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A healthier mouth means a healthier life

Why one patient has a lot to smile about “Dr. Hewett is the best dentist I’ve ever had!” Mrs. Dorothy went to Dr. Steven Hewett because her lower denture did not fit properly with her upper denture. She couldn’t eat and was losing weight, only able to manage soups and noodles. She had seen his…
Skip 5 common back-to-school sicknesses

Teach your child early to avoid spreading germs Educating – and immunizing – your children now can help them stay healthy when they return to school. One of the most basic common sense remedies is hand washing, but it’s got to be done right. “They should sing in their head the happy birthday song. As…
A new option for patients with no insurance

Lakeland Regional Family Health Center aims to save ER visits by offering medical care to patients with non-emergencies After a year of intense and strategic planning the Family Health Center opened on Wednesday, July 10. Cindy Sternlicht, director of public relations and marketing communications for Lakeland Regional Medical Center explains, “As of now, the Center…

Editor’s Dose: A thank-you letter to nurses

FROM MID-FEBRUARY to about mid-April, my family was at the doctor’s office a lot. The late-spreading flu season (although none of us in our household ever actually caught the flu — thank goodness) must have carried with it many other viruses, because we’ve certainly experienced our fair share. In fact, a few nurses on staff…
Healthy Skin: May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

“C’MON, DOC. What’s a little sunburn?” is a question I frequently hear from the public. The answer is, if you’re lucky, that’s all it is. But a little sunburn is one of the easiest skin cancer risk factors to avoid. If left untreated, skin cancer, or melanoma, can progress to the point that it’s disfiguring…
Cautions for two of your favorite summer activities

SPRING IS THE TIME OF YEAR in Florida when temperatures begin to warm and the weather is perfect outside. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, this beautiful weather also marks the beginning of swimming season for Polk’s residents. Swimming and boating are two of the most popular summer activities for people living…