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Know the Numbers: 1 in 4

Don’t Underestimate the Effects of Stress on Heart Health by TERESA SCHIFFER Heart disease accounts for one in every four deaths in the United States. With odds like that, it’s good to know that some contributing factors are within your control. Stress is one of those factors. Everyone experiences stress at some…
Game On!

Polk Senior Games Return This Year With Outdoor Activities by CATHERINE CERVONE This year marks the 29th year of the annual Polk Senior Games, the largest of the 20 local senior games held in Florida. Participants who are turning at least 50 years old in 2022 can participate in a variety of…
Pop Quiz: Heart attack or Panic Attack: Which Is It?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., so it’s no wonder that a heart attack—a result of coronary artery disease, which is one of the forms of heart disease—is a concern. While the most common symptoms of a heart attack are often recognizable, the symptoms of another common health condition—a panic…

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…