Health News

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Caring for your mental health

How to stay sane and make the most of your genetic heritage When a couple has been married 50 years, their lives are so intertwined they may be able to finish one another’s sentences. When one of them dies, the loss can be devastating. Normal grief can turn into depression—with life-threatening consequences.
Pop Quiz: How to alleviate mobility issues

Test your knowledge of mobility precautions to help keep your senior loved one active and safe As we age, our ability to move changes as well, going from one extreme to the other. However, we realize how precious our mobility is when seeing an older relative dealing with difficulties in movement. Be part of the…
Long-term health: Considering your BMI

The importance of discussing your Body Mass Index with your physician Since 2003, Polk Vision has been bringing together community partners to work toward Polk County’s collective vision. Going a step further, several Polk Vision members are working towards reducing the obesity rate in our communities with our Building a Healthier Polk Initiative. Of course,…

Pediatric Health: Why your child should follow the immunization schedule

ALTHOUGH THE SIGNIFICANCE of vaccinating children is widely recognized, it is essential to understand the importance of adhering to an immunization schedule. These schedules are determined and evaluated by leading experts each year, taking the most recent scientific data into consideration. They are then approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of…
Editor’s Dose: An allergy alert and chemosis cautions

WELL, I THINK IT’S SAFE to say that spring has most definitely sprung. It’s that time of year when you walk outside your door and notice your car has a nice sheen of yellow from the layer of pollen that has adhered to the entire exterior. It’s also the time of year for sneezing, sniffling…
Stick to your ‘healthy lifestyle’ guns

THE CONNECTION between poor diet, obesity, and cardiovascular disease is not one that is hard to trace. What is difficult, however, is changing one’s lifestyle to combat the dangers of heart disease. Attempting to undo a lifetime of poor diet and exercise choices requires real determination and willpower, two characteristics that aren’t necessarily the strong…