The Path to Pain-Free Healthy Living Begins at Sarasota Neuropathy Center
(941) 347-9434 Diabetes and Neuropathy Treatment in Vamo, FL
Living with neuropathy and diabetes is a challenge that millions of Americans face every day. Neuropathy - which comes in several forms and manifests in many ways - can affect any person. In the United States, neuropathy and diabetes often go hand-in-hand, with about 50% of people with diabetes suffering from the condition. In fact, the number of people with neuropathy is only increasing as diabetes becomes more common and the population ages.
People who suffer from these conditions must endure painful and disruptive symptoms, such as:
- Intense Bouts of Sharp, Burning Pain
- Numbness, Prickling, or Tingling in the Hands and Feet
- Decreased Muscle Strength and Paralysis
- Trouble with Balance and Coordination
- Unusually High Sensitivity to Touch
- Digestive and Bladder Control Issues
While some patients are at a greater risk of developing certain types of neuropathy, it doesn't discriminate between sex, race, age, or medical history. Fortunately, neuropathy and diabetes awareness are growing. By proxy, so are new and exciting treatment options that show dramatic improvements in both conditions.
If you've been suffering from the symptoms of diabetes or neuropathy and are in search of a truly effective solution, Sarasota Neuropathy Center can help. Unlike some clinics, our commitment is to offer more than temporary relief. As a diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in Vamo, FL, we aim to rectify the distinct root causes underlying each patient's symptoms.
But to understand how we're able to accomplish that goal, you've got to first understand the nuances of neuropathy and diabetes.
There are several types of diabetes of which you should be aware:
Other types of diabetes can include:
- Monogenic Diabetes
- Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes
- Secondary Diabetes
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Neuropathy 101
Neuropathy is a medical condition that arises when the peripheral nerves, which are responsible for transmitting signals between the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body, fail to function correctly due to damage or disease. These nerves are essential for detecting sensations such as warmth, cold, and pain, as well as regulating muscle movement and carrying out automatic processes like digestion and heartbeat without our conscious involvement.
What Causes Neuropathy?
When patients speak with a nerve pain doctor for the first time, they have a lot of questions, and rightfully so. At Sarasota Neuropathy Center, one of the most frequently asked questions we hear centers around the factors causing neuropathy. If you're reading this article, chances are you have similar questions. While we can't pinpoint what's causing your neuropathy without proper testing, here are a few of the most common factors that can cause neuropathy to manifest:
Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of diabetes in adults - especially when a person has dealt with high blood sugar levels over long periods of time. When diabetes harms your nerves, it can lead to diabetic neuropathy and create a recurring trigger for this type of nerve damage.
Lack of Vitamins
Your nerves require certain vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B12, B6, and vitamin E, to function correctly. Without a balanced diet or supplementation, deficiencies in these vitamins can lead to nerve damage over time.
Autoimmune Disorders
In certain instances, a person's immune system accidentally attacks its own cells, including nerve tissues. When this happens, neuropathy often follows. Diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome come under this category, where the immune system's misguided attack on nerves causes dysfunction and pain.
Genetics
Neuropathy can be inherited in some families, meaning it is passed down from one generation to another. When this occurs, peripheral nerves can be affected by genetic forms of the condition, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Infections in the Body
There are certain viruses and bacteria that have the ability to attack nerve tissues and also cause conditions that can result in nerve damage. Examples of such infections include Lyme disease, HIV, and hepatitis C. These illnesses have the potential to either initiate or worsen existing neuropathy.
Physical Trauma
Physical injuries, whether caused by accidents, repetitive movements, or falls, can lead to nerve damage. Such injuries can result in neuropathy, causing loss of function and painful sensations in the affected region of the body.
What are the Different Types of Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that can affect one nerve, a group of related nerves, or multiple nerves in different parts of the body. The symptoms can vary depending on which type of nerve signals are affected. Keep reading for a closer look at the various types of neuropathies and how they affect you. If one of the categories below sounds familiar, make a mental note to discuss it with your diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in Vamo, FL.
