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Greenville Regional Hospital will present Health Fair 2010 Friday, March 19th from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Greenville First United Methodist Church, located at 310 South Second Street.
Over 40 national, state, and local organizations and exhibitors will be participating. Twelve free health tests, an optional low-cost comprehensive blood test, a combination comprehensive and prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, and a wide variety of health information will be available at the health fair. Nursery facilities and childcare services will be offered.
A comprehensive blood test, which includes a complete blood chemistry, a cardiac risk profile, an anemia test, a complete blood count, tests for kidney and liver diseases as well as other illnesses, and a thyroid test, will be offered for $35 at the health fair. The comprehensive blood test normally costs $1,081, a savings of 97 percent.
It is recommended that the comprehensive blood test be taken annually. Participants must be 18 years of age or older to take the blood test offered at the health fair.
A special price of only $45 will be charged for men wanting both the comprehensive blood test and the Prostate-Specific Antigen blood test. This combined test normally costs $1,095, a savings of 96 percent.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men should receive the PSA test annually, beginning at age 50. Men at high risk, however, should begin testing at age 45. Men at high risk include African Americans and men who have a close relative who had prostate cancer before age 65. Men at even higher risk, or those with several close relatives with prostate cancer at an early age, could begin testing at age 40. Depending on the results of the first tests, they might not need more testing until age 45.
For the first time, Greenville Regional Hospital will offer a hemoglobin A1C blood test at the Health Fair. This test measures the long-term control of glucose for diabetics, and is available with or without the comprehensive testing for $10.
Those planning to have either blood test performed should not eat for at least 12 hours before the test, except for water, black coffee, or plain tea. No diet drinks or juice should be consumed and no chewing gum should be used. Prescribed medication should continue to be taken. Diabetics should follow their normal therapy.
Results of the blood tests will be mailed to each participant in four to six weeks.
Pre-registration for Health Fair 2010 will begin Monday, March 8th at seven locations throughout Bond County. Pre-registration will be held in Greenville on March 8th at the First United Methodist Church, 310 South Second St., from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and at First Bank, 200 West Main St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-registration will be held on March 8th and March 12th at National Bank in Keyesport from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration will be held on March 8th, 12th, and 15th at the Pocahontas Village Hall, 101 West Kavanaugh Street, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; at the Mulberry Grove Fire House, 1897 IL Rt. 40, from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and at the Sorento Municipal Center, 105 East Taylor St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-registration will be held daily, Monday through Friday, March 8th through the 17th, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Bond County Senior Center in Greenville.
While pre-registration is not a requirement, it is necessary for individuals planning to receive a blood test prior to 2:30 p.m. Those who have not pre-registered for a blood test will be accepted after 2:30 p.m. Those who have not pre-registered, however, may take the free health tests and visit the booths and displays at any time throughout the day.
Greenville Regional Hospital's annual health fair is one of the largest in the St. Louis area. Last year' event maintained record attendance of approximately 3,000. 3,556 blood tests were performed in conjunction with Health Fair 2009.
For more information on fasting requirements, or additional information on Health Fair 2010, contact health fair representative Jeremy Collinsworth at 618.664.1230, x3060 or jcollinsworth@grhinc.org.
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