Health news 2/22/07

Briefly

Heart and health screenings available at Saint Francis

February is American Heart Month, which makes it the perfect time to get a heart screening. No appointments are necessary for the heart and heath screenings, which are offered from 7 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at Saint Francis Medical Center's Health and Wellness Center lobby atrium, 150 S. Mount Auburn Road. Participants can receive "the works," which includes total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, cardiac risk ratio and glucose screenings for $27.50, or a complete cholesterol panel screening, which includes total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and cardiac risk ratio, for $22. For accurate results, a 10- to 12-hour fast is required, and medication should be taken with plain water during the fasting. The screenings cannot be billed to insurance or Medicare; however, Cape Girardeau County residents age 60 and older are eligible to receive full screenings free once per year while funding lasts if they have the screening results sent to their physicians. Other screenings offered include a glucose screening for diabetes risk for $6 and a women's osteoporosis screening for $25. There are also a number of free screenings available each week, including, abdominal aortic aneurysm risk assessment, stroke risk assessment (first Wednesday of every month) and blood pressure checks. For more information, call Saint Francis' wellness department at 331-5970.

Saint Francis presents sleep apnea support program

The Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center will present a special program from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at the hospital's Saint Clare conference room. The program will focus on sleep apnea and is for individuals who suffer from sleep disorders and their family members. For more information, call 331-5900 or (800) 455-9999.

Calendar

Today

American Red Cross blood drive at Christian School, 1855 Perryville Road, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

American Red Cross blood drive at Advance High School, 1 to 6 p.m.

Newborn massage at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Family Resource Center, 10 to 11 a.m. To register, call 651-5825.

Sensory integration dysfunction program at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Harrison Room, 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information or to register, call 651-5825.

Tuesday

American Red Cross blood drive at Jackson High School, 3 to 7 p.m.

American Red Cross blood drive at Lynwood Baptist Church, 2 to 6 p.m.

What's New in Breast Surgery program presented by Dr. Marc Bisseck at Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday

Community outreach clinic with the Scott County Health Department at Riverside Regional Library in Benton, Mo., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Heart and health screenings at Saint Francis Medical Center's Health and Wellness Center, 7 to 10 a.m.

-- From staff reports