Peripheral Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain in Your Arms and Legs
Of all the different types of neuropathies, this is the kind that you're probably most familiar with, as it's the most common form treated in the U.S.It occurs most often when the nerves responsible for transmitting messages of touch and movement between your brain and your extremities don't function properly.
Symptoms can include:
- Sensations of Pins and Needles
- Numbness
- Soreness
- Cramping
- Shooting Pains
As the condition progresses, muscle weakness can occur, making it difficult to perform precise movements and walk without assistance. Balance problems are also common.
Focal Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain in a Specific Area
Focal neuropathy can sometimes result in damage to a single nerve or a cluster of nerves in a particular region, leading to localized pain or weakness. For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome can affect the wrist, causing numbness or weakness in the hand. Similarly, Bell's palsy can impact the face, resulting in droopiness or stiffness on one side of the face.
Other symptoms can include:
- Muscles Don't Work Correctly
- Sharp Pains
- Localized Pain and Weakness
Autonomic Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain That Controls Automatic Body Functions
This type of neuropathy affects the nerves that control involuntary bodily functions, such as heartbeat, digestion, and bladder control. When these nerves are damaged
You may experience symptoms such as:
- Dizziness When Standing Quickly
- Issues with Sexual Intercourse
- Constipation
- Issues Regulating Body Temperature
Compression Neuropathy:
Nerve Pain from Your Nerves Being Squeezed
This type of neuropathy happens when a nerve is pinched or squeezed. It happens most often when you are injured or have to repeat actions over and over again for work or sports purposes. Some examples include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and sciatica. Symptoms can include:
Symptoms can include:
- Sharp Shooting Pain
- Weakness in the Affected Body Part
- Numbness
Whether you or someone you love are trying to live with neuropathy, you know that it can significantly alter lifestyles, making it difficult to perform day-to-day activities, work, or engage in hobbies. That's why it's so important to understand the underlying causes of your nerve pain, so that you can receive appropriate treatment and improve your quality of life. Taking care of the root problem, as well as managing the pain and other symptoms, is key to helping you stay active and comfortable. That's where working with a diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in Vamo, FL, becomes crucial.
Addressing the Root Causes of Your Neuropathy
Sarasota Neuropathy Center is a nerve pain clinic that provides patients with a comprehensive, rewarding journey toward healing. It begins with a thorough evaluation that involves in-depth laboratory tests and analyses. This introductory step helps us identify the specific factors that contribute to your peripheral neuropathy. Our team of neuropathy treatment specialists then creates a personalized treatment plan tailored exclusively to your body and symptoms.
By providing you with a wide range of strategies aimed at addressing the root causes of your condition, you can achieve lasting relief and may even be able to reverse the effects of peripheral neuropathy.
Our advanced therapeutic options include:
Nerve Regeneration Equipment
We use cutting-edge machinery like laser light therapy and electromagnetic impulses to stimulate your nerves, encourage repair, and foster nerve tissue regeneration.
Vaso-Pulse Technology
This FDA-approved treatment sends signals through your feet and around your spine, which helps us highlight and rectify areas where nerve and vascular damage are present.
Antioxidants
By incorporating antioxidants into your treatment plan, we can better mitigate nerve damage and counteract oxidative stress.
Anti-Inflammatory Treatments
Inflammation exacerbates nerve damage and pain. Our neuropathy specialists use anti-inflammatory agents to help alleviate your symptoms
Minerals and Vitamins
Nutritional deficiencies impact nerve health. We supplement those deficiencies with vitamins and minerals to help nerve repair.
Immunomodulators
For neuropathies linked to autoimmune disorders, we employ immunomodulators that help regulate the immune system's activity to prevent it from attacking the body's own nerve tissues.
Lifestyle and Diet Changes
Changing your diet and incorporating exercise into your daily routine are two of the best ways to support nerve health.
