EXPO PUTS COMMUNITY IN THE PINK FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS, ADVICE ON TAP.Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer NEWHALL - The Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Valley's Health Fair Expo is a good opportunity for people who have no insurance, or are underinsured un·der·in·sure tr.v. un·der·in·sured, un·der·in·sur·ing, un·der·in·sures To insure under a policy that provides inadequate benefits: Be certain that you are not underinsured against catastrophic illness. , to ask medical questions and receive free health screenings, according to health fair coordinator SuzAnn Nelsen. The fair will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. Senior Center, 22900 Market Street, Newhall, but it's not just for seniors. ``We get people from all over the community - anyone could benefit,'' Nelsen said. The fair is for adults and is being sponsored by the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. , NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. and Sav-on Drugs. Kaiser Permanente is the local medical sponsor and will provide the medical personnel who will be on hand. The free screenings will include tests for glaucoma glaucoma (glôkō`mə), ocular disorder characterized by pressure within the eyeball caused by an excessive amount of aqueous humor (the fluid substance filling the eyeball). and acuity, body fat, sinus and allergy, osteoporosis, hearing and stroke. Free educational consultations and brochures will also be available. Low-cost screenings also will be offered, including a blood screening for 25 different conditions which usually costs more than $200, but the fair is offering it for $30. This is the health fair's eighth year, and Nelsen said that one of the most popular screenings is for bone density, which can predict whether a woman is likely to develop osteoporosis. ``Last year we had a woman in her 20s find out that her calcium was very low, and that's something that can be prevented, so it's good that she found out early,'' Nelsen said. Women can also be tested for Follicle Stimulating Hormone Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) A hormone that stimulates the growth and maturation of mature eggs in the ovary. Mentioned in: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Premature Menopause , which tells what stage of menopause they are in. After the screening, women can use a computer at the fair to go online to the Women's Health Women's Health Definition Women's health is the effect of gender on disease and health that encompasses a broad range of biological and psychosocial issues. Center, where specialists will be available to answer questions and give advice. For the stroke screening, medical personnel use the Dopler screening to determine if there is any blockage in the arteries. ``It's just to let people know that they're at risk, so that they can go to their regular doctor and follow up on it,'' Nelsen said. While the fair should not be used as a replacement for regular doctor visits, it is a way for people to get information and test results from trained medical personnel, Nelsen said. ``People tend to avoid getting physicals, so this is one way for people to find out in a relaxed atmosphere whether they have any risks, then they can go to the doctor and look into it,'' Nelsen said. |
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