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Prepare Your Kids for a Happy, Healthy School Year

by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care Soon, kids across Central Florida will be going back to school, and that means it’s time to start preparing. In addition to loading up on school supplies, it’s also important to make sure kids are prepared to stay healthy so they can get the most out…
Pop Quiz! How Serotonin Savvy Are You?

From Mood to Memory, This Chemical Is a Mighty Messenger If you were told that there is a chemical in your body that plays a role in nearly every part of your life, would you believe it? It’s serotonin, and while you may have heard of it in relation to feeling happy, it actually plays…
Bartow Regional Plans $110 Million Expansion

Hospital President Sites Booming Population as Driving Force by PAUL CATALA On June 4, the BayCare Board of Trustees approved a $110 million plan to expand the hospital from 72 to 90 beds and enhance its emergency, catheterization lab and surgical services departments. “I think that’s amazing,” says Bailey Caustic, a Bartow native who was…

Healthy Smiles: Alternatives for missing teeth

THIS MONTH we are sharing some information on dentures. No matter the reason for missing teeth (trauma, periodontal disease, etc.), missing teeth can affect the way you eat or speak. Loss of teeth can also impact your appearance and self-esteem. There are many choices available to replace missing teeth, including dental implants and dentures. A…
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…
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.