Polk/Brandon

May brings the annual International Nurses Day, a time to spotlight the contributions nurses bring to our society. At the time when shortages are affecting the health care industry, BayCare Health System is taking steps to recruit new nurses. These nurses in training will learn about providing extraordinary care from …

by Alan J. Bauman, MD, ABHRS Women’s hair has long been the subject of numerous poems written by lovesick admirers who’ve, well, waxed poetic about the beauty of a woman’s hair. Let’s face it. Nothing conveys good health more than thick, shiny tresses. Women’s hair has long been the subject …

OK. So here we are… five months into a new year. How are things working out for you? Did you set goals for making this year the best year ever? Did you have dreams and ambitions to make this year different? Did you plan on making things better? Well… how …

To keep up with the health care needs of this growing community, two BayCare hospitals have worked to expand cardiac services. Recently, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South, in Riverview, opened its fourth cardiac catheterization laboratory. And in Winter Haven, Winter Haven Hospital’s Bostick Heart Center held a ribbon cutting to christen its …

by Alan J. Bauman, MD, ABHRS Have you ever fallen for an April Fool’s joke? Last year on April 1, 7-Eleven introduced its Tiny Gulp (7-ounce) drink for just 7 cents. It was touted as being better for your health, and the cup could be used as a water dish …

One thing is certain in life: as we age, our bodies undergo a lot of changes. Like the skin starting to wrinkle, hairs turning grey, bones shrinking in size, and the joints getting weaker and weaker. Weak joints are certainly uncomfortable, as they are often accompanied by swellings, numbness, clicking …

In the 1960s DC Comics introduced a comic called Bizarro World, featuring a square planet, where everything was opposite. What would be up on Planet Earth was down. A compliment was an insult. Marilyn Monroe was ugly, and people bought investments guaranteed to lose money. Well, your favorite hair restoration …

Acholecystectomy (koh-luh-sis-TEK-tuh-me) is a surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder — a pear-shaped organ that sits just below your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen. Your gallbladder collects and stores bile — a digestive fluid produced in your liver. A cholecystectomy is a common surgery, approximately 1.2 …

Skin changes – discoloration (pinkish or brownish), thickening, dryness and itching in the lower leg are usually signs of venous (vein) disease. If you have any of these in your lower legs and ankles, the specialists at Vascular Vein Centers can help with a careful evaluation and explanation of what …

According to the CDC’s website, someone in the US has a heart attack every 40 seconds. That translates to about 805,000 people having a heart attack each year! A heart attack can be a frightening experience. Still, many people who’ve had a heart attack go on to enjoy full lives. …