Through a personalized, natural, and comprehensive treatment plan from Sarasota Neuropathy Center, reclaiming your life doesn't have to be a dream - it can be a true possibility.
Diabetes 101
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated levels of sugar in the blood. This happens when the body is unable to produce or use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood glucose levels by facilitating its absorption into cells for energy or storage.
There are several types of diabetes of which you should be aware:
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, resulting in little to no insulin production. This condition usually develops in childhood or adolescence but can occur at any age. Patients who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes have to depend on daily insulin administration to manage their blood sugar levels.
The exact cause of this autoimmune reaction is not fully understood, although it is believed that genetic and environmental factors may contribute to it. Contact your diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in Vamo, FL to learn more about this disease.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is mainly caused by lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. In this condition, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or the cells don't use insulin effectively, leading to high blood sugar levels. Unlike Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes can sometimes be managed or reversed with lifestyle changes, although some people may still need medications or insulin therapy.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and typically goes away after giving birth. However, it can give an indication of a woman's future risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The condition is caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy that make the body's cells more resistant to insulin. It's important to manage Gestational Diabetes to prevent complications for both mother and baby.
Other types of diabetes can include:
- Monogenic Diabetes
- Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes
- Secondary Diabetes
Genetics
You can have genetic links to both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. These links make you predisposed to the condition.
Lifestyle
Poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity all contribute to insulin resistance, which causes diabetes
Autoimmune
Your immune system mistakenly targets and eliminates insulin-producing beta cells in your pancreas, leading to insufficient insulin production and Type 1 Diabetes.
Insulin Resistance
The most prevalent type of diabetes - Type 2 Diabetes - arises when cells resist insulin's effect, causing a spike in blood sugar levels.
What Are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?
Many patients who speak with a diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in Vamo, FL assume they have Type 2 Diabetes, but aren't 100% sure. At Sarasota Neuropathy Center, we would need to conduct tests to verify whether you have the disease. With that said, the following symptoms often manifest when you have Type 2 Diabetes.
Neuropathy
Type 2 Diabetes can cause nerve damage, which in turn causes tingling and numbness, especially in your feet and hands.
Tiredness
Chronic fatigue happens when your body can't utilize glucose for energy in the right way.
Excessive Urination and Thirst
When you have high blood sugar, your body's natural response is to eliminate excess fluids. This can cause you to urinate frequently and can also cause you to feel very thirsty.
Slow-Healing Wounds
High blood sugar impairs your body's ability to heal itself and resist infection.
Vision Changes
When your blood sugar spikes, it can cause visual disturbances that can blur your vision.
Unexplained Weight Loss
In uncontrolled Type 1 Diabetes, the body may begin to break down muscle and fat for energy, leading to unexplained weight loss.
If you believe you may have Type 2 Diabetes, it's important to get checked out ASAP. Regular health screenings and glucose monitoring are important for early detection and effective management of Type 2 Diabetes, as symptoms may not be apparent in the initial stages.
The Sarasota Neuropathy Approach to Diabetes Care
As a diabetic and neuropathy treatment specialist in Vamo, FL, we are committed to offering a groundbreaking approach for Type 2 Diabetes, which focuses on reversing the condition by addressing the root causes rather than just managing the symptoms. Our innovative strategy goes beyond conventional treatment paradigms and delves into the underlying factors that contribute to Type 2 Diabetes.
We use a holistic methodology that includes comprehensive lifestyle interventions, nutritional counseling, and personalized medical oversight. This approach has consistently demonstrated remarkable efficacy in significantly reducing blood glucose levels among our patients.
Key highlights of our diabetes treatment include:
Book Appointment
The Path to Relief Starts with a Diabetic and Neuropathy Treatment Specialist in Vamo, FL
At Sarasota Diabetes & Neuropathy Center, our mission is to empower you to overcome neuropathy, Type 2 Diabetes, or both by embarking on a transformative journey to wellness. By integrating advanced medical care with comprehensive lifestyle interventions, we help you achieve better health outcomes and a renewed sense of hope and control over your journey to a healthy life.
