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Should Medical Marijuana Be Legal in Florida?
Last Updated: 3:00 PM 05/10/12 - The battle over legalzing medical marijuana in Florida continues to grow. Supporters were hoping to pass a bill this past legislative session allowing the drug, but it failed to get enough support.
40 Comments
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Bay Medical Designated Level Two Trauma Center
Last Updated: 8:08 AM 05/03/12 - When there's an accident with severe injuries, getting help quickly is the key to survival. In the past patients in our area were usually life flighted to Pensacola or Tallahassee to a hospital that specializes in treating trauma patients. That's no longer the case.
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May is Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness Month
Last Updated: 9:12 PM 05/08/12 - Florida has the highest rate of skin cancer in the country. May has been designated as melanoma / skin cancer detection month with Monday the 7th known as melanoma Monday. It's a reminder to get checked for this most aggressive form of skin cancer.
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Davinci robot used for Child's Surgery at Gulf Coast Medical Center
Last Updated: 3:23 PM 02/29/12 - Doctors have been using robotic surgery in Bay County for about five years now. Until today the Davinci Robotic Surgical System had only been used on adults. Now, Gulf Coast Medical Center made local history using the state of the art equipment on an eight-year-old child.
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Bay Medical No Longer Ties Tubes For Women
Last Updated: 7:54 AM 02/23/12 - Bay Medical is in for some changes due to their new management. Since Sacred Heart is a Catholic organization, certain medical and surgical procedures will no longer be available. After Sacred Heart takes over Bay Medical on April 1st, one of the procedures that will no longer happen is tubal ligations.
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Pill Mill Law Makes it Tough for Some Patients
Last Updated: 11:43 AM 02/21/12 - The state's new pill mill law has forced some doctors to give up their ability to prescribe certain drugs, forcing their patients to go elsewhere.
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Heart Health Month is for both Men and Women
Last Updated: 3:27 PM 02/29/12 - Earlier this month we had Go Red for Women day, where you were encouraged to wear red to bring attention to women's heart health issues. But with February being heart health month we believe you can't get the message out often enough.
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Head Injuries Could Sideline Florida Student Athletes
Last Updated: 8:14 AM 02/14/12 - Parents of student athletes may soon have to sign a form saying they understand the risk of serious head injuries, and players who may have a concussion will have to sit out the rest of the game under legislation approved by a House committee Monday in Tallahassee.
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The Mystery of Allergies
Last Updated: 8:53 AM 02/09/12 - More people than ever are being diagnosed with seasonal or food allergies, and researchers say allergies could make people sick in other ways, too.
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Too Much Salt is Bad - How About Bread?
Last Updated: 11:20 AM 02/07/12 - ATLANTA (AP) -- Trying to cut down on salt? Health officials have come up with a list of the top 10 sources of salt in the American diet -- and bread is No. 1.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Helps Vets Recover
Last Updated: 11:28 AM 02/06/12 - Panama City - Traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder are becoming the signature injuries of the Iraq and Afhgan wars. With symptoms like depression, irritability, hyper-vigilance, short-term memory loss, and difficulty sleeping, some affected vets have trouble doing the simplest things. But now some vets are finding help in an unusual way. A treatment developed to cure the Bends in divers is now being used to heal the brain and cure vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder that resulted from traumatic brain injury.
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Hip Replacement Goes Back To The Future
Last Updated: 3:29 PM 02/29/12 - In the 1950's surgeons used what is called the Smith-Peterson approach for hip replacement. It provided a great view of the hip but surgeons had to cut through muscle which meant a long recovery time. Recently the anterior hip procedure was improved and one local orthopedic surgeon is happy to see its revival.
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Bobcat Tests Positive for Rabies
Last Updated: 10:53 AM 02/01/12 - Bay County – A bobcat tested positive for rabies on January 31, 2012. The bobcat was killed by a dog in West Bay, just south of the Highway 79 B.V. Buchanan Bridge.
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Construction Nears Completion on Jackson Hospital Expansion Project
Last Updated: 8:12 PM 01/11/12 - Marianna- Construction continued Wednesday on a major expansion project at Jackson Hospital. Once it's all complete, the new addition on the emergency room will be close to four thousand square feet.
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Health Officials Urge Flu Prevention
Last Updated: 10:30 AM 01/10/12 - Cooler weather usually means flu season is nearby and the Florida Department of Health is urging people to protect themselves and their families from the virus.
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DaVinci Robot Now Used for Lung Surgery
Last Updated: 8:21 AM 12/16/11 - Traditional lung surgery is tough on patients. Not only does it require a huge incision, it means months of recuperation. Now local patients have another choice that's much less invasive with a very quick recovery time. A local man was one of the first in our area to have the surgery..
