Health digest 3-7-02

Multiple Sclerosis event wants walkers

The Gateway Area Chapter of the national Multiple Sclerosis Society is hosting a benefit walk to raise funds for research.

The local walk follows a two-mile course and will be held April 14 at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. Walkers accept pledges for their mileage on the course. Registration is at noon with the walk to begin at 1 p.m.

Each participant will receive a bag and prizes. A meal will be provided. There also will be live entertainment. There is no age limit and the trail is wheelchair accessible.

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that typically is diagnosed when a person is between 20 and 40 years old.

For information, call (800) FIGHT-MS or visit the Web site at www.nationalmssociety.org.

Critical Care review offered for nurses

Deborah Tuggle will present a two-day "CCRN cram review" sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The review will be March 19-20 at Dempster Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

The class is for nurses preparing to take the CCRN exam and can be used for 18.5 hours of continuing education credit for recertification.

Tuggle is a nationally-known speaker and founder of Critical Care Curriculum.

For information, call 339-0551 or e-mail moxleys4@bootheel.net.

Thurston is appointed to state nursing board

H. Kay Thurston, a nurse at St. Francis Medical Center, has been appointed by Gov. Bob Holden to serve on the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

Thurston is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and has served in rural health care settings throughout the region. She most recently served at Womancare at St. Francis.

She and her husband live in Dexter, Mo.

Arthritis self-help course offered

The Arthritis Self-Help Course kicks off from 1-3 p.m. today and continue each week through April 4.

The class is offered at St. Francis Medical Center and teaches basic information about arthritis. The class deals with decreasing pain, relaxation and stress, proper exercise and medications. The class includes time for practicing relaxation techniques and exercises.

Registration fee is $10 and must be paid in advance. Call 331-5880 to enroll.

The course is sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation and the Regional Arthritis Center at St. Francis Medical Center.

--From staff reports