Latest News in Vamo, FL
Manatees released back into Florida waters at TECO after almost a year of rehab
Kaycee Sloanhttps://www.wfla.com/news/florida/manatees-released-back-into-florida-waters-at-teco-after-almost-a-year-of-rehab/
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two manatees are getting a second chance at life as they will be released back into the Florida waters after spending nearly a year of rehabilitation at ZooTampa and the Georgia Aquarium.On Tuesday, manatees Burger and Vamo will be released back into the waters at Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center Tuesday afternoon. ...
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Two manatees are getting a second chance at life as they will be released back into the Florida waters after spending nearly a year of rehabilitation at ZooTampa and the Georgia Aquarium.
On Tuesday, manatees Burger and Vamo will be released back into the waters at Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center Tuesday afternoon.
Burrger was rescued on Jan. 25, 2023, from the St. Petersburg area after suffering from cold stress. He only weighed 320 pounds when he was found. Vamo arrived on Feb. 9, 2023, after being found in Little Sarasota Bay, emaciated and weighing only 260 pounds.
Both males received expert and around-the-clock care at ZooTampa, and by the fall, they were strong enough to be transferred to the Georgia Aquarium to continue their rehab journey.
According to a press release, the aquarium provided “plenty of food and veterinary care until the manatees were big and strong enough to be returned to Florida waters.”
Since Vamo and Burrger are considered to be inexperienced juveniles due to their age and size, the two manatees will be released at TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center, where manatees gather in large numbers and learn to migrate from the power plant’s warm water to other areas as temperatures rise.
On Monday, Tampa Electric announced its manatee viewing center set an “amazing new record” of manatee sightings at one time.
TECO said the center hosted 1,100 manatees at once, smashing the previous record of 850, which was set last winter.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated that these aquatic mammals cannot endure temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit for long periods as they can die from cold stress. As water temperatures drop, the gentle giants huddle together to generate warmth.
TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center is free for guests to visit. The center will remain open through April 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. For more information on TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center, visit their website or call 813-228-4289.
Florida Panthers to Start 30th Celebrations in Miami-Dade
George Richardshttps://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-to-start-30th-celebrations-in-miami-dade/
MIAMI — The Florida Panthers will kick off their 30th season back where it all began (or at least close to it) as their first celebrations will begin in Miami-Dade County.The Panthers spent their first five seasons playing at Miami Arena in Overtown and have rarely held official events south of the Broward County line since moving north.That will change next month when the teams holds two fan events in the Miami area — the first in Little Havana and the second in northwest Hialeah....
MIAMI — The Florida Panthers will kick off their 30th season back where it all began (or at least close to it) as their first celebrations will begin in Miami-Dade County.
The Panthers spent their first five seasons playing at Miami Arena in Overtown and have rarely held official events south of the Broward County line since moving north.
That will change next month when the teams holds two fan events in the Miami area — the first in Little Havana and the second in northwest Hialeah.
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On Sept. 9, the Miami Marlins will celebrate 30 years of kinship with the Panthers as they play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Marlins Park.
The Panthers will then hold a Vamos Gatos block party on Sept. 22 at Hialeah Trail Park off of I-75 just south of Miramar.
While the Panthers and Marlins usually have reciprocal events during their respective seasons, this one will include a special t-shirt to commemorate the two organizations being born in the same year and of the same ownership and management teams.
The Marlins and Panthers were started by the late H. Wayne Huizenga and shared the same inaugural year, the Broward billionaire eventually sold both teams by 2000.
As has been the case in past years with Anton Lundell and Matthew Tkachuk, at least one member of the Panthers will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Marlins say there will be “player appearances and an in-game takeover featuring Stanley C. Panther and Viktor E. Ratt.”
The ticket package sold through the Marlins includes a game ticket for the Marlins/Dodgers game as well as the t-shirt.
A portion of the proceeds benefit the Florida Panthers Foundation.
