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Lakeland Regional Health Works to Make Sure People Don’t Delay Care Over COVID-19 Fears By PAUL CATALA As coronavirus fears have grown throughout the nation, it has become clear there is a different trend starting, and it brings with it some dangers of its own. By late March, physicians and nurses in hospital rooms and…
Skin Smarts

Protect Your Skin From the Brutal Summer Sun by TERESA SCHIFFER Living in Central Florida, we are acutely aware of the effects of the sun. They don’t call us the “Sunshine State” for nothing! As wonderful as it is to bask in the warm glow of the sun day after day, too much sun exposure…
Pop Quiz: Prepare for Summer With Facts on Heat Stroke, Heat Exhaustion

Florida’s brutal summer is upon us, and that means heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real and present dangers every day. Florida’s high temperatures, intense sunshine, and ever-present humidity are a recipe for heat-related illnesses. Take our quiz on heat exhaustion and heat stroke and arm yourself with knowledge to prevent these life-threatening emergencies. 1.)…

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…