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Pop Quiz: Physical Activity Recommendations for a Healthy Heart

By Erika Aldrich Heart health is on a lot of people’s minds during the beginning of the year, but it should be a major focus year-round as heart disease is this nation’s leading killer of both men and women. Heart disease accounts for nearly one in four deaths in this county. Although many cases of…
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…
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…

Diabetes Mellitus: It’s not just about the sugar!

Diabetes mellitus is a well-known disease in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal. Patients need to control these levels so that the HBA1c or hemoglobin A1c test is less than 7%, through diet, exercise, and medication. It is important to understand that high glucose levels result in organ damage. Every organ has the…
Lumps in the Neck – Should I be Concerned?

Very often I see patients who have swellings or lumps in the neck and their first question is “should I be worried?” This is a great question but the answer is not always straightforward. There are many different causes of swelling in the neck that range from harmless to the very concerning. Let’s talk about…
Back to School Oral Health Tips

It’s hard to believe August is already here. Where has summer gone? With family vacations and beach days behind us, it’s time to start preparing for the upcoming school year. Outside of the new backpacks, shiny binders, and endless notebooks, there are other important items you need to prioritize before sending your kids back to…