Health News
Features
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Local Mother Achieves Degree Despite Health Challenges
by TERESA SCHIFFER Britainny Palmer may look like an ordinary mother, but she struggles with health issues that few have. Despite the obstacles created by her own body, she has managed to attain a bachelor’s degree in supervision and management recently from Polk State College. It wasn’t an easy task, but with perseverance and a…
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Tom Grothouse Working Passionately to Educate, Prevent Pediatric Drownings
by Mary Toothman Tom Grothouse worked in the fields of education and airlines much of his life, but his most recent years have been spent teaching children life-saving skills that prevent drowning. He seems to have found his niche. The Winter Haven resident is passionate about being an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor. With its…
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Finding the Right Plan and Support System Aids Local Weight Loss Stories
by Teresa Schiffer When it comes to health and fitness, the journey is just as important as the destination. Knowing what your goals are and developing a real plan of action for achieving them is the first step on that journey. That’s what these two individuals have done, and they’re sharing their stories. From the…
Columns
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Medical Advice: Your flu prevention to-do list
AS YOU GATHER your “to-do” lists and prepare for the holiday season ahead, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County recommends you add one more important step — get a flu shot! The flu shot is the best way to protect our families and communities against the spread of influenza. When you make it…
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Family Health: Flu shots for seniors
HE FLU is nothing to sneeze at. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 200,000 people will be hospitalized this year with the influenza virus, and it has been estimated that 50 to 70 percent of those hospitalized are people age 65 and older.
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Word of Mouth: Your dentist is key to early cancer detection
IT SEEMS LIKE you hear about many different kinds of cancers these days, but one that isn’t being talked about enough is oral cancer. Cancer in the mouth and throat are diagnosed in nearly 50,000 Americans a year, and statistics show that only 57 percent of those diagnosed still will be living in five years.
