Health News

Features

When animals attack

Q&A on how to prevent dog bites Now that the kids are out of school, we want them to get outside and have some fun. As cautious parents though, we see dangers everywhere including around stray dogs, at the doggy park, and yes, even the pets of our friends and neighbors. The hard truth is…
3 dangers of tooth loss and poor fitting dentures

Danger #1: Dentures increase your risk of heart disease and oral cancer While tooth loss may seem like a small problem compared with other health issues, it is often the first sign of bigger problems for many people and can put them at higher risk for heart disease and oral cancer. When dentures don’t properly…
Kicking the soda habit, kid style

Help your children consume better beverages When a soda can is an appendage to a child’s hand and the water faucet is squeaky from disuse, parents should probably start enforcing a break in the soft-drink habit. Today, they’ve got lots of support. Sugar-sweetened beverages are among the foods to consume less of in the 2010…

Medical Advice: Your flu prevention to-do list

AS YOU GATHER your “to-do” lists and prepare for the holiday season ahead, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County recommends you add one more important step — get a flu shot! The flu shot is the best way to protect our families and communities against the spread of influenza. When you make it…
Family Health: Flu shots for seniors

HE FLU is nothing to sneeze at. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 200,000 people will be hospitalized this year with the influenza virus, and it has been estimated that 50 to 70 percent of those hospitalized are people age 65 and older.
Word of Mouth: Your dentist is key to early cancer detection

IT SEEMS LIKE you hear about many different kinds of cancers these days, but one that isn’t being talked about enough is oral cancer. Cancer in the mouth and throat are diagnosed in nearly 50,000 Americans a year, and statistics show that only 57 percent of those diagnosed still will be living in five years.