Health News

Features

  • Working Like a Dog

    Working Like a Dog

    Reading with Bonnie the Therapy Dog by RACHEL CHRISTIAN Cassandra Banning and Bonnie, her 10-year-old shih tzu therapy dog, have been bringing joy and happiness to people in the Plant City area for almost six years.  The pair can be spotted across town visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and even Bruton Memorial Library.  Unlike service animals…

  • Taking Action

    Taking Action

    State Mandate Calls for Mental Health Education in Florida Schools  by MARY TOOTHMAN   The State Board of Education has voted to approve a new mandate that calls for specific mental health lessons to be given to students in grades six through 12. The focus will be on awareness, prevention, and reducing stigma. At least…

  • Pop Quiz: Facts and Stats about Glaucoma

    Pop Quiz: Facts and Stats about Glaucoma

    1.) Which of the following defines glaucoma? A medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision. A complex disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss. The inability to perceive differences in various shades of colors. The loss of vision after…

Columns

  • Editor’s Dose: A thank-you letter to nurses

    FROM MID-FEBRUARY to about mid-April, my family was at the doctor’s office a lot. The late-spreading flu season (although none of us in our household ever actually caught the flu — thank goodness) must have carried with it many other viruses, because we’ve certainly experienced our fair share. In fact, a few nurses on staff…

  • Healthy Skin: May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

    Healthy Skin: May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

    “C’MON, DOC. What’s a little sunburn?” is a question I frequently hear from the public. The answer is, if you’re lucky, that’s all it is. But a little sunburn is one of the easiest skin cancer risk factors to avoid. If left untreated, skin cancer, or melanoma, can progress to the point that it’s disfiguring…

  • Cautions for two of your favorite summer activities

    Cautions for two of your favorite summer activities

    SPRING IS THE TIME OF YEAR in Florida when temperatures begin to warm and the weather is perfect outside. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, this beautiful weather also marks the beginning of swimming season for Polk’s residents. Swimming and boating are two of the most popular summer activities for people living…

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