Lee Edition

By Joseph Gauta, MD, FACOG The endometrium is a mucous membrane that lines the uterus. The endometrial tissue and cells normally grows and sheds within the uterus during the female reproductive years. When there is an overgrowth of the endometrial tissue, it begins to grow outside of the uterus onto the ovaries and fallopian tubes. When this happens, it causes …

Feeling sick during the week or weekend and can’t get in to see your primary care doctor? There’s a new alternative to the busy Emergency Department! Millennium’s Fort Myers & Cape Coral Walk-in Medical Centers are now open late and weekends to better care for you during all of life’s minor emergencies. There are no appointments necessary and wait times are …

Question: I’m a 48-year old woman and simply can’t always make it to the bathroom when I feel the urge. Some times I have leakage. What, besides surgery, can I do? Answer: There are two types of incontinence in women: stress and urgency incontinence. Stress incontinence is leakage that occurs with a physical stress such as a cough or strain …

By Julian J. Javier, MD – ARHI Frailty is a very common and important condition affecting individuals over 65 years old. It is an important geriatric syndrome that is characterized by age-associated decline on physiologic reserves and function across many organ systems. This leads to vulnerability and to adverse health outcomes such as when they are exposed to stressors like acute …

In the United States, over 730,000 Americans suffer heart attacks every year. Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women. Various disorders are major contributors in heart complications, like stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis (plaque in arteries), family history, smoking, and obesity. Arterial plaque, narrowing of the vascular arteries, and the lack of oxygen …

Arthritis is a condition that occurs in various joints in the body, including the knees, hip, spine, and also, the shoulder. When arthritis occurs, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones making up the joint breaks down, flaking off into the joint. The joint becomes swollen and stiff, and the lining tissue of the joint (the synovium) becomes overgrown …

Aging Immune systems Have you noticed that certain things happen as you age?  Maybe you are tire more easily and need more sleep, or don’t have as much endurance as you once had.  Do you get sick more often?  Does it take you longer to get over a cold or the flu?  Older bodies get hit harder with viruses and …

The reason we hear so much advice on wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and avoiding over sun exposure between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, is due in large part to the sun’s harmful UV rays during the time when the sun is the highest in the sky. But just because it’s darker, cloudier and cooler, that doesn’t mean it’s any safer. UV radiation …

Low vision and blindness are common conditions in the elderly population; 6.5 million seniors over the age of 65 have some degree of age-related vision loss. And with this vision loss comes several of risk factors. Vision loss and blindness can intensify the following risks and issues: • Falls • Bone fractures • Needs private transportation • Difficult with daily …

Medicare is a sophisticated system but maneuvering your way through the maze is the tricky part. You’ll want to have the best coverage based on what your income will allow. Having the assistance of a qualified broker is essential to making sure you choose the right options for you and your loved one. When an individual turns 65-years-of-age, most people are …