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The Unbreakable Yolanda Davis

A Journey Through MS and Advocacy by REBEKAH PIERCE Ask Yolanda Davis her grounding philosophy on life, and she’ll tell you, “Be the light that lights another light.” Ask anybody around her whether she actually exemplifies that philosophy, and they’ll likely tell you, quite emphatically, “Yes!” She’s a force of nature, an unstoppable spirit with…
Beneficial Pawtnership

K9s for Cops Program Helps Fund Polk County Sheriff’s Office K9s by PAUL CATALA On Sept. 28, 2006, Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Williams and his partner, K9 DiOGi, were killed in the line of duty while pursuing a driver who had fled from a traffic stop. It was that dedication to law enforcement, the…
Drawing the Doctors of Tomorrow

BayCare Plans to Further Expand Residency Program by RYAN MILEJCZAK Throughout Florida and the nation, there’s a significant physician shortage that creates barriers to health care for many. To help meet the demand for new physicians, BayCare plans to increase its residency positions to more than 650 by 2029. To learn more about this new…

Health Facts: Tired … thinning hair . . . tearful? It may be your thyroid gland

THE THYROID GLAND is a butterfly shaped organ that sits in the lower front of the neck. It’s job is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the bloodstream and taken to every tissue in the body. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, energy levels, and affect your appetite, body warmth, sleep, and mood. Symptoms may…
Senior Care: Oral hygiene and its importance for your senior loved one

DENTAL HEALTH is important at any age, but it’s especially true for our senior populations. Today’s seniors likely didn’t have the benefit of fluoridated water and other products as children, and there are few healthcare programs that offer comprehensive dental care; both Medicaid and Medicare only offer scant coverage at best. The issue is so…
Editor’s Dose: Daily steps toward a healthier heart — so you don’t skip a beat

IN MY FAMILY, there is a history of a blood disease, which causes the person to produce too many red blood cells. This, in turn, causes the blood to be too thick, which puts the person at increased risk for heart attack or stroke. Although this rare condition is not linked to heart disease, it…