pencil in Saturday, April 2nd on your calendar for rome memorial hospital's annual community health fair

ROME – The Rome community is invited to Rome Memorial Hospital’s annual Community Health Fair on Saturday, April 2^nd, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the hospital, said Director of Education Gale Barone, B.S., R.N. The health fair will feature free screenings including blood tests for total cholesterol and glucose (8-hour fasting is required), colorectal cancer, depression, blood pressure, vision, hearing, body fat analysis and foot exam.

“Routine health screenings are a valuable tool in assessing risk for disease and detecting problems early when they are more easily treated,” said Barone.

There will be numerous educational displays where visitors can pick up informational handouts on topics including childhood obesity, sexual and domestic violence, osteoporosis, financial assistance and charity care, heart disease, substance abuse, Parkinson’s Disease and breast cancer. A number of free samples and giveaways will be available. Information on careers in healthcare will also be available.

Free massages will be available and alternative therapies such as energy and color and sound therapy will be presented as well.

“Rome Memorial Hospital hosts the annual health fair to encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle,” Barone said. “We want people to protect their good health by taking advantage of the free screenings that are available,” she added.

It is estimated that one in three people with diabetes do not know that they have the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association. About 25 percent of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. But, a third of them do not know they have a problem, according to the American Heart Association. “Heart disease and diabetes can sometimes progress silently for years, but during that time they are damaging body organs,” said Barone.

“Some people don’t have any symptoms or don’t recognize them until they have a heart attack or a complication caused by diabetes.”

Advance registration is not required to attend the free community health fair. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call the Education Department at 338-7143.