December 14, 2011
By Farah Dosani – Heart attacks in women don’t exactly play out the same way they do in men. “The old “‘Sanford & Son’ clutching the chest”, “a big one’s coming” are what a lot of people still imagine is a heart attack,” said Dr. Andy Oakes-Lottridge, a Fort Myers family physician. That’s often not the case – especially in women.
December 1, 2011
By Sammy Mack – In just three months, 3,378 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS have gotten the medications they need. That’s the number of people who had been on the waiting list for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program. What an incredible announcement by the Florida Department of Health on World AIDS Day.
November 30, 2011
By Farah Dosani & Kimberly Vlach – The holidays can be a rough time for people who have experienced the death of someone close to them – especially suicide survivors. “There was a lot of guilt on my part. As a mom, you want to protect your child. Any survivor is like that,” says Virginia Cervasio, Founder of C.A.R.E.S. Suicide Prevention in Fort Myers.
November 23, 2011
By Sammy Mack – Just in time for Thanksgiving, we bring you a collection of articles that add up to one festively healthy holiday survival guide. From healthy road trip snacks to safely frying a turkey, we’ve got you covered.
November 15, 2011
By Dalia Colón – Approximately 1 in 110 U.S. children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. And unlike in the past, they’re not all confined to institutions and special-education classrooms. To keep up with the demand for qualified teachers, the University of South Florida has created the Master of Arts degree in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Intellectual Disabilities. The fully online program targets certified special- and general-education teachers. Autism is hard enough to understand in person, but program creator Phyllis Jones believes the online curriculum prepares teachers for real life.
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.
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 10, 2011
By Sammy Mack – It’s October, breast cancer awareness month, and Floridians everywhere are seeing pink. Pink ribbons. Pink-lit buildings. Pink-tie galas. Pink ribbon beer pong tables.
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 20, 2011
By Sammy Mack – Let’s face it: talking about sex can be really awkward. Talking about sex with your grandparents? Super awkward. But also important, according to the Florida Department of Health.
September 12, 2011
By Farah Dosani – Nancy Reagan brought focus to an issue that affects one out of three seniors each year. While walking to an event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California last month, the 90-year-old former First Lady took a fall. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who was walking beside Reagan, caught her before she could hit the ground (see video). Falls are the number one cause of trauma hospitalizations and deaths in seniors. But that’s not to say these occurrences should be accepted as normal.
August 29, 2011
By Sammy Mack – A new report from the Guttmacher Institute shows that in 2006, nearly half of all pregnancies were unintended. And existing disparities in unintended pregnancies were exacerbated over a five-year period, with a significant jump among low-income and poor women. Meanwhile, Florida’s Legislature has cut funding to services that support new and expectant mothers while refusing to take federal funding for other such programs.
August 25, 2011
By Dalia Colón - Hurricane Irene is projected to bypass Florida, but the storm reminds us all to make a disaster plan. And folks with special needs should take a few extra precautions. This may include registering at a special-needs shelter – a safe haven for people not well enough to stay in a general-population shelter but not sick enough to go to the hospital. If you have special health concerns, consider these tips from William “Doug” Douglass, manager of preparedness and response, for the American Red Cross Tampa Bay Chapter.
August 22, 2011
By Sammy Mack – Hurricane Irene is probably headed our way. Are you ready? The National Hurricane Center projects the storm will track up the Atlantic coast of Florida this week.
August 19, 2011
By Sammy Mack – For parents across Florida, this is the last weekend to get kids up to date on immunizations before school starts. Clinics and health fairs are bracing for the last-minute vaccine rush as children get ready for the first day of class.
August 16, 2011
By Sammy Mack – South Florida health and school officials announced Monday they will be launching their own investigation into Miami-Dade County’s inexplicably low vaccination rate for kindergartners. The news follows a joint investigation by HealthyState.org and the Miami Herald into why kids lag behind on their shots:
August 10, 2011
By Sammy Mack – It’s the first week of full football practice at Florida high schools and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are safe to play in the summer heat – as long as certain guidelines are met. The new guidelines from the AAP come less than two weeks after a high school football player from Miramar died during a conditioning practice.
August 9, 2011
By Sammy Mack – Florida will be getting two new community health centers, funded by the Affordable Care Act.
July 25, 2011
By Sammy Mack – Floridians who want to lose weight now have a financial incentive. HealthyWage.com is launching the “Florida Matchup” weight-loss competition and offering $18,000 in cash prizes to the state’s biggest losers.
July 20, 2011
By Sammy Mack – In Wednesday’s rounds, just one pediatrician still accepts new Medicaid patients in the Keys; state abstinence education lacks health information; county rules would prevent kids from being left in vans; and c-section rates are still on the rise.