Home | Back

Health Watch (May 14)

Fitness Walk at the Natatorium May 21

Healthy Ohio is organizing the fourth annual Healthy Ohio Fitness Walk and is challenging community members to walk more than 100,000 miles with other Ohioans.

The group's goal is to have more than 100,000 Ohioans walk 1 mile on May 21. Interested walkers are invited to come to the Natatorium Health & Fitness Center at 2345 Fourth St. in Cuyahoga Falls on May 21 at noon.

The main gym at the Natatorium will be the "stomping grounds" for this event. The entrance is just to the right of the main entrance and will be clearly marked.

The Natatorium is registered online and will turn the total miles in to Healthy Ohio.

For additional information about the event, call the Natatorium at 330-971-8080.

Monthly Bone, Muscle and Joint series offered

Those limited by muscle or joint pain are encouraged to attend one of Akron General Medical Center's free community education series presented by Akron General Orthopedic Center specialists, monthly from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Upcoming topics include: Arthritis and Joint Pain, May 22 at Akron General's Health & Wellness Center -- West, 4125 Medina Road in Akron; Conditioning to Prevent Athletic Injuries and First Steps in Treatment, June 12 at Akron General's Health & Wellness Center -- North, 4300 Allen Road in Stow; and My Aching Feet: Relief for Common Foot and Ankle Issues, July 16 at the Health & Wellness Center -- West.

To register for the event, call 330-344-2462. For more information about Akron General Medical Center, go to www.akrongeneral.org.

Panic and anxiety program offered

A program geared to help anyone who suffers from panic, anxiety and agoraphobia is being offered in Stow.

Officials say they will teach people how to control panic attacks and anticipatory anxiety and learn how attitudes and current thoughts affect panic and anxiety.

Programs take place Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. and Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 732-940-9658.

Food addicts meet Thursdays at hospital

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, undereating and bulimia.

A meeting of the group takes place every Thursday at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital, 1900 23rd St., in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. Attendees should use the Falls Family Practice entrance.

For more information, call 330-677-1180, or visit www.foodaddicts.org.

Patients sought to help medical students

The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy are seeking standardized patients to assist in training tomorrow's physicians and pharmacists.

SPs are individuals who are trained to portray a particular illness or medical condition to medical and pharmacy students, residents and other health care professionals.

They help to teach and test medical interviewing, physical exams, disease diagnosis and management and communication skills. Students working with SPs are observed by physicians, and students receive feedback from both physicians and SPs.

NEOUCOM is seeking dependable people of all ages and backgrounds to serve as SPs at its Rootstown campus and occasionally in the college's family practice centers at its major affiliated hospitals in Akron, Canton and Youngstown.

SPs need to have flexible schedules, enjoy working with others and good memories for details. The need for SPs is periodic and times for training and activities vary throughout the academic year. However, most SP activities take place Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SPs are compensated for training and participation. Compensation varies based upon activities.

For more details, call Michele Rosenberger at 330-325-6747, Marlene Strollo at 330-325-6749 or Howard Gregory at 330-325-6743; or visit www.neoucom.edu/audience/about/institutes/wccs/Patients.

Cancer support groups scheduled to meet

The American Cancer Society has a number of free support groups for cancer patients, families and friends. These groups meet in various locations in the region on a regular basis and each is led by a cancer survivor who knows firsthand how it feels to deal with cancer.

Officials say talking to someone who has been in a similar situation provides emotional support.

These groups give each person the chance to discuss their cancer openly and learn how others dealt with their cancer.

The American Cancer Society has support groups for people with breast, colorectal or prostate cancer.

Many of those who attend have survived cancer for five years, 10 years or longer. Most support groups meet in every county in Ohio on a monthly basis.

To find out about the types of groups and when they meet, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

NarAnon meets
every Saturday

NarAnon, a 12-step program designed to help relatives and friends of addicts, will meet at the First Congregational Church, 85 Heritage Drive in Tallmadge, every Saturday night.

"Saturday Night Serenity" features a beginners meeting at 6:30 p.m. where newcomers are introduced to the NarAnon program.

The meeting gives newcomers the opportunity to open up to a member before the start of the regular meeting, which runs from 7 to 8 p.m.

For additional information, call Judy at 330-603-7577 or Mim at 330-297-5534.

Akron General to host 'Heal Ohio' conference

"Heal Ohio 2008: Showcasing Wound Care Competencies," a one-day multidisciplinary conference hosted by Akron General Medical Center and sponsored by the Northeastern Ohio Consortium for Wound Healing Research and Education, will take place Oct. 2.

"Heal Ohio 2008" is aimed at bringing together innovative researchers, clinicians, nurses, corporate R&D Managers, entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors who are interested in wound care research and commercialization.

For additional information, contact Ginger Brake, Coordinator, Akron General Medical Center Department of Medical Education, at 330-344-6861 or via e-mail at gbrake@agmc.org.