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Sweets and sour news for kids

Certain Candies Are as Acidic as Battery Acid on Kids’ Teeth Peering into kids’ mouths every day, pediatric dentists have noticed an alarmingly widespread problem of late. Something is eating away at the chewing surfaces of children’s back teeth. Turns out, its worms – gummy worms, that is – along with assorted other sweet-and-sour candies,…
Kristi Yamaguchi speaks out on influenza

Should you get a flu vaccine? Less than half of the U.S. population actually gets the annual flu vaccine. While vaccinations are recommended in late summer or early fall, it’s still beneficial even in the middle of winter. During many flu seasons, influenza activity doesn’t peak until winter or early spring. In fact, virus activity…
Making choices that lower your risk

How African-Americans Can Avoid High Blood Pressure Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is a heavy weight that the African-American community has been destined to cope with. While no one is immune from high blood pressure, it is a proven fact that the African-American population has a 40 percent higher rate over any other ethnic group…

Healthy Cook: Sticking to diets that work

Okay folks. The fun is over. It’s time to get back to the real world. That means tightening the belt you let out a couple of notches over the holidays. Controlling weight is a year-long process and, unless there is a medical reason, is a matter of math. Calories in versus calories out. If you…
Editor’s Dose: Real change vs. empty promises

Here we are, at the dawn of a new year, and we each have an opportunity to challenge ourselves. This is the time when we resolve to let go of bad habits and become better people. Last year at this time, I didn’t want to make any empty promises. So being the editor that I…
Signs & Symptoms

Q&A on how to recognize (and treat) an overactive thyroid An overactive thyroid can cause alarming symptoms. We interviewed Dr. Brian Lake, an endocrinologist treating thyroid disease and diabetes at Gessler Clinic in Winter Haven, about the disease’s warning signs and treatments. Central Florida Health News (CFHN): What are the symptoms of an overactive thyroid…