Health News
Features
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To smile or not to smile
Dr. Karen Teston and other local experts on oral hygiene and your overall health Some folks are afraid of pain. Some know they haven’t done a good job of taking care of their teeth, and don’t want to be lectured. Still others lack cash. Whatever the reason, many avoid the dentist until an emergency arises.…
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Community outreach programs make check-ups more available
Free dental exams, preventative tooth care, and more Several outreach programs in Polk County recently offered free dental exams and other tooth services to spread awareness about the need for dental health care. At the Haines City Dental Clinic, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) offered free comprehensive dental exams to children…
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Helping make the healthier choice, the easier choice
About the Building a Healthier Polk initiative Building a Healthier Polk is a group of community partners brought together by Polk Vision who are working towards the goal of reducing the obesity rate in Polk County. Polk Vision is a broad, community-led partnership of organizations, businesses, government, and individuals. In 2012, Polk Vision’s Quality of…
Columns
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The Heart of the Matter: The little-known fact of high blood pressure
IN MY FIRST column for Central Florida Health News, I wanted to get down to the heart of the matter on a topic that’s often left unaddressed for men: erectile dysfunction (ED). You may be asking yourself why a cardiology specialist would want to talk about this problem.
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Healthy Cook: Springtime treats with a tropic guava twist
What would a Cuban turnover be without guava paste? Bland! Guava is a New World fruit that has spread over much of the warm parts of the globe. Guavas come in a few colors inside and a few flavors. The ones you buy or pick can be from 140 species. They are pear-shaped, oval or…
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Hospice Help: Aging gracefully — it’s not just about your looks
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH wherever you look — driving on the highway, watching television, or surfing the Internet — there is an advertisement for a cream, potion, or injection that will restore looks to one’s younger days. Granted, these touted options might work, but they only address a concern for health on the surface. What…