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Pop Quiz: Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

It’s time for school-age kids, adolescents, and teenagers to say goodbye to summer and return to a school routine. One important component of the routine for students should be getting enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is important for everyone, regardless of age, but it’s especially important for kids and even teenagers. Take our quiz to…
Youths and Suicide: Spot the Warning Signs

by MATT COBBLE Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care Many health experts have noted that the pandemic has wreaked havoc on mental health as of late. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to focus on how to help those who are suffering. While the national attention turns to children and teens…
New Doctors in a New Era

Pandemic Offers Unique Education for Medical Residents Starting Their Careers by PAMELA PALONGUE Dr. Akhila Reddy likes practicing family medicine because it provides her with the opportunity to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds, from babies to geriatric patients, with a plethora of medical needs. One thing she couldn’t possibly have foreseen when…

Editor’s Dose: A thank-you letter to nurses

FROM MID-FEBRUARY to about mid-April, my family was at the doctor’s office a lot. The late-spreading flu season (although none of us in our household ever actually caught the flu — thank goodness) must have carried with it many other viruses, because we’ve certainly experienced our fair share. In fact, a few nurses on staff…
Healthy Skin: May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

“C’MON, DOC. What’s a little sunburn?” is a question I frequently hear from the public. The answer is, if you’re lucky, that’s all it is. But a little sunburn is one of the easiest skin cancer risk factors to avoid. If left untreated, skin cancer, or melanoma, can progress to the point that it’s disfiguring…
Cautions for two of your favorite summer activities

SPRING IS THE TIME OF YEAR in Florida when temperatures begin to warm and the weather is perfect outside. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, this beautiful weather also marks the beginning of swimming season for Polk’s residents. Swimming and boating are two of the most popular summer activities for people living…