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The Heart of the Matter

Area Physicians Weigh In on ECGs for Student Athletes by PAUL CATALA As the school year ramps up, parents are busy lining up appointments so their student athletes can get their sports physicals. Over the past decade, there’s been increased interest in the incorporation of electrocardiogram heart screenings in these physicals. An electrocardiogram, or ECG,…
When Heroes Need Help

New Initiative Seeks to Connect Veterans and First Responders With Mental Health Resources by RYAN MILEJCZAK A new initiative here in Central Florida seeks to help veterans and first responders struggle with mental health challenges. The Heroes Wellness Collective, launched by Lake Wales-based Operation Recovery, seeks to create a centralized, online platform that connects veterans…
A Different Kind of First Aid

Peace River Center Offers Mental Health First Aid by REBEKAH PIERCE An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This timeless adage is something we think about often when it comes to our physical health, but not necessarily what’s going on inside our heads. Yet the reality is that, in 2024, mental health…

Healthy Skin: Seniors and the increased risk of skin cancer

OUR SKIN needs protection at any age, but it’s doubly important for seniors. As we age, the likelihood of developing skin cancer increases so much that nearly 50 percent of all 65-year-old Americans will have at least one skin cancer diagnosis. The subgroup of seniors with the most risk is older Caucasian males; the incidences…
Word of Mouth: Myths About Implants Debunked, Part III — Are they affordable?

IN MY LAST TWO COLUMNS, we debunked some common myths about the practicality and effectiveness of dental implants. Now let’s talk affordability. Nearly 70 percent of adults have lost a tooth, and the solutions are pretty straightforward: dental implants, bridges, or dentures. For most, dental implants are the best option, but misconceptions about their affordability…
Healthy Cook: Much ado about Mediterranean food

DIETS COME AND DIETS GO — South Beach, Grapefruit, Atkins, T-Factor, Cabbage Soup, Eat Just on Tuesdays in Months Without an R in Them — but one that works for health, and perhaps also for weight loss, has been around for thousands of years. The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating for millions of…