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Enhancing the Safety Net

Polk County Approves $4 Million for Indigent Health Care by PAUL CATALA It’s funding that’s being called a local healthcare “safety net” for the underinsured and uninsured in Polk County. In November, Polk County Commissioners unanimously approved more than $4 million in funding for primary care, dental services and behavioral health services for Indigent Healthcare Services.…
The Battle Within the Battle

Cancer Drugs Caused Weight Gain, but Bariatric Surgery Restored Her Health by TERESA SCHIFFER Rhonda Smith is feeling great these days. She’s in great health, eating right, getting regular exercise, and savoring life in a new way after an arduous battle. In 2005, at the age of 27, Smith visited her doctor because she was…
Striking a Balance

Fitness Center Is Helping Women Get On- and Stay On – the Road to Good Health by PAUL CATALAphotos provided by THE BALANCE CULTURE The temptation and indulgence of the holidays are enough to make even the most enthusiastic fitness buffs take a few weeks off. New Year’s resolutions are often cited for driving gym…

Medical Advice: National Nutrition Month challenge — ‘Put Your Best Fork Forward’

MARCH IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH, and The Florida Department of Health in Polk County is bringing awareness to the importance of a nutritious, healthy lifestyle. National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education campaign that was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to be observed annually in March. The campaign focuses its attention on…
Word of Mouth: How to know your mouth — and your mouthwash needs

NOT ALL MOUTHS are created equal, and not all oral concerns are the same. It’s the reason why there are so many different types of mouthwash available on the market.
Family Health: How to beat peak allergy season in Central Florida

SPRINGTIME IN CENTRAL FLORIDA is beautiful. Temperatures are pleasant and the warm breezes carry the sweet scent of the orange blossoms. Unfortunately for some, it also means pollen allergies from blooming flowers, like orange blossoms, and from trees and grasses, like live oaks and rye. That fine dusting of yellow pollen that is released every…