Health News

Q: There is an area inside of my mouth that my dentist checks every time I come in for a check up. He told me the last time I was in that he feels it should be biopsied. I don’t notice anything different and I don’t want the inside of my mouth all cut up. He assures me it won’t hurt. I want to do the right thing but I hate needles and don’t want to be healing over the holidays. What should I do? Full story »

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about certain people needing to take antibiotics prior to having dental treatment. There have been many changes and much confusion about who needs and who doesn’t need pre-medication with antibiotics. Full story »

Stephen Estes accidentally fractured his right foot leaving his home early one morning, and so far he’s paid $800 out-of-pocket for his medical expenses. He works for a local security company but won’t be eligible for health coverage for another two months. Even then the premium is high. The 37-year-old is leaning toward the “Cover Florida” insurance program for the uninsured that’s debuting Jan. 5. The initiative of Gov. Charlie Crist aims to provide affordable insurance options for people who have been uninsured for six months or are losing coverage. Full story »

Q: I just had my teeth whitened at my dentist office and I don’t think they changed much. Plus, now they are really sensitive, what can I do?
A: I’m sorry that you’re not happy with your whitening. This is something to look forward to so I understand how disappointing it is when the results are not to your liking.
The sensitivity you are experiencing however is fairly normal and should subside in a short period of time. If it doesn’t get better or worsens your dentist may need to put you on a fluoride or a desensitizer. Full story »

Many of you are hunting for the perfect holiday gift right now. Since I’m a gadget girl and a health nut, I am always excited to find unique techie products for health. Here are some great gift ideas to help someone you love. Happy Holidays! — Suzy
HeartStart home defibrillator: This is perfect for people with heart disease, or heart rhythm disorders. It is designed to restart the heart while you wait for the paramedics to arrive. Like a fire extinguisher, it gives you peace of mind just in case of an emergency. At first I thought it was expensive at $1,500, but is it really? Visit heartstarthome.com.
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Tooth Talk: Q: Hey Doc, my wife went to the dentist the other day for a cleaning and was told she needed to take an antibiotic because she had a knee replacement. We never heard anything about this and she was too embarrassed to ask. Is this common? What should she do? Full story »

Q: I’ve had a cold for several days, and I get them frequently. I often spread the germs to my family. I’m not interested in health food store potions, I want to know what you as a pharmacist recommend for the symptoms. Full story »

The Collier County Housing and Human Services Department will host a press conference announcing the new prescription discount card program for Collier residents at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 4 at the County Campus located at 3301 E. Tamiami Tr. in Risk Management’s conference room, by the food court area. Full story »

Hey Doc, my teeth are so sensitive I can’t drink anything cold at all even cool water really hurts my teeth. I brush and floss regularly but I haven’t had my teeth cleaned in a while because it is so painful. Any suggestions? Full story »

Q: Hey doc, Every time I go to the store it seems like I see more and more different kinds of toothpaste and toothbrushes. I get a toothbrush and sometimes toothpaste at my check-ups, but I want to make sure I’m using the right stuff. Can you help sort this out for me? Full story »

Q: I am a “natural freak” and couldn’t care less about calories, rather I focus on healthy unprocessed foods. I heard you say on a radio show that you didn’t like artificial sweeteners, so would you share natural sweeteners that are better for us?
–Tracy Full story »

Dear Readers, I have just returned from a national health expo where thousands of exhibitors showed their new goodies. Since I take pride in finding cool new products to help you feel better, I’m using this column to feature some neat stuff. Here goes: Full story »

My dentist told me I need some dental work but I’m really nervous. Believe it or not, I was a nurse but I can’t stand needles! My dentist said he could give me a pill, Valium, I think, to relax me. I don’t know if that will be enough. I’m so nervous and it’s so embarrassing. Do you have any suggestions? Full story »

Out of thousands of towns Andy Mandell has walked through during an eight-year marathon, perimeter hike of the entire United States, Marco Island was one of the most significant. Full story »

Q: I’m interested in getting implants to replace my denture. I’ve seen a few dentists and a couple of specialists for quotes. I’m hesitant to go ahead because all of them have different prices and different plans and each of them insist theirs is the best. How can I decide what’s best for me? Full story »