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Bay Medical Center Moves One Step Closer to Signing the Lease
Last Updated: 8:17 PM 12/07/11 - Panama City - We're learning more about the proposed 40 year lease of Bay Medical Center to the Sacred Heart Group. Bay Medical Center, Sacred Heart, and LHP executives were in town Wednesday with the media and county commissioners explaining the lease agreement.
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Another Rabid Animal Located - Bay County Rabies Alert Extended
Last Updated: 8:08 PM 12/07/11 - Bay County - On Sunday, December 4, 2011, a rabid raccoon attacked a small dog in the area of Rusty Gans Drive off of North Lagoon Drive on Panama City Beach.
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New Laser Makes Eye Surgery Easier
Last Updated: 8:54 PM 12/01/11 - Roger Hicks is a minister and a pilot, who relies heavily on his eyes for both passions. A large part of his ministry involves flying himself and others to countries for mission trips. He thought eye problems just might ground him, but a new laser is taking his need for glasses away.
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Bay Medical Board of Trustees Close to Signing 40-year Lease
Last Updated: 9:25 AM 11/23/11 - Panama City - The lease negotiations for Bay Medical Center are moving faster than most people realize. The hospital's board of trustee's met with county commissioner Guy Tunnell and representatives from Sacred Heart and the LHP Group Tuesday morning to further discuss the 40 year lease agreement.
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Special Report: Medical Tourism
Last Updated: 3:09 PM 11/18/11 - With skyrocketing healthcare costs a major concern, many people are finding they can save money on medical and dental procedures by hitting the road. But how far would you go to save as much as 80% off of the cost of surgery?
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There is Help for Bladder Control Issues
Last Updated: 9:18 PM 11/16/11 - November 14th through the 18th is national bladder week. It's a great time to remind people, they don't have to live with bladder problems.
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HPV Vaccination Rate Low in Northwest Florida
Last Updated: 9:11 PM 11/11/11 - Based on American Cancer Society estimates, about 30 women a day are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the United States. According to the CDC, 80% of all women will be infected with the HPV virus by the age of 50, but experts say there is something that can be done in middle school to prevent that.
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Placenta Donation Becoming Popular In Bay County
Last Updated: 11:15 AM 02/16/12 - There are many decisions that come along with having a baby. Everything from choosing a name to what kind of crib to get. A local hospital is hoping moms will make one more decision that could mean a better life for others. It involves donating their baby's placenta.
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A Race Against the Clock: Surviving a Heart Attack
Last Updated: 11:18 AM 02/16/12 - If it happens to you, would you be able to live to tell about it? It depends on more than just your health. We'll take a look at the best-and-worst places to have a heart emergency and hear from one family who is turning their tragedy into a life-saving campaign.
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Rabies Alert for Eastern Bay County
Last Updated: 9:42 AM 10/14/11 - The Administrator of the Bay County Health Department has issued a rabies alert for the eastern geographical region of Bay County, Florida. This is in response to cats that tested positive for rabies on September 20, 2011 and October 12, 2011.
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Bay Medical Lease Agreement Update
Last Updated: 5:47 PM 10/06/11 - The potential lease agreement between Bay Medical Center and Sacred Heart Hospital is becoming more concrete.
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Prostate Cancer not just an older man's disease
Last Updated: 8:08 AM 09/22/11 - The American Cancer Society predicts 240-thousand men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. 34-thousand will die. Most people think of it as an older mans disease. One local man found out that's just not the case.
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Controlling Psoriasis
Last Updated: 6:30 AM 09/01/11 - Psoriasis affects about 1 in 100 people. That number might actually be higher because many don't realize they have it. There are five kinds of psoriasis and each has its own symptoms. The tough part for those who suffer from it, is the embarrassment. -
Arthritis, A Great Weather Predictor
Last Updated: 8:06 AM 08/25/11 - You probably know someone who can predict the weather just by how their joints feel.
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Infant Mortality Rate Still A Concern in Northwest Florida
Last Updated: 9:33 PM 09/08/11 - Marianna- Each year, more infants are dying in Northwest Florida because of health complications compared to the rest of the state. But there's a statewide program that's been trying to change that for the last 20 years.
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World's Smallest Heart Pump Gets Rave Reviews From A Local Patient
Last Updated: 3:22 PM 08/18/11 - The world's smallest heart pump is making a world of difference in the lives of many locals.
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Bay Medical Looking To Join A Hospital Corporation
Last Updated: 9:27 PM 08/16/11 - Bay Medical Center is looking to affiliate itself with a larger hospital corporation.
