Health Night Helps Out
By Paul Swiech
BLOOMINGTON
Lynn Warner's health insurer doesn't cover preventive medicine.
That's one reason Warner was lying down getting a free back massage Tuesday evening. She also had free cholesterol, blood pressure, bone density and glaucoma screenings.
"I like to come here, and my doctor accepts the results from the screenings," said Warner, of Bloomington.
"Here" was Central Catholic High School for the sixth annual Women's Health Night, sponsored by Illinois Heart & Lung Foundation.
Warner, a registered dietitian, knows the importance of preventive medicine. That's why she takes step aerobics, uses a treadmill and lifts weights at the YMCA -- and why she was at the health night.
She told Dave Dietsch, massage therapist with Fox & Hounds Hair Studio & Day Spa, to "give me the works." He responded with a combination Swedish and trigger point massage.
"Oh, I love massage," she said afterward. "I get one once a month. It's good for the circulation."
Warner was among about 1,200 people who attended the event and Fox & Hounds was among 62 vendors with booths. Among them were chiropractors who provided free posture analysis, and BroMenn Regional and OSF St. Joseph medical centers who provided free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.
Jane Delforge of Bloomington, who has been to all six health nights, took advantage of the screenings and listened to Dr. Scott Morgan discuss female urology. Other speakers were Dr. David Koh on sleep and Dr. Jeffrey Poulter on cosmetic and laser surgery.
Carol Smith of Bloomington said she has back problems because she's gained weight. But she plans to start water aerobics and was at the health night to get information on care of the back.
"It's interesting learning new things and getting information and advice," she said.
One new thing was facial microdermabrasion performed by aesthetician Amber Hinthorne with Doran Capodice & Efaw Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. She passed a wand over the face of Joann Barnes of Normal as baking soda crystals were released to remove the top layer of skin.
"It grows back tighter, healthier and more refined ... and is a good treatment for fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and acne scarring," Dr. David Efaw said.
"I have problem skin and I thought it would help. It felt like a cat's tongue," Barnes said of the procedure.
"The purpose of this night is to acquaint women with issues they have concerns about," said event chairperson Karen De Angelis.
Keeran Spirit of Success Award
The event also saw the presentation of the third annual Gale Keeran Spirit of Success Award. Keeran, a community leader who was instrumental in starting the women's health night, died in November 2001.
The award went to Tina Sipula, founder of Clare House, the Bloomington food pantry that distributes food to the poor twice a week and also operates the Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
"I'm extremely honored because Gale was a person with such compassion for our community," Sipula said.
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