The Juneau Community Health Fair returns this Saturday to offer affordable blood tests and free mini-classes taught by local medical and health experts from Bartlett Regional Hospital.
Attendance to the fair, which takes place 8 a.m.-noon at Thunder Mountain High School, is free, but blood tests and other screenings cost between $25 and $195.
Mini classes cover a range of health issues. Starting at 9 a.m., Holistic Optometrist Dr. Cindy Cork will teach a class on protecting your eyes in the digital age. At the same time, Cynthia Nickerson, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, will help attendees understand prediabetes, a condition present in the majority of people before developing type 2 diabetes. Though aimed at people with prediabetes, it’s preventable or delayable condition
At 10 a.m. Kari Natwick, Director of BRH’s Food and Nutrition Services, will teach a class on nutrition and gut microbiota. The microbiome, as it’s known, is important to digestive tracks to help humans break down food.
Airlift Northwest’s Medevac Service staff will teach a CPR class at the same time, while at 11 a.m., the fair will host a talk about the importance of posture from Dr. Birger Baastrup. Also at 11 a.m. Personal trainer Keegan Carroll will talk about goal setting for physical activity.
A 27-panel blood chemistry screening will be available for $45 as well as an assortment of other screenings and blood tests. For a full list, visit bartletthospital.org. Many blood tests and other screenings require fasting, most for 10 hours, so anyone hoping to conduct a screening is encouraged to fast for 10 hours before the fair and drink plenty of water.
• Contact reporter Kevin Gullufsen at 523-2228 or kgullufsen@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @KevinGullufsen.
