Collier Edition

By Colin E. Champ, MD, CSCS – Radiation Oncologist Sugar substitutes are what many turn to this time of year. For a quick rundown, aspartame, acesulfame, neotame, and saccharin are considered closer to manufactured chemicals when it comes to sweeteners. The sugar alcohols and sucralose are essentially sugars with a chemical added to hinder absorption or block the body’s ability …

By Melissa Stanley R.N., B.S.N. The first full week of February, tinnitus awareness is observed. Tinnitus is defined as a ringing, buzzing or similar sensation in the ears. More people are affected by it than we know. Some people may hear sounds of singing, music, pulse (pulsatile tinnitus), humming, and hissing. My husband suffers from tinnitus. He describes it as …

We’ve all heard the term “heart-healthy,” but what does it mean in practice? How do you shop, cook, and share heart-healthy meals with your loved ones? The experts at U.S. News & World Report offer a handy ranking of heart-healthy diets, starting with a three-way tie for first place with the DASH Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, and the Ornish Diet. …

When it comes to diet and nutrition, there are countless gurus and influencers claiming they have the best advice, but the truth is, depending on your overall health, some diets are just downright dangerous. If you have any heart or vascular conditions, you need to take caution with this type of advice and speak to your cardiologist about what’s best …

By Andrea Hayes, MD, F.A.C.E. The most common cause of death in patients with diabetes, is NOT diabetes itself, but cardiovascular disease (commonly called heart disease or CV disease). Patients with diabetes are twice as likely to die of heart attack and stroke as their non-diabetic counterparts and frequently develop disease at a much younger age. Heart disease refers to …

Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. It can also affect other areas and body functions including digestion, urination and circulation. Your peripheral nervous system sends information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) …

By Robert Nardi, Broker/Owner According to the November 2022 Market Report by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR®), which tracks home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), there were 552 overall closed sales in November, which is a 41.4 percent decrease from 942 closed sales recorded in November 2021. The post-pandemic home buying surge when mortgage …

In 2022 we witnessed inflation numbers that haven’t been around since the early 1980’s. When the decision comes to retire during a year with inflation this high, how are we supposed to plan? What are we supposed to think? Retirement can be a whirlwind of emotions. Even though I am not currently retired, I have walked many clients through this …

Pet dental health is an important aspect of overall pet wellness that is often overlooked by pet owners. Just like humans, pets can develop a variety of dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. These issues can not only cause pain and discomfort for your pet, but can also lead to more serious health problems if …

By Svetlana Kogan, M.D. I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God. Rumi The hints that we are one with Mother Nature’s energy lurk wherever you turn your inquisitive gaze. The Bible says that in the beginning there was Light. Could ‘light’ be a reference to the visible light or the explosion …