Print |
E-mail to a friend
NEWS
Hundreds take advantage of services at Health Expo
Joshua Lycans, right, teaches Brenda Patton and Jackson O'Roark about the harmful effects of tobacco during the Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
Purchase this photoRelated:
HUNTINGTON -- With rising health-care costs affecting people of every income bracket, health-conscious people poured into the Big Sandy Superstore Arena Saturday for Health and Fitness Expo 2008.
The event, sponsored by The Herald-Dispatch, WKEE-FM and WVHU-AM, gave Tri-State residents an opportunity to meet professionals in the local health-care industry and to participate in free screenings.
St. Mary's Medical Center had one of the largest setups, screening participants for possible health risks. Erin LaFon, manager of Community and Employee Welfare for the hospital, said staff were on hand to screen for high cholesterol and blood sugar levels, to check for osteoporosis and glaucoma and to measure weight and body mass index.
In the first two hours of operation, about 100 signed up for screenings, and staff found several people with high cholesterol and blood sugar levels that could have gone unnoticed, Lafon said.
"It's the age of people not having insurance," LaFon said. "People don't go to doctors on a regular basis so they come to us to find out what they need to find out."
Huntington senior James Roy said he took advantage of the free tests, screening and health-related items available at the expo. Aside from the cholesterol screening, Roy said he also received a skin cancer screening and a back massage from Huntington chiropractor Dr. Jason A. Moore.
With insurance costs continuing to rise, Roy said he's happy to see community health-care organizations and professionals give free health-care advice.
"You don't have to call for an appointment, use gas to get to the doctor's (office) and wait an hour before you get to see somebody. Here you come in, sit down and don't even have to wait," Roy said. "It's one-stop health care."
"It's nice this is provided for free since a lot of people can't afford health care anymore," said Huntington senior Carolyn Williams.
Williams said she makes it a point to come to the expo "to keep an eye" on her cholesterol levels. Instead of visiting a doctor for the basic tests, Williams said she just waits until the expo.
"It's easier than going to a doctor," Williams said.
