Health News

Features

Getting You On the Right Path

Behavioral Health Navigators Steer Polk Residents to the Right Resources by TERESA SCHIFFER The first step toward overcoming a mental health or behavioral problem is acknowledging the problem and seeking treatment. Unfortunately, finding the right resources that can provide that help can be challenging. Peace River Center has introduced a new program providing guidance for…
Paving the Way for the Future

BayCare Polk Teaming Up With Local Colleges to Provide Immersive Experience by TERESA SCHIFFER Aspiring nurses must be dedicated to their education before they enter the field professionally, but classroom instruction alone will not prepare them for the daily duties of nursing. That’s why BayCare Health System’s Polk Region is now partnering with several local…
The Power of the PSA Test

Prostate Cancer Survivors Emphasize Importance of Crucial Screening Tool by TERESA SCHIFFER Among men in the U.S., prostate cancer is the second most common cancer. When it was first discovered by surgeon J. Adams at The London Hospital in 1853, it was considered “a very rare disease.” It took about 50 years for doctors to…

Doc, I Have Type II Diabetes. Will I Go Blind?

Patients who present with a diabetes history are worried about their vision. If the patient has type II Diabetes Mellitus, the following is the discussion I have with the patient to simplify the pathophysiological process that occurs in a person with diabetes. When the patient with type II diabetes presents for an eye exam, I…
Itchy Skin? It Could Be Psoriasis or Eczema

Experiencing a skin condition can be a little unnerving, especially if you’re not sure what it is. Psoriasis and eczema are two common skin conditions that can even be seen in children. While these diseases may present in similar ways, they’re actually quite different and have different triggers and causes. Eczema This inflammatory skin…
Is It Melanoma? Learn the Warning Signs

Melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer that comes from cells known as melanocytes. While it’s less common than basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, two types of skin cancer that form in other types of skin cells, it is more dangerous. Melanoma can quickly spread to other organs if not treated at…