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5 reasons your child should see a pediatric dentist before school starts

At the start of a new school year, it’s common practice for parents to schedule routine physicals, which include vision and hearing testing. What should also be added to back-to-school preparations is a routine dental checkup. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dental checkups are as important as booster and immunization shots. Unfortunately, some…
Let’s get physical

POP QUIZ: How Physically Active Are You? The statistics show the truth— Americans aren’t getting enough physical activity in their daily lives. According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition website (www.fitness.gov), less than five percent of adults get 30 minutes of activity a day. You can take the step towards being more…
For him: Taking time to take care of yourself

Local Doctors (and Dads) Share How to Open the Door to a Longer, Healthier Life Fatherhood has many joys, but the stress of being a leader, provider, problem-solver, fix-it man, encourager, chauffeur, and disciplinarian can take a toll. In the long run, cutting stress and making a commitment to your health will help improve your…

Medical Advice: ESF8 Health and Medical Coalition: Creating bonds that strengthen disaster response

The world can be a dangerous place. There are natural disasters such as hurricanes, man-made disasters such as bioterrorism, and infectious disease outbreaks such as H1N1. When it comes to preparing and managing for these incidents and/or outbreaks, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) is equipped with one of the county’s most…
PCMA Letter: Counting our blessings

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches and swiftly thereafter we will be swung into the hectic pace of the holiday season, now is the best time to count our blessings. At this time of year, we should try to show our gratitude to our loved ones and friends who support us through thick and thin. For those…
Don’t forget to exercise your right to vote

Thomas Paine, one of the fathers of the American Revolution, wrote in the year 1795, “The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a person to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another…” While…