Health News
Features
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Making African-American history in Polk
Alice Manley: A lifetime of service (above) Alice Manley stands with four generations of directors for the health department. From left to right: Dr. Ulyee Choe (November 2012-Present); Dr. Daniel Haight (July 1996-November 2012); Dr. William F. Hill (January 1967-June 1985); and Dr. Kevin Sherin (July 1988-October 1993). Photo courtesy of the Florida Department of…
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Painting the town red with heart disease prevention
How Polk is taking steps to increase awareness and lower your risk Bill Mutz thought he was just going to help with a demonstration when he volunteered for an ultrasound at a Lakeland Leadership Cardiology group. But what he learned actually helped him: The ultrasound showed blood was not flowing properly through his heart’s mitral…
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New year, New you!
How Polk County is Tackling Obesity and Residents are Making Healthier Lifestyle Choices Fifty-one year-old Ann Good topped 200 pounds last May. She lacked energy and was short of breath. Concerned about a family history of heart disease and diabetes, she decided to act. Today Good is 50 pounds lighter and breathing easier, in more…
Columns
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Accidents at Home – What Can I Do?
Accidental injuries in the home account for thousands of ER and office visits in the US every year. The most common are falls. We are all conditioned to call 911 in an emergency, and more people are becoming certified in first-aid and CPR. It’s important to be familiar with some basic principles that can make…
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August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Children require clear vision to be successful in school and extracurricular activities. As children advance in school, the demand for clear vision increases because they spend more time reading and learning. Vision problems should be addressed at an early age to prevent visual and/or learning difficulties. There are many signs of difficulty with vision that may…
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Manual, or Electric Toothbrush?
Brushing your teeth consistently is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a happy and healthy mouth. Gone are the days where the only choice we had to make with our toothbrush was which color or cartoon character we wanted. Now, there is a wide range of manual and electric toothbrushes that all seem…