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders of the red blood cells,” says Dr. Cara Nelson-James of Central Florida Health Care. “It affects close to…
Pop Quiz!

What’s the Secret to Aging Gracefully? Everyone wants to put their “best face forward,” and that means paying attention to anti-aging skin care. However, there is a dizzying amount of information and an array of products out there aimed at fighting the signs of aging on your skin, so it can be a daunting task…
Healthcare Boom

AdventHealth to Open New Hospital in Winter Haven; Orlando Health to Expand Into Lakeland by PAUL CATALA Healthcare facilities are expanding at an astounding rate to match the population boom and increased need in Central Florida. AdventHealth is expanding its footprint in Polk County with a new four-story hospital and emergency department off Cypress Gardens…

Body, mind & spirit: Integrating primary and behavioral care

When you go to the doctor complaining of stomach pain, you probably don’t expect your problem to be depression. But it just may be. When you complain of headache, clumsiness, dizziness, shakiness, blurred vision, tingling around the mouth and seizures, you might expect an anxiety or bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. You may be surprised if…
Mediterranean diet for cardiovascular health

Dr. Sean P. O’Rourke is a board-certified cardiologist at Watson Clinic. With a subspecialty in cardiovascular disease, Dr. O’Rourke often sees patients suffering from heart disease. He took the time to answer some questions about heart disease, which has a higher death rate in Polk County than in the rest of Florida. Health…
Medical advice: 8 simple tips to sounder sleep

Sure, there’s plenty to worry about these days: The economy, job security and family issues. It’s enough to lose sleep over. Not that we need any help from sleep deprivation. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), one out of 10 adults has insomnia so severe that it has daytime consequences. As…