December 2, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Five months, two weeks and six days. That’s how long it’s been since the last National Basketball Association game. With the NBA lockout dragging on all autumn long, players have had a longer-than-usual stretch of time to let themselves go. But with the season tentatively scheduled to resume Dec. 25, it’s time for the ballers to get back in tip-top shape. With a little help from Tara Gidus. As team dietitian for the Orlando Magic, Gidus has plenty of experience helping folks get back in the game. Whether you’re a pro athlete or just a slacker anxious to look good for that Christmas party, Gidus offers tips for ramping up your routine.
October 21, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Here’s the good and bad news: “In general, candy is really no more likely to cause cavities than most other foods,”says Dr. Carlos Bertot, a pediatric dentist in Maitland. “Frequent snacking, whether on candy or a healthful food, is what increases one’s risk for dental decay.”
October 11, 2011
By Dalia Colón – It was the stuff of Twitter legends: “Having contractions now! Ooo- wee! It’s like WHOA!” Some say reality star Kimora Lee Simmons kept it a little too real in 2009 when she used Twitter to give a play-by-play of son Kenzo’s birth. But in this digital age, even average Janes are inclined to share the nitty-gritty of their pregnancy online.
September 7, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Driving in Florida is risky business, and there’s plenty of data to prove it. Vehicle crashes caused 2,601 deaths statewide in 2009, according to Florida Department of Health stats. More recently, Florida fared so-so in the seventh annual Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report. The report, which the insurance company released this month, ranks the country’s 200 biggest cities according to how often the average driver files an accident claim.
June 20, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Surgery always carries some uncertainty, but knowing risk factors can help doctors and patients decide who’s a good candidate for which procedures. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, studied data from more than 100,000 bariatric surgeries performed between 2002 and 2009. According to the study, risk of death after bariatric surgery goes up when the patient:
June 3, 2011
By Euna Lhee – Shigella cases are on the rise in Orange County. Health officials have reported 78 cases since the beginning of this year – the majority being found in child care and school aged children. Last year, the county saw only four cases during the same time period. Washing your hands thoroughly is just one way to help prevent the spread of the bacterial infection.
May 16, 2011
By Euna Lhee – Space shuttle Endeavour launched from Kennedy Space Center at 8:56 this morning. Those on board the flight included a deadly strain of bacteria, some Salmonella and C. elegans, a type of roundworm. The shuttle’s crew will be conducting a series of experiments during their time at the International Space Station. They hope the research may one day lead to vaccines to protect against food poisoning and a deadly bacterial infection.
May 11, 2011
By Sammy Mack – In Wednesday’s rounds, Blue Cross gets in the Medicaid game; smoke on the (Everglades) water means troubled breathing for some Floridians; a school nurse allegedly faked his nursing credentials; a non-accredited nursing school allegedly billed itself as accredited; advocates for people with disabilities sue over prison conditions; and the FDA tells artificial hip producers to take a closer look at implants.
May 9, 2011
By Euna Lhee – The Food and Drug Administration is reconsidering its position on the use of mercury in dental fillings. Exposure to elemental mercury, when it is breathed as a vapor, has been linked to neuromuscular and emotional changes. The issue was the focus of a town hall meeting in Orlando last week.