Lee Edition

What are your summer fitness goals? If you want to be in better shape this summer, start burning calories and enjoying your workout at Orangetheory Fitness today! Summer may be in full swing, but now is the time to start burning—and we’re not talking about sunburn! Here are the top five reasons to get yourself into Orangetheory Fitness NOW and …

Nearly 70% of American adults are either overweight or obese. Nearly one in three U.S. children (23.9 million) ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese. Being obese puts you at a higher risk for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and more. People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are …

By Ulla-Undine Merritt (Dee) National Producer Number (NPN) 8853366 Social Security you can apply online at www.ssa.gov for retirement benefits or benefits as a spouse if you: • are at least 61 years and 9 months old; • are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record; • have not already applied for retirement benefits; and • want …

By Steven J. Gibbs, Esq. Hello Friends & Colleagues! Today’s hot topic, brought to you in honor of “heat awareness month”, concerns a common misunderstanding about the usefulness of an Irrevocable Medicaid Trust (a/k/a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust) as a tool for Medicaid planning purposes.  Many people believe that these trusts offer a real benefit when it comes to planning …

Two thousand or so years ago, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a younger student of his. That student’s name was Titus and Paul’s letter to him survives to this day as the New Testament book of Titus. In that letter, there’s a sentence that speaks volumes about the character that we ought to be developing as we move …

The heat is on. It’s summertime!  It has been extremely hot these past few weeks, but it is time to get outside to run, bike, swim and do anything else outdoors we can imagine. It is even a great time to sit in the sun and watch your favorite sporting event. What you may have noticed while you are doing …

By Jonathan M. Frantz,  MD, FACS It is estimated that nearly 114 million people in the United States are struggling with the frustratingly natural eye condition called presbyopia.  Typically occurring in those over 40, presbyopia reduces the ability of the eye to focus on near objects, causing blurry reading vision. An advanced surgical procedure to treat this condition is now …

By Debra K. Brinker, RN Headaches are a common malady suffered by almost 50 million Americans, causing pain and discomfort in the head, forehead, scalp, or neck. Headaches have different causative factors, and their source requires some investigation. Regenerative and Natural Medicine options are providing non-medication solutions that correct the underlying triggers. Hormones and Diet Low or imbalanced hormones may …

By James J. O’Mailia, M.D., Gastroenterologist Recently, as most of you are aware, Flu Season was in full bloom here in Lee County. This included the dreaded Norovirus, which generally had its effect on many of the sea-faring cruise liners. Over the past several months, the common symptomatic presentation was that of diarrhea. Doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics and hospital emergency …

By Joseph Magnant, MD, FACS, RPVI Venous insufficiency, or leaky veins, is a medical disease that, if left untreated, can lead to long-term health problems. Yet, it can be easily evaluated and often remedied permanently through a minimally invasive procedure. Lesley Colantonio says she had significant varicose veins. “I thought they looked really nasty,” remembers the 41-year-old senior special events …