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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…
The trouble with trigger finger

Local surgeon develops alternate solution for a tricky procedure There’s no getting around this fact: you need your hands. When one or more of your fingers or thumbs doesn’t function properly, it interferes with work and play. Correcting a condition such as trigger finger once meant a trip to a hospital or surgery center for…
Healthy Cook: The disease-fighting properties of red foods

Roses are red Berries are blue Red foods tastes good And are heart-healthy, too. There are only a few days of the year when a writer can get that corny, and who am I to pass up the chance? But it’s true. Lots of red foods are good for the heart because of what they…

Getting Back Your Smile

Your smile is one of the first things people notice when they see you and can impact people’s first impressions of you. Studies show that one-third of American adults are unhappy with their smile and believe having better teeth would improve their social and romantic lives. Fortunately, there are ways you can get that smile…
Health Hero

Local Firefighter Named EMT of the Year After Heroic Actions by TERESA SCHIFFER Superheroes don’t get days off! In August of 2017, Haines City firefighter Brenn Hines had an experience that his training had prepared him for. While visiting Ana Maria Island with his girlfriend and soaking in the sun and the sea, Hines heard…
Diverticulosis or Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a disease that affects the GI tract, primarily the colon. It increases with age, especially after age 40. There are many misnomers and misconceptions regarding this spectrum of disease and hopefully this helps to shed some light on them. Little pouches spring out from the walls of the colon due to high pressure…