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Coffee Reduces Skin Cancer Risk
Last Updated: 3:24 PM 08/16/11 - Coffee reduces skin cancer risk
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Gulf Coast Medical Center's new affiliation with the UAB Cancer Care Network means easier access to high quality care
Last Updated: 10:40 PM 08/19/11 - Panama City - Gulf Coast Medical Center is affiliating with one of the most well-known and respected hospitals in the nation. Gulf Coast administrators announced Friday morning they are the first in Florida to join the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Cancer Care Network.
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New artificial disk procedure helping people with neck and back injuries
Last Updated: 11:23 AM 02/16/12 - A local doctor is now performing a new surgical technique that could help the millions of people suffering from neck and back pain. The new procedure repairs cervical spine damages. NewsChannel 7's Erica Rakow tells us about one of the first patients to undergo the surgery.
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Local Oncologist Giving New Hope to Cancer Patients
Last Updated: 7:43 AM 07/28/11 - New numbers released by the American cancer society, estimate more than one and a half million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year.113-thousand of those will be Floridians. That report also estimates more than 15-hundred people will die from cancer each day. A local oncologist stresses the need for education.
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New Test for Scoliosis
Last Updated: 3:15 PM 07/20/11 - Scoliosis is curvature of the spine most typically found in adolescents in their growing years. During those growing years scoliosis can progress. Certain types of scoliosis are more likely to progress than others. Now a local doctor is offering a first of its kind test called scoliscore that can determine who is at a higher risk.
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Cardiovascular Nurse Navigator at Gulf Coast Medical Center
Last Updated: 7:58 AM 07/14/11 - Last week Gulf Coast Medical Center announced the expansion of it's cardiology services. As hospital executives will tell you, it takes many departments coming together to make it work. Sometimes the toughest part of finding out you have heart disease is knowing what to do next. That's where Sommer Hoyt comes in.
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Gulf Coast Medical Center Expands Cardiology Services
Last Updated: 9:06 AM 07/08/11 - Gulf Coast Medical Center officials announced two big developments today regarding cardio-vascular care. The hospital is expanding it's cardiology services and has become the area's first accredited chest pain center.
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Local Clinical Trials for Prostate Cancer
Last Updated: 9:36 PM 06/22/11 - Prostate cancer is the most treatable form of cancer, if caught early. But it's also one that's tough to detect because there often aren't any symptoms. For men who don't catch it early there are some national trials taking place in Bay County using some new cutting edge treatment.
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1 in 13 U.S. children have a food allergy according to new study
Last Updated: 9:34 PM 06/21/11 - A study released Monday finds 1 in every 13 U.S. children has some type of food allergy. Researchers randomly interviewed more than 40,000 children. Local schools and daycares are already taking precautionary measures to manage food allergies among students.
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Prostate Cancer Very Curable
Last Updated: 4:02 PM 06/17/11 - June is men's health month.. And one threat to men's health is prostate cancer. It's also the most treatable. A local man got his cancer diagnosis just before a big Florida State / Miami game. He thought about putting treatments on hold for a while, but his doctor told him he didn't need to.
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Type 2 Diabetes on the Rise in Children
Last Updated: 9:21 PM 06/08/11 - Right now one in every seven Americans is diagnosed with diabetes. That number is on the rise with children and teenagers now outpacing adults in diagnosis.
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Education the Key to Managing Diabetes
Last Updated: 7:46 AM 06/02/11 - Research that came out last week predicts one in four Americans will have type two diabetes by the year 2050. One of the main reasons for the spike is the obesity epidemic. A local hospital is helping patients better understand their disease.
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Do You Know the Signs of Stroke?
Last Updated: 8:55 AM 05/26/11 - Could you spot the signs of a stroke?
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Carotid stenting offering hope to at risk patients
Last Updated: 8:31 AM 05/19/11 - Panama City -- There are a couple of ways to open blocked arteries. One is time-tested surgery, the other is carotid stenting. It's a procedure that opens clogged arteries to treat or even prevent stroke.
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National Nurses Week Comes to an End
Last Updated: 4:19 PM 05/13/11 - The healthcare industry has been honoring one of its most important groups this week, during national nurses week. When you're sick, there's a good chance you spend more time with nurses than with doctors. We caught up with a Bay Medical Center nurse who just won a prestigious award for a job well done.
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Smoking Cessation class getting results
Last Updated: 8:59 AM 05/12/11 - Panama City -- A local hospital is offering a program to help smokers quit, for good.
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Women's Pelvic Disorders
Last Updated: 7:41 AM 05/11/11 - It's estimated 15 million women in the u.s. suffer from urinary incontinence. By the age of 55 nearly half of the the nation's women have a pelvic floor disorder.
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- Emergency rooms designed for the older set
Hospitals around the country are creating customized emergency rooms for patients 65 years and older.
