Health News

Features

Healing Polk’s communities

New Research Points to Health Disparities Among Certain Residents How a county thrives is based on how well the citizens within the county are thriving, and Polk County has taken a big step in improving its communities’ health by determining the health needs of its citizens. Thanks to a committee of devoted health experts, the…
Pop Quiz: Is your kitchen a nutrition crime scene?

Find out how much you REALLY know about food safety. One in six people in the United States are still getting food poisoning, leading to 100,000 hospital stays and 3,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. So, how can we be safer with our food at home? Try our quiz and determine how food safe-savvy…
Knowing is half the battle: Gynecological cancers explained

Q&A with Dr. Richard Cardosi on What You Need to Know to Stay—or Get—Healthy Dr. Richard Cardosi, a board-certified gynecologic oncologist and Polk County Medical Association member, provides comprehensive care for women with gynecologic malignancies and complex benign gynecologic conditions at Watson Clinic’s main office. He serves as president of Watson Clinic Foundation, looking for…

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…