Sarasota Edition

By Theresa Jenkins, ARNP – Urinary incontinence (UI) and overactive bladder (OAB) are among the top 10 chronic conditions effecting American women today. For millions, incontinence is not just a medical problem. It is a problem that also affects emotional, psychological and social well-being. Many people are afraid to participate in normal daily activities that might take them too far …

By Eric M. Folkens, M.D., Family Medicine,  Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch/Sarasota Urgent Care Walk-In Clinics – The countdown is on, and parents and kids alike are feeling the pressure to get ready for school – there are school supplies to be bought, first- day outfits to be chosen, and anxieties to be calmed. But that’s not the end of the list. A …

By J. Russell Williamson – In March of 2013, Joseph Engelberg and Christopher A. Parsons published a paper that linked worrying about the Stock Market and increased risk of hospital admissions. This study was done over a 30 year period. They found that if the stock market fell by at least 1.5% on a given day, there was an average …

As we age, our mental health is more important than ever. Dementia and Depression are key concerns with an aging population. The continued independence of our elders can be greatly enhanced with knowledge and foresight. Dementia actually describes a group of symptoms that affect one’s mental and social abilities to the point that they interfere with everyday life. Symptoms of …

Sixty million Americans have allergies and 24 million have ocular allergies. It is the fifth leading chronic disease in the US and $1.3 billion per year is spent on allergy-related physician visits. “Many patients with ocular allergies may not even be aware that allergies are causing their symptoms,” said Dr. Jonathan Frantz, medical director of Frantz EyeCare. “When they come …

There are some things in life that are completely out of our control. The most obvious is the passage of time. As much as we try to fight it, the aging process catches up to all of us. At some point, it begins to affect our health. Conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and loss of bone density …

By Alex Anderson – Senior Associate Pastor at Bayside Community Church- It’s 6:43 am and the sun is almost crested above the mountain just to the east of the Red Berry Bed and Breakfast here in Mbabane, Swaziland. The sun’s rays are beginning to bounce off the mountain ridges north and east of me. When the sun reaches where I’m …

By Stacey Brown is Program Director of the Human Services Program at Edison State College School of Health Professions. She is also a Licensed Mental Health Therapist. We know that it is important to take care of ourselves in order to feel good, be healthy and function well as workers, parents, partners and contributing members of society.  We know that …

As we age our body’s ability to heal itself becomes less efficient.  This is natural.  Many people attempt to treat their own wounds with home remedies and end up with a bigger problem than what they started with. How do I heal my wound? Collagen is a key component of a healing wound. It is unique in the wound healing …

When physicians discuss skin cancer, it’s melanoma that worries us. Melanoma or malignant melanoma as it is sometimes called is a cancer of the melanocytes, pigment producing cells in the basal layer of the skin. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of all skin cancers but is responsible for over 90% of deaths caused by skin cancer. One person dies …