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Game On!

Polk Senior Games Return This Year With Outdoor Activities by CATHERINE CERVONE This year marks the 29th year of the annual Polk Senior Games, the largest of the 20 local senior games held in Florida. Participants who are turning at least 50 years old in 2022 can participate in a variety of…
Pop Quiz: Heart attack or Panic Attack: Which Is It?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., so it’s no wonder that a heart attack—a result of coronary artery disease, which is one of the forms of heart disease—is a concern. While the most common symptoms of a heart attack are often recognizable, the symptoms of another common health condition—a panic…
Are You Talking to Me?

Recognizing and Neutralizing Negative Self-Talk by TERESA SCHIFFER As the new year gets underway, there’s always a lot of talk about resolutions. Healthy lifestyles, fewer expletives, diets and procrastination rank up there with the most common goals. This year, how about a different kind of resolution? One that could have a lasting effect on…

Understanding the Risks of Deep Venous Thrombosis

Deep venous thrombosis is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people. This is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the body, usually in the thigh, leg, and — rarely — the arm. The blood clot can break off and travel inside the vein to the lung,…
The Eye Condition You’ve Probably Never Heard of: Keratoconus

by GISELLE SANKAR, O.D. Picture looking through a clear glass window that has slowly started to bend or warp. That once clear view has now become blurry and extremely distorted. In simple terms, this describes what individuals diagnosed with keratoconus experience. Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that causes thinning of the cornea. The cornea…
Surgical Management of Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis

DVT, or blood clots in your leg, can be a life-threatening condition. It can be treated by taking oral anticoagulation medication, wearing compression stockings, elevating the leg to reduce swelling, and continuing to walk and keep yourself hydrated. Your vascular doctor can tell you more about your treatment options. The blood clot is dissolved by…