News Release

March 20, 2006

Contact: Carolyn Pennington, 860-679-4864
e-mail: cpennington@uchc.edu

Celebrate Health Programs: April 2006

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Celebrate Health at the University of Connecticut Health Center encompasses two free membership programs, Celebrate Women and Celebrate Aging, that provide valuable health and wellness information for targeted audiences in the community. A variety of educational programs are being offered in April.

The Truth about Government Insured Reverse Mortgages: Learn the facts about reverse mortgages. Kathryn Freda, a reverse mortgage specialist, will provide an unbiased, detailed, and candid overview of this very important option for homeowners who are at least 62 years of age. The talk will be held on Wednesday, April 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center.

Balance and the Working Woman: Do you feel life is out of balance as you juggle career, home, and a personal life? Through this informative, interactive, and enjoyable workshop, life coach Lori Woodhouse will teach you powerful techniques to create more balance, fulfillment, direction, and ease in your life. The fee for the program is $15 and will be held on Wednesday, April 5, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in the Onyiuke Dining Room at the UConn Health Center.

Healthy Lifestyles – Exercise, Diet and Mental Health: This presentation will focus on how diet, exercise and a positive outlook can impact your health and promote successful aging. Patrick Coll, M.D., director of Clinical Programs at the UConn Center on Aging and Division of Geriatric Medicine will lead the discussion. This lecture is open to the public and will be held on Friday, April 7, from 11 to noon at the Seabury Retirement Community, 200 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield. To register or for further information, please call the Seabury Retirement Community at 860-243-6071.

Learn the Joy of Reiki: Reiki is an ancient physical healing art that is the most widely used healing modality today. Libbe Clarke will teach you about energy centers (chakras) and how to do Reiki healing for yourself and others. This eight-hour class includes Reiki Level 1 Workbook and Certificate of Completion. The class will be held on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Academic Research Building’s large conference room at the UConn Health Center. The $100 fee is payable to “Libbe W. Clarke” and mailed to: Purple Sky Medicine Walk, 33 Dividend Road, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

Oral Health – Keeping Your Mouth Healthy: Find out the effects of commonly prescribed and over-the-counter drugs on your oral health. Ruth Goldblatt, D.M.D., will also discuss how to prevent gum disease and cavities, how to do your own oral screening, and how to pick the right toothbrush. The talk will be held on Monday, April 10, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center. The lecture can also be viewed live via web cast at www.celebrate.uchc.edu/webcast/.

Coping with Stress and Anxiety: During Stress Awareness Month, Norman Andrekus, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychiatry, will join experts around the country in increasing public awareness about the causes and cures for modern stress. During this lecture, Dr. Andrekus will help you slow down and observe the automatic thoughts and feelings that are revving you up into an anxious state. A model which integrates mindfulness based meditation and cognitive behavioral psychology will be presented and practiced during the talk. It will be held on Tuesday, April 11, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Onyiuke Dining Room at the UConn Health Center.

Peripheral Artery Disease Screening: Do you experience cramping, pain or tiredness in your legs or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs that goes away with rest and returns when you walk again? As many as 8 to 12 million Americans have Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and mistake the symptoms for something else. PAD occurs in both men and women, and individuals with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol are at greater risk for PAD. The Peripheral Artery Disease screening consists of an Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) test performed by using blood pressure cuffs on the arms and ankles. The free screening will be held on Wednesday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Keller Auditorium of the UConn Health Center. Registration is required but walk-ins are welcome.

Is It Time to Stop Driving? Patrick Coll, M.D., director of Clinical Programs at the UConn Center on Aging and Division of Geriatric Medicine will lead a frank discussion about when it’s a good time to stop driving your car. The lecture is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, April 13, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. at the Commons Building at Covenant Village of Cromwell, 52 Missionary Road, Cromwell.

Arthritis, Autoimmune Disorders and Pain Relief: Arthritis means inflammation in the joints. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, warmth, and loss of function. Anne Parke, M.D., Dept. of Rheumatology, will present conventional options that are available for pain management, their benefits, and their complications, while Mitch Kennedy, a naturopathic physician on staff at the Health Center, will present alternative and complementary options for pain management such as herbs, vitamins, and acupuncture. They will also discuss drug-herb and drug-nutrient interactions for people desiring an integrated treatment plan for their pain. The program will be held on Wednesday, April 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Keller Auditorium at the UConn Health Center.

Recent Advances in Hypertension: According to recent estimates, nearly one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure (hypertension), but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know they have it. Get the facts on high blood pressure and how to live a heart-healthier life. George Mansoor, M.D., Dept. of Medicine, will update the audience on recent research in the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure. The talk will be held on Thursday, April 20, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Onyiuke Dining Room at the UConn Health Center. Have your blood pressure checked – a free screening will be held before and after the lecture.

Melanoma Screenings for Women: Someone dies of melanoma every hour. It’s the deadliest skin cancer and the number of cases is rising by about 5 percent a year. The only definitive cure is early diagnosis. Lori Wilson, M.D., Dept. of Surgery, will provide free visual screenings to detect possible melanoma, answer questions on how you can protect against skin malignancy, and make necessary referrals. The screening will be held on Friday, April 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Hollfelder Center for Women’s Health at the UConn Health Center.

Cosmetic Surgery – Managing How We Age: Once reserved for the rich and famous, cosmetic surgery has become more widely accepted and increasingly common among mainstream Americans. Join us as cosmetic plastic surgeon, Rajiv Chandawarkar, M.D., Chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, will talk about what can be done both surgically and nonsurgically, the benefits and risks, and what you can reasonably expect from cosmetic procedures. Learn about facial plastic surgery, tummy tucks, liposuction, breast procedures and more on Tuesday, April 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center.

Registration for these programs is required. The programs are free unless otherwise noted. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692. For more information, visit the Celebrate Health web site: www.celebrate.uchc.edu.

UConn Health includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Home to Bioscience Connecticut, UConn Health pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about UConn Health is available at www.uchc.edu.

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