Health News
Features
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New Pacemaker Technology Saving Lives
by TIM CRAIG Madeline Falardeau knew she had heart problems. The Winter Haven senior could tell when she had an episode coming on – she would start to feel dizzy; her heart would beat slower; she had difficulty breathing. She knew not to panic. Yet, when those symptoms came on a morning in early May,…
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Make Sure You’re Covered With these Sunscreen Facts
by ERIKA ALDRICH Summer is upon us, and amidst the yardwork, barbecues, days in the pool, and trips to the beach, it’s important to remember one key component that should be present in each: sunscreen. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays and lessens your chances of developing skin cancer. Take our quiz…
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Tackling Prostate Cancer
Understanding the Risks and Preventative Options by TERESA SCHIFFER No one wants to hear “cancer” when they go to the doctor, but when it comes to prostate cancer, there can be a silver lining. Even though it makes up about ten percent of new cancer diagnoses each year, it only accounts for about five percent…
Columns
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Editor’s Dose: Tips for minimizing back-to-school stress
IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, then come early July you were already thinking about preparations for the new school year. Parents and children in the community this year are getting ready extra early because Polk County public schools moved up their calendar by one week — day one of school is August 15.
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Making the choice to breastfeed
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Polk County (DOH-Polk) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recognize August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This is a wonderful time of year to promote breastfeeding as a vital health activity and discuss the health benefits breastfeeding provides. Although every woman has their own…
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Editor’s Dose: Keeping kids’ bodies and minds active this summer
WHEN I FIRST had the twins, my mom would say, “Have a schedule for them, or they’ll have a schedule for you.” Basically, she was cautioning that I’d better keep those little minds and bodies active, or chaos would inevitably ensue. Being a mother of eight children, I think she was speaking from personal experience.…
