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Curtailing diabetes

Essential Tips for Better Disease Management Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. It is a major cause of heart disease and stroke as well as the leading cause of kidney failure, non-traumatic lower-limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults. In Polk County, the incidence of diabetes is…
Warning signs of bullying

Putting a Stop to It Before It Causes the Most Damage When children complain about a headache or stomachache, parents may seek immediate relief with over-the-counter painkillers or antacids. But when the symptoms recur, over and over again, a trip to the family doctor may reveal a sinister reason: Bullying. “They don’t want to necessarily…
Replacing candy with better-for-you snacks

Healthy Options Headed for Local School Vending Machines Fat-free and soy yogurts, granola bars, fruit and grain bars, and soy crisps may become standard fare at some Polk County public schools this upcoming school year. The snacks will be offered under a new contract with Central Florida Healthy Vending in Orlando. Some 200+ healthy snacks…

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…
A PEAK Annual Wellness Visit Preserves Youth

Are you living your best life? Staying youthful? Part of living your best life is taking care of business, health-wise. We’ve all come to know our responsibility is visiting the doctor for our regular appointments, like the yearly physical. Now you MUST add the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) to the Yearly Physical for optimal health. The Peak…
Mouth – Body Connection

To understand how the mouth can affect the body, it helps to understand what can go wrong in the first place. Bacteria that builds up on teeth make gums prone to infection and inflammation. If allowed, inflammation and the chemicals it releases eat away at the gums and bone structure. The result is severe gum disease, known as periodontitis. Health…