For immediate useOct. 14, 1997 -- No. 741

Women's Health Fair to cover health-care issues facing women

CHAPEL HILL -- How can women prevent heart disease? Why is depression so hard to diagnose and treat? Since most studies support the benefits of hormone replacement for women, why don't more women take estrogen? Why is pre-conception pregnancy planning so important?

Learn the answers to these questions and more Saturday (Oct. 18) at Women's Health Fair. The UNC Women's Wellness Network is sponsoring a health fair for women of all ages from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the William and Ida Friday Continuing Education Center off N.C. 54 in Chapel Hill.

The fair will feature health-care experts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine faculty discussing such topics as heart disease, hormone replacement therapy, skin care, breast cancer and the controversy over mammograms, osteoporosis, laparoscopic surgery, pre-conception planning, preventing adolescent pregnancy and depression. The topics will be covered in 45-minute sessions.

The fair also will have more than a dozen exhibits offering information on topics such as adolescent health, arthritis and stroke prevention. A physical therapist will demonstrate proper stretching techniques to prevent common sports injuries, and a screening will be held for carpel tunnel syndrome.

People attending the fair can register to win a free American Airlines ticket. The event is free and open to the public.

Here's the schedule for the Women's Health Fair:

9:30 to 10 a.m. Coffee, juice available. Exhibits open.

10 to 10:45 a.m. Sessions (participants choose one)

* “Preventing Common Sports Injuries.” Dr. Louis C. Almekinders, associate professor of orthopedic surgery, will discuss common injuries in female athletes, especially shoulder and knee injuries. Prevention and early recognition will be emphasized.

* “Caring for an Elderly Relative.” Florence Soltys, clinical assistant professor at the School of Social Work, and Dr. Elizabeth Mutran, professor at the School of Public Health, will address the role changes, conflict and stresses that affect the feelings of being constricted and confined due to the demands of the care. Practical information on resources and ways to cope will be shared and discussed.

* “Minimally Invasive Surgery: What the Consumer Should Know.” Dr. John F. Steege, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, will discuss new developments in laparoscopic treatments, including those for endometriosis, hysterectomy and urinary incontinence.

* “Breast Health and the Controversy over Mammograms.” Dr. Etta D. Pisano, associate professor of radiology and chief of breast imaging services at UNC Hospitals, will discuss the benefits of mammography and the issue of screening women over 50 and between the ages of 40-49. The causes of false positive mammograms and the work-up of breast lesions also will be covered.

11 to 11:45 a.m. Sessions (participants choose one)

* “Personal Safety: Some Tips for Women.” Lt. Angela Carmon, crime prevention officer at the UNC-CH Public Safety Department, will discuss the importance of understanding personal safety and what steps women can take to minimize their risk.

* “Recognizing and Treating Depression.” Dr. Cort A. Pedersen, associate professor of psychiatry, will describe hallmark symptoms of clinical depression and effective treatments. Common obstacles to diagnosis and treatment will be covered, and the biomedical nature of depression will be stressed.

* “Hormone Replacement Therapy: It's Not for Everyone.” Dr. William R. Meyer, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the Mature Women's Clinic at UNC Hospitals, will discuss current research and thinking about hormone-replacement therapy.

* “Skin Care: Putting on a Healthy Face.” Dr. Pamela Guest, assistant professor of dermatology, will discuss skin care for mature women. Topics include adult-onset acne, photoaging, skin cancer, laser resurfacing and botox injections.

12 to 12:45 p.m. Sessions (participants choose one)

* “Baby Maybe: Preconception Planning.” Dr. Robert Cefalo, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, will talk about how women can optimize the outcome and lessen the risks of pregnancy and why pre-conception planning is important.

* “Heart Disease: A Major Health Issue for Women.” Dr. Carla A. Sueta, assistant professor of medicine, will discuss risk factors for developing coronary artery disease and how symptoms and outcomes may differ for women. Participants will learn how to reduce their risk of heart disease.

* “Preventing Osteoporosis: What to Do Now and Later.” Dr. Susan Blalock, research associate, and Dr. Mary Anne Dooley, clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, will address how osteoporosis develops over the course of a lifetime. Participants will learn how to slow or prevent the bone loss associated with osteoporosis.

* “Teens Talk About Pregnancy Prevention.” Moderated by Betty Compton, clinical associate professor of pediatrics, and director of special projects in the Adolescent Medicine Project and the Adolescents in Need Program, and John Hughes, coordinator of the Adolescents in Need Program, teen-agers from local high schools and colleges will talk about “who's problem is it?” The panel will discuss the issues surrounding teen pregnancy: why teens become sexually involved, who influences them most, what pressures and barriers play a role in choices and relationships and how adults can best help with intervention and support.

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UNC Hospitals contact: Nancy Kochuk, APR, 919-966-6046