December 15, 2011
By Kenneth (Chip) Hunt – Everyone knows a health nut. Someone who’s always eating the right foods or waking up early to exercise. Maybe she’s organized a running group, or he teaches a yoga class. Athletes, trainers, active seniors or over-achievers. They set an example of good health and have a positive impact on the community.
December 8, 2011
By Sarah Pusateri – The holiday spirit may have some people throwing back more spirits this time of year, experts say. With the combination of parties and family get-togethers, festivities and stress could cause some to reach for a third (or fourth) glass of eggnog. However, there are ways to not over drink or avoid alcohol, altogether. “It’s considered a high risk situation around the holidays just in general but even more specifically around family members because that’s typically the place where people drink.” says University of South Florida College of Medicine professor Dr. Ryan Estevez.
December 7, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Hoping to get lucky over the holidays? Then lay off the bean dip. One in four Americans avoids intimacy because of digestive issues. That’s according to a recent survey conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Phillips’ Colon Health. It makes sense: constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating don’t exactly set the mood. And over the holidays, things can get even less… uh… regular.
November 15, 2011
By Sammy Mack – Thanksgiving is almost here. And with the gluttonous holiday comes the very serious threat of danger – the danger of third degree burns or a house going up in flames. If you’re thinking of taking the deep-fried turkey plunge – a plunge into a propane-fueled vat of boiling oil – there are a few safety tips you might find useful.
November 8, 2011
Dalia Colón – Last year, an estimated 2.2 million Floridians took Thanksgiving road trips, according to AAA. And we weren’t all nibbling carrot sticks on the way to Grandma’s. Driving and junk food seem to go hand in hand. Just ask Red Smith. The Brandon resident has been a professional truck driver for 16 years, spending 11 hours a day on the road. Early in his career, Smith ate fast food three or four times a day – whenever he felt bored, lonely or sleepy. Soon, the 5-foot-6-inch Smith soon weighed 300 pounds.
November 7, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you’ll likely gain about a pound. Overweight and obese Americans gain more like 5 pounds over the holidays. Eating right is especially tough when you’re visiting relatives. You prefer skim milk on your cereal, but Aunt Mabel stocks whole milk. You’ll hurt Grandma’s feelings by refusing a third slice of pie. And far be it from you to break up the annual cookie swap.
November 1, 2011
By Kate Bradshaw – Once a pretty rare hobby, home beer brewing seems to be catching on in the Sunshine State. Go to any given home brew competition, says master-ranked beer judge Jeff Gladish, and you’ll see upwards of 500 entries. “Five years ago we were lucky to get 250 or 300,” he said. If you’re a beer brewing enthusiast or are new to home brewing, be sure to follow these safety tips. Nobody wants a burnt hand – or a batch of bad beer.
October 27, 2011
By Farah Dosani – Vacationing in another country gives tourists the chance to sightsee, relax and learn about another culture. To some, it also provides an opportunity to get a root canal. When Americans find themselves unable to afford extensive dental work in the U.S., many put off visits with their dentist. And some become dental tourists.
October 25, 2011
By Dalia Colón – For some moviegoers, the summer flick Horrible Bosses hit way too close to home. A recent Florida State University survey found that plenty of employees view their supervisor as a lying, empty-promise-making, narcissistic Jekyll-and-Hyde who’s more concerned with keeping his or her own job than anything else. Toiling for a bad boss can cause problems long after you’ve punched out. Workplace tension often leads to round-the-clock stress.
September 29, 2011
By Farah Dosani – Fall brings Florida less rain, slightly cooler temperatures and lower humidity. It also ushers in the beginning of flu season – also known as the ‘flu shot season.’ “This is the time of year when we’re really encouraging people to get immunized against influenza,” said Dr. Judith Hartner, Director of the Lee County Health Department. Yet less than half of all Americans end of up getting the vaccine. Misconceptions about the flu and flu shot run the gamut.
September 27, 2011
[VIDEO] By Kimberly Vlach – Four-year-old Charlie volunteers two hours a week at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, along with the guidance of his mom, Pam Babcock – only Charlie doesn’t quite understand the joy and calmness he gives to patients. For Charlie, he gets lots of affection, attention and rub downs from his long ears to his little tummy. That’s because Charlie is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He and Babcock participate in the hospital’s Therapy Dog program which brings smiles, calming effects, and a sense of home to patients of all ages in the hospital.
September 8, 2011
By Dalia Colón - Whether you’re counting calories, training for your first 5K or keeping track of your meds, there’s an app for that. About 15% of American adults use a cell phone to look up health-related information, according to the Pew Research Center. And doing so is easier than ever, with the availability of so many free and low-cost mobile apps.
August 12, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Our cell phones remind us to do all sorts of things. We use them for our alarm clocks. We set alerts for meetings. We store grocery lists and birthday calendars. Because 72% of cell phone owners send or receive text messages, companies see texting as a way for us to remember healthy habits. And now, Florida parents can register for two more programs designed to keep their kids healthy.
August 4, 2011
By Sammy Mack – A report out today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests carbon monoxide poisoning is more common than previous estimates measured. Annually, there are about 15,000 emergency room visits and 500 deaths because of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. But the study looked at calls to the National Poison Data System and found 30,798 incidents of poisoning that never made it to the hospital because they were treated in the field.
July 28, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Oops! …You did it again. You got too much sun. Now your back looks like a raw porterhouse.
July 20, 2011
By Dalia Colón – In the U.S., more babies are born in July, August and September than in other months, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means summer is full of pregnant women looking for ways to stay cool.
July 14, 2011
[VIDEO] By Kimberly Vlach – Summer time in Florida is known for heat, humidity – and mosquitoes. If you’re a mosquito magnet like me, being outside in the summer means being eaten alive. The state Department of Health reminds people that mosquito-borne illnesses are no small matter, despite the tiny insect they come from. In fact, they can actually cause brain infections or even death.
July 5, 2011
By Dalia Colón – As DJ Dave laments around the 2:25 mark in the above video-gone-viral, organic food ain’t cheap. But a public health advocacy group wants to help you sort out when to splurge and when to save. Environmental Working Group has released the 2011 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. Using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, the group ranked the pesticide contamination of 53 common fruits and vegetables. The produce was tested after it had been rinsed or peeled.
June 28, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Call it a sign of the times. Corn masa – that’s the flour used for making tortillas and other Latin American dishes – may soon get an added ingredient: folic acid. The March of Dimes wants every bag of masa to come fortified with the B vitamin, which is found in prenatal supplements to help prevent certain birth defects.
June 15, 2011
By Kimberly Vlach – Hard to believe we’re still six days away from the start of summer. I’m melting. Even night time doesn’t offer much relief from the heat… Which is why it’s important to take measures to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat stress, exhaustion and stroke.