Health briefs
November 12, 2002 Hypnosis class offered
Flenniken Public Library will offer a Stop Smoking with Hypnosis Class at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, in the library at 102 E. George St., Carmichaels.
This program is conducted by Pepperlee Anderson-Boviglia, who has been a board-certified clinical hypnotherapist for 20 years. The class is limited to 15 people, and there will be a small fee.
The participants will be taught self-hypnosis and will be in a group session to stop smoking. Tape recorders are permitted. An additional night will be scheduled if needed. Call the library at 724-966-5263 to register. The public is invited.
Postmenopausal study set
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health invites local postmenopausal women to participate in a national research study that will compare two osteoporosis medications in preventing bone fractures.
Both of the drugs – raloxifene (EvistaR) and alendronate (FosamaxR) – are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of osteoporosis in older women.
“Some women who have discontinued hormone replacement therapy may be looking for an alternative means of keeping their bones strong,” said Jane Cauley, Dr. P.H., associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and principal investigator for the Pittsburgh arm of the study. “Participation in this study guarantees them a five-year course of one of two FDA-approved medications for osteoporosis, as well as the knowledge that they are helping advance this important area of clinical research.”
To be eligible for the study, called EVA, women must be between the ages of 50 and 80, not had a menstrual cycle in the past two years, plan to stay in the Pittsburgh area for the next five years and meet the study’s requirements for bone density (to be determined in the clinic by the researchers). Complimentary transportation is available, and parking is provided.
Eligible women will receive, at no cost, medical tests and exams, calcium and vitamin D supplements and one of the two study drugs for five years. For more information about EVA or to register, call 1-800-872-3653.
Volunteers sought
The American Red Cross needs volunteers to help ensure local residents have the basic necessities that they may have lost along with so much more after becoming fire victims.
Schools, companies and community organizations are needed to help the American Red Cross in their yearlong campaign, “Fire Hurts … You Can Help.”
The goal is to collect essential personal care items (toiletries) needed by local families who suffer the devastation caused by fires, flooding or other emergencies.
Red Cross volunteers provide all family members with the comfort bags, which include basic items needed to attend to personal hygiene.
Any organization or school interested in participating in the “Fire Hurts … You Can Help” campaign is asked to call the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter at 412-263-3158.
Cancer group meets
The Community Cancer Support Group will hold its monthly meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Fayette Regional Cancer Center, 410 McClellandtown Road, Uniontown.
The topic will be “Strength for Caring” education and support for family caregivers. The guest speaker is Kim Martin, clinical social worker for the Uniontown Hospital.
The Cancer Support Group meetings are open to cancer survivors, their families and friends. Refreshments are served. For more information, call the cancer center at 724-437-2503.
Uniontown offers programs
The Uniontown Hospital and its home health care agency, Fayette Home Care, will offer the following community education programs in November:
– The Safe Sitter Course offers youth over the age of 11 the opportunity to learn safe babysitting techniques from registered nurses. There are two sessions. Each session is six and a half hours. The dates will be announced. A $10 fee is charged to cover the cost of education materials. To register, call 437-430-3333.
– The Parent Support Group for Pregnancy and Infant Loss will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the hospital’s Library Conference Room. This is for parents experiencing a loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn death, ectopic pregnancy or SIDS. Registration is not necessary.
– APPRISE is a State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) for older Pennsylvanians. The Department of Aging created APPRISE to help older Pennsylvanians understand their health insurance options and make sound decisions about what is best for them. For assistance with Medicare-related health insurance questions, call the Fayette HealthLine for an appointment with an APPRISE counselor at 724-430-3333.
– 2002 Oral Cancer Screening, which is free to the public, will be offered from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the hospital. To register, call the Fayette Health Line at 724-430-3333.