The Marlins are in the midst of their 30th anniversary season and wear retro 1993-era uniforms on Friday home games.
The Panthers, who started a few months after the Marlins did in 1993, have no plans to bring back retro jerseys for the upcoming season.
The Vamos Gatos event in Hialeah is free to the public and will run from 6-8 p.m. with food trucks, giveaways, games, music and more.
Since the Panthers will have started training camp by then, players may appear as well.
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK
FHN TODAY: Florida Panthers ‘Vamos Gatos’ Jerseys A Hit
Colby Guyhttps://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-vamos-gatos-jerseys-a-hit/
The Florida Panthers featured special edition ‘Vamos Gatos’ jerseys designed by Puerto Rican artist Carlos Solano to celebrate their Hispanic Heritage before Saturday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.The fans liked them, media as well.And the Panthers’ players seemed to take a liking to them.“I thought they were beautiful,” Ryan Lomberg said. “They did a great job designing them.”The crest of the jersey features a panther surrounded by palm tr...
The Florida Panthers featured special edition ‘Vamos Gatos’ jerseys designed by Puerto Rican artist Carlos Solano to celebrate their Hispanic Heritage before Saturday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.
The fans liked them, media as well.
And the Panthers’ players seemed to take a liking to them.
“I thought they were beautiful,” Ryan Lomberg said. “They did a great job designing them.”
The crest of the jersey features a panther surrounded by palm trees, jalapeño peppers, limes and a thimble cup of cafecito pasted on a blue practice jersey.
It also features vibrant orange, red and yellow font with a shoulder patch that says ‘Vamos Gatos’ on top of a Panther wearing a hat.
It was a hit in both the locker room and in the stores after they were done being worn.
Word on the street is that a team-issued Tony Bitetto jersey went for $500. They were that much of a hit.
Bitetto, it should be noted, has not played for the Panthers this season.
The defenseman for the Charlotte Checkers had a jersey made up just in case he was called up.
Aaron Ekblad said the Panthers should have worn them for the whole game.
”I actually really liked that logo,” he said. “It would have been cool to see on a game jersey.”
Maybe next season, Aaron…
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW
Anthony Duclair skated with the main group for the first time since sustaining a torn Achillies in the offseason.
He is still wearing a yellow, non-contact jersey but could shed it in to partake in a full practice before the All-Star break if his recovery goes well.
— The Florida Panthers took a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks last night — and a lot of that had to do with their play on special teams.
— The NHL All-Star jerseys have been leaked.
They feature a ‘Southwest Tamarac’ Vice look.
— Anton Lundell has benefited from a more simplified game after being moved to the wing last week.
— Hear from Paul Maurice, Sergei Bobrovsky, Lomberg and Ekblad following Saturday night’s win on the FHN YouTube Channel.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW
The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped their second-straight game with a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes last night.
That is very good news for a Panthers team that has been chasing them for the past few weeks.
The Pens came into the day holding the last Wild Card spot with a six-point lead — which is now four.
— The caveat there is that the New York Islanders moved into that slot with a win over the Montreal Canadiens last night and now hold a five-point lead over Florida.
— The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Capitals. Again.
— Anthony Mantha feels good about his play after being scratched by the Washington Capitals for two straight games.
— Jonathan Huberdeau’s Calgary Flames nearly blew a 6-1 lead to the Dallas Stars, but held on for the win.
— Canadiens prospect Sean Farrell scored a really nice coast-to-coast goal for Harvard on Saturday. It’s definitely worth a watch.
— It was Grateful Dead night for the Detroit Red Wings — and there was nothing to celebrate. ‘Dead Wings’ sounds familiar…
PANTHERS ON DECK
FLORIDA PANTHERS AT BUFFALO SABRES
New Florida Panthers Vamos Gatos Mural Spreads Playoff Fever to South Florida’s Latino and Hispanic Community
Editorial Staff @portada_onlinehttps://www.portada-online.com/more-features/new-florida-panthers-vamos-gatos-mural-spreads-playoff-fever-to-south-floridas-latino-and-hispanic-community/
The Florida Panthers are having a record-breaking season with a league-best 58-18-6 record, winning the Atlantic Division for the first time since 2015-16, clinching the first President’s Trophy in franchise history, and becoming the first team to secure a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. As the top team in the NHL, the Panthers are engaging South Florida’s ...
