Charlotte Edition

By Cherra F. Pumphrey, M.D., HarborSide Internal Medicine – Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, while cardiovascular disease is the first. According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2010, there were …

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was someone who could help you figure out the next steps in your health care journey? Someone who could answer your questions and help educate you on your options? At Blake Medical Center, there is such a person. Her name is Kelli Thompson Cox, and she is the Valve Institute Nurse Navigator. Patient care …

Developing a Comprehensive Communication Strategy (Part 1) – By Dr. Noël Crosby, Au.D. – While it is true that hearing aid technology has advanced dramatically in recent years, the fact remains that successful treatment for hearing loss goes way beyond the use of technology. To be specific, the person with hearing loss must 1) recognize the importance of seeking treatment; …

By Ramon A. Gil, M.D – 1. Patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) do not present with recurrent falls. Balance problems and falls are part of PD, but are seen after several years of progression, not at the beginning. As a rule, one should not accept falls as “due to PD,” when they occurred within the first two years of the …

By Dr. David S. Dyer and Diana Dyer, ARNP – Did we get your attention? Almost everyone you know, including yourself, is aging and dying faster than is necessary. What is causing this to happen? Commonly called free radicals (no, not left over hippies from the 70’s) are wreaking havoc within your body, aging and killing you at an accelerated …

QUICK FACTS ABOUT FALLS 50% of all people over 75 years old fall each year. Risk for falls increase in the first month after being discharged from the hospital. 15% of all re-admissions to the hospital for seniors are related to falls. Falls account for 10% of ER visits and 6% of hospitalizations for those over 65. Falls are the …

When it comes to eyes there are a few problems that can occur. Often these problems arise as we age, but some are quite preventable. Looking after our eyes is important throughout our life as failing eye sight can become a significant hardship. There are some lifestyle factors that can affect our eye health. Smokers and those with poor diets …

There is a silent oral disease affecting more than 80% of adults. Chances are you either have had or are currently battling periodontal (gum) disease. Unfortunately, in many cases, the disease goes undetected until painful symptoms begin occurring. At which time the disease and any adverse conditions have already set in. Because there are no early signs of periodontal disease, …

By Charlotte County Health Department – One of the great things about fruits and vegetables is that something is always “in season.”  Freshly harvested produce is the best tasting, has the least waste and is generally the best buy. If you aren’t sure, staff in your produce section will know! Technology also helps us continue to have many of our …

By Bill Bambrick, Lexington Manor – The day starts with a cup of coffee, bowl of cereal, and some serious time in front of the mirror counting gray hairs on his balding head. He then wraps himself in misery and self pity to improve his self image with a racy new sports car. We relate to this crisis that’s glamorized …