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Pop Quiz! Do You Know What Is — and Isn’t — a Service Animal?

Writer Thom Jones said, “Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them,” so it’s no surprise that dogs can also be trained to help people with disabilities. Service dogs helping the blind have been around for hundreds of years, but did you know there are also service dogs that help owners with…
The Frazzle Factor

Exploring the Link Between Stress and Heart Health by REBEKAH PIERCE If you’ve ever felt like stress is something that’s all in your head, think again. It’s likely doing much more than just making you feel overwhelmed. Chronic stress has a sneaky way of impacting your entire body, and those impacts aren’t just limited to…
Survivor’s Story

Alex Santiago Learns Family Is at the Root of His Heart in More Ways Than One by REBEKAH PIERCE “Listen to your heart.” That’s the advice given to practically everyone these days, it seems, from young entrepreneurs thinking about launching their own startups to high school students attempting to choose a college major. But for…

PCMA Letter: My last letter as your president

IN THIS EDITION of Central Florida Health News magazine, you’ll read about some of the procedures that not only help improve the patient’s physical health, but also quality of life, and in some cases, improve self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is a procedure that can accomplish one or all of these health goals, and Polk County Medical…
Word of Mouth: Good tricks to know and treats you should keep to a minimum

FROM HALLOWEEN to the New Year, it seems as though both our mouths and our waistlines are bombarded with treats, sweets, and high-calorie foods. If you do nothing else this time of year, it should be to take care of your oral hygiene and be careful not to over indulge, but that’s easier said than…
Hospice Help: Raising awareness about hospice

AN UNFOUNDED misconception by most people is the following: Hospice care only occurs within the last 72 hours in the life of a person who has a life-limiting disease. NOT TRUE! Awareness to address this falsehood is one of many reasons why November is designated as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.