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Are you prepared to save a life?

A Free, Hands-Only CPR Training Event Are you prepared to save a life? Learn about life-saving Hands-Only CPR at the upcoming Citizen CPR event, sponsored by the Polk County Medical Foundation. Citizen CPR is a non-profit agency, founded in 1985 under a mission to train as many people as possible in the basics of CPR.…
Educational (but cool) toys for my kids

Healthy Play Time is the Primary Goal with the Latest in Activity Toys and Games The list has gotten longer; the price tags more expensive. It’s the annual adventure for parents around the nation this time of year—finding the ultimate toys that children want and “need” this holiday season. However, a new trend in the…
Survival of the fittest for the holidays

Staying Focused on the Right Routine for the Best Results In the midst of holiday shopping and parties, it’s easy to rationalize skipping or postponing your regular workout. Don’t! “Stay active. Monitor your time. Make sure you schedule those workouts,” advises Rob Ciccone, a certified fitness trainer at Anytime Fitness in Auburndale. More than ever,…

Does Charcoal Toothpaste Really Whiten Teeth?

If you’re like most people, you want your smile to be as white as possible, and that might have led you to charcoal toothpaste. Sellers and manufacturers of charcoal toothpaste maintain that this (usually) black toothpaste or powder will get you as white a smile as you could want. However, do their claims hold up?…
What You Need to Know About Pediatric Heart Murmurs

We all want our children to be healthy and active, so what do you do when your child is diagnosed with a heart murmur? Well, the short answer is, nothing. In most cases, the heart murmurs that occur in children are deemed “innocent.” They may also be called “functional” or “physiologic,” but these three terms…
Wine: Good or Bad for Your Teeth?

Wine is a favorite beverage of many people, and the various studies indicating wine’s heart healthfulness have been greeted with cheers. However, while the antioxidants in certain wines may be good for your heart, it doesn’t speak as to whether wine is good for your teeth or not. WINE’S NEGATIVES Wine is a highly acidic…