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Pop Quiz: Germs 101—A Crash Course for Parents

Back-to-school season is upon us, and that means your child’s chances of coming down with an illness is greatly increased. While schools are centers of learning, they are also breeding grounds for all manner of germs. However, there are ways to lessen your child’s chances of coming down with something, having to miss school due…
Tackling Mental Health Together

Establishing the West Central Florida Mental Wellness Coalition Recognizing the record number of suicide rates, substance use and opioid deaths, nearly 30 local organizations have joined forces to develop a regional mental health initiative. On June 20, BayCare CEO and President Tommy Inzina and participating leaders from other hospitals, behavioral health providers, law enforcement, government…
Working Like a Dog

Reading with Bonnie the Therapy Dog by RACHEL CHRISTIAN Cassandra Banning and Bonnie, her 10-year-old shih tzu therapy dog, have been bringing joy and happiness to people in the Plant City area for almost six years. The pair can be spotted across town visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and even Bruton Memorial Library. Unlike service animals…

Word of Mouth: Life impacts of dental implants

THE RESULTS are in: seniors who lead an active lifestyle are healthier, live longer, and have a better quality of life than seniors who don’t. A winning smile is a first step for any senior in creating confidence, but not all seniors are confident in their smiles. Missing teeth or loose dentures may cause some…
Senior Health: Exercise to ease arthritis pain

MORE THAN 50 MILLION adults suffer from arthritis, and there are 100 different types and related conditions. Arthritis is not actually a single disease; rather, it refers to joint pain and joint disease. Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced range of motion, and these symptoms may come and go or become progressively worse over…
Editor’s Dose: This is diabetes

NOVEMBER is American Diabetes Month. It’s a time when the American Diabetes Association (ADA) works to turn the nation’s attention to a disease that affects tens of millions of people — and their families.