The Florida Panthers are having a record-breaking season with a league-best 58-18-6 record, winning the Atlantic Division for the first time since 2015-16, clinching the first President’s Trophy in franchise history, and becoming the first team to secure a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. As the top team in the NHL, the Panthers are engaging South Florida’s Hispanic communities in creative new ways as they get ready to pounce on the Washington Capitals during the playoffs.
Written by Alex de Carvalho, Miami
On April 30th, the Panthers unveiled a large mural in the heart of Miami’s world-famous Wynwood Arts District. The top of the mural has the lettering ¡Vamos Gatos!, “Let’s Go Cats!,” to build excitement for the playoffs. Renowned graffiti artist and muralist Pedro Amos designed the art and painted the mural, which features a bounding panther over a background of vibrant colors typically associated with Miami. The visually engaging mural includes the familiar sights of palm trees, high-rises, a causeway, a sunset, and the silhouette of a rodent to symbolize Former Panthers’ captain Scott Mellanby’s “rat trick.” The lighted mural covers a full building exterior wall facing I-95, Miami’s busiest highway, and is visible to cars driving by during the day and night.
The mural is an extension of the team’s ‘Vamos Gatos’ DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) campaign, which explores new ways to connect with and engage South Florida’s Hispanic market. Vamos Gatos began as a Spanish play-by-play live audio stream available to in-arena fans exclusively through the FLA Live Arena mobile application. With the app, Hispanic fans inside the arena can easily access live action commentary from their seats to enhance their real-time in-game experience.
Thanks to the team’s success this season, the mural represented a lot of work under demanding deadlines to promote the team’s playoff bid to the large Hispanic in Miami. There were many elements to deal with, from scheduling around the blistering weather to determining the design elements that would best represent the team, trying to get as many people involved as possible.
According to Pedro Amos, Wynwood provided a blueprint to the world for how to revitalize a neighborhood with graffiti art and represented a great creative opportunity to position the local team. “Working with the panthers was a dream. The team was phenomenal in terms of communication, especially with the tight deadlines,” said Amos. “With this special collaboration, we wanted to demonstrate the force of the panther on a warpath, making it large to portray its presence and importance. Similarly, with the “Vamos Gatos” letters, we want to incorporate and include the large Latino community in South Florida — it’s important that they feel united behind the Panthers.” Amos is a Miami native who has curated the Basel House Mural Festival over the past five years. His long-time passion for graffiti has led him to paint murals on four continents over the past 9 years alone. “I am grateful for opportunities to paint murals in public zones and to support organizations that want to express themselves through my chosen art,” Amos added.
The mural unveiling was followed by a Playoff Pop Up Party for Latinos at the Wynwood Marketplace, with graffiti artist Carlos Solano painting custom t-shirts on the spot for fans. The event featured photo opportunities with mascot Stanley C. Panther, drink specials courtesy of Stoli Vodka, and merchandise and ticket giveaways.
Bryce Hollweg, Florida Panthers Executive Vice President, mentioned that the Panthers are “Proud to have launched the Vamos Gatos campaign to celebrate the Hispanic culture and vibrant backgrounds that we have here in South Florida. It’s important for us not to be just focusing on Sunrise or Ft. Lauderdale and to be reaching out to our fans in Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach as well.”
The Panthers will have home ice advantage throughout the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, hosting the first two games of Round One at FLA Live Arena, as well as Game 5 and 7 if necessary. With the creative extension of the DEI ‘Vamos Gatos’ campaign, the Florida Panthers are spreading playoff fever to South Florida’s Latino and Hispanic fanbase.