- U.S. may speed approval of 'breakthrough' drugs
Experimental drugs that show a big effect early in development for treating serious or life-threatening diseases would get a faster and cheaper path to U.S. approval, under a proposal likely to become law this year. - Sponsored By:
- UK doc survey: Deny treatment to smokers, obese
A majority of doctors in a United Kingdom survey supported measures to deny non-emergency medical services to smokers and the obese, The Observer newspaper reported Sunday. - FDA focuses on tracking drugs after approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said this weekend it now spends as much effort and resources on surveilling a drug after it is approved as it does in the pre-approval process. - 1 in 4 Americans without health coverage, study finds
As the U.S. Supreme Court ponders the fate of healthcare reform in the current election year, a study released on Thursday shows that one in four working-age Americans went without insurance at some point in 2011, often as a result of unemployment and other job changes. - VA to add nearly 2,000 to mental health staff
The Department of Veterans Affairs said Thursday it was increasing its staff of mental health professionals by roughly 1,900 to better serve veterans returning home from war.
- Is healthy food really more expensive?
Contrary to popular belief, it can actually cost more to eat badly. In fact, a new government report finds that nutritious foods – such as grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy – typically cost less than items high in saturated fat and added sugars.
- How to avoid weight gain? Eat on a schedule
A new study of mice finds that when we eat may be an important factor in preventing weight gain.
- Coffee lovers lower death risk, study says
Coffee drinkers who worry about the jolt of java it takes to get them going in the morning might just as well relax and pour another cup. - Sponsored By:
- America's hatred of fat hurts obesity fight
It may be the nation's last, accepted form of prejudice. But the stigmatization of obesity has repercussions beyond the pain it inflicts on its targets: It threatens to impede efforts to fight the obesity epidemic.
- New weight loss drug a step closer to approval
Advisers to government health regulators have recommended that that they approve sales of what would be the first new prescription weight-loss drug in the U.S. in more than a decade, despite concerns over cardiac risks.
- Report: Schools key to fighting America's obesity
Fighting obesity will require changes everywhere Americans live, work, play and learn, says a major new report that outlines dozens of options — from building more walkable neighborhoods to zoning limits on fast-food restaurants to selling healthier snacks in sports arenas.
- Black cardiac arrest victims receive CPR less
Black cardiac arrest victims whose hearts stop outside of the hospital are less likely to receive CPR or shocks to the heart from bystanders, according to new research presented today. - Stent treatment risky for MS patients
U.S. drug regulators are warning people with multiple sclerosis to avoid an experimental treatment that props open internal veins in the neck and chest, because it can cause death or serious injury. - Living near major road bad for heart attack survivors
For heart attack survivors, living close to a roadway may be hazardous for their health, a new study suggests.
- Moms with heart trouble likely to have girls
By MyHealthNewsDaily staff Pregnant women with heart disease are more likely to give birth to girls than boys, according to a new study from Iran. The study involved 200 pregnant women diagnosed with heart disease who were referred to a heart center for delivery. - Testosterone may help some heart patients
Testosterone supplements may improve the quality of life for patients who have a certain heart condition, a new study says. - Positive outlook may be good for your heart
Be happy — it seems to be good for your heart.
- Turmeric may protect heart after surgery
- Need a little 'fitspiration'? Try TODAY tips
Have your healthiest summer yet! Ease into the dreaded "swimsuit season" with healthy tips from TODAY experts. All throughout May, we'll offer smart do-it-yourself ways to look, eat and feel better. So stop stressing about that swimsuit, and read on.
- What are the 25 best cities for walking?
Even though putting one foot in front of the other is the easiest form of exercise there is, it's still hard to find the motivation to bypass the car and head out on foot in your everyday life. Here are 25 cities to get started. - Do ice baths really prevent muscle aches?
Taking a dip in a tub of cold water after exercising may prevent muscle soreness, but a new look at past research says little is known about its side effects or even how long to stay in the water. - Get off your butt and exercise, orders your doc
A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. - Marathoners' cardiac arrest risk quite low
According to a new study examining 10 years of marathon and half-marathon races in the U.S., the risk of cardiac arrest in such long distance races is actually quite rare
- Get back to fightin' weight with Cage Fitness
Cage Fitness and other mixed martial arts-inspired workouts mimic the structure of a championship MMA bout -- minus the injury. - Barefoot running: bad or beneficial?
Despite the cold and many other potential hazards, naked from the ankle down is the way Anna Toombs likes it, and she gets plenty of catcalls in the street as a result.
- Should Medical Marijuana Be Legal in Florida?
40 Comments - Pill Mill Law Makes it Tough for Some Patients
12 Comments - Bay Medical No Longer Ties Tubes For Women
12 Comments - HPV Vaccination Rate Low in Northwest Florida
7 Comments - Bay Medical Looking To Join A Hospital Corporation
6 Comments - New artificial disk procedure helping people with neck and back injuries
4 Comments