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Florida should put star power in public health playbook
Sandra Vamoshttps://www.gainesville.com/story/opinion/2021/04/02/sandra-vamos-florida-should-put-star-power-public-health-playbook/4822283001/
Guest columnist...
Guest columnist
Last year, Florida’s sandy beaches and bustling bars were open for business. So was the coronavirus. Looking back, the state’s refusal to shut down the party to bring in tourism dollars cost thousands of lives.
Now it’s tequila déjà vu. Despite many colleges and universities eliminating or adjusting spring breaks, students (and many adults) are already out in full force across the state’s beaches. With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive orders preventing localities from enforcing mask mandates and wiping out unpaid fines, public health efforts have little teeth.
So Florida, now is the time to bring in the big guns. By guns, I mean Tom Brady and his right arm, which he can now use to throw masks across the land.
Call in “The Rock” too. Dwayne Johnson is apparently one of the nicest men ever, a man who is not ashamed to play tea party with his daughter and well placed to encourage COVID etiquette among the in-crowd.
We know that the time for action is now. Last year, a study tracked how COVID-19 followed 2020 spring breakers back home, using their smartphones to track them and their virus from their party scenes. The study, College Student Travel Contributed to Local COVID-19 Spread, had a database of 1,326 universities and 7.5 million university students across the United States.
Students who traveled to popular Florida spring break destinations contributed more to the spread of the virus compared to the average student. We don’t want a repeat.
College students are among last on the vaccination roll-out unless classified as essential workers or have a health condition. To date, 28% of the U.S. population have been vaccinated, reminding us that we are not at our goal of a 70% to 90% target vaccination needed to acquire resistance to the virus, reaching herd immunity.
As a professor in Michigan, I watched my sister, Cheryl Vamos, an associate professor of public health at University of South Florida, go through the first wave when it hit last year. I watched the video of the young man boasting, “If I get Corona, I get Corona, it’s not going to stop me.”
She described last year’s pandemic as “surreal” with so many unanswered questions, even as spring breakers were allowed to let their party flags fly. No one knew any better.
Now we do. But last month the nation witnessed the maskless Super Bowl festivities in Tampa. The outcome was Hillsborough County’s health department launching a national effort to track COVID-19 cases connected to other states and celebrations associated with the Super Bowl as a potential super-spreader. The more this happens, the more work lands on public health officials.
In preparation for spring break 2021, Miami Beach voted on a seven-week plan to enforce COVID-19 measures such as mask use and social distancing, including ads with the slogan “Vacation Responsibly.” On March 20, Miami Beach declared a state of emergency, including a 8 p.m. curfew in hopes to control unruly spring break crowds.
So far in Florida there have been more than 32,000 deaths, with the number of new cases over 5,000 and on the increase. My sister described public health as a “team sport,” but says that not everyone is giving it their best effort.
Some people just don’t get it. Others have become desensitized, an effect referred to as psychic numbing — the more who die, the less we care. Experts at USF Health explained that people who normally wear masks may choose not to do so among crowds relating this behavior to a social phenomenon, image, inconvenience and risk-taking.
As more spring breakers pour onto Florida beaches, now is the time for the state to call upon its new No. 1 resource, Tom Brady. Invite Brady to be the voice to spread COVID-19 messages for his newly chosen state.
This gives the football hero a second chance following his Super Bowl MVP speech, where he gave up the opportunity to send important public health messages to millions of people, such as “wear a mask.” We have seen how he promotes a healthy lifestyle by drinking those fruit smoothies, but what’s more healthy than avoiding the plague?
Influencers —- whether it's a celebrity like Brady or the Rock, or sponsored campus social media stars like Baylor University twins Brooklyn and Bailey, or a community leader on the ground — all can help.
The hope is to be a role model, wearing masks in public, washing hands and staying socially distant — even after being vaccinated, even on the beach, even after a tequila or two.
Sandra Vamos is an associate professor of public health at Western Michigan University.
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