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Digest

To Your Health

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 31, 2006

Walk-A-Weigh: 12-week program 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays begins Jan. 16 and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays begins Jan. 18 (registration deadline Friday), Citrus County Extension Service, 3650 W Sovereign Path, Lecanto. Session includes exercise, brief presentation on health related topic, tasting session featuring treats related to the week's topic. Fee: $30, limited to 30 participants. Call Cris, 527-5700; hearing impaired call toll-free 1-800-955-8770 (voice) or 1-800-955-8771 (TDD).

LOOKING AHEAD

Want to walk?: Each community center offers a walking program: the West, Central and East Citrus community centers offer indoor programs; Inverness Community Center participants walk outdoors. All programs are free. For times and dates, call the center nearest you: East Citrus, 344-9666; Central Citrus, 527-5993; West Citrus, 795-3831; and Inverness, 726-1009.

Yoga classes: 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Thursdays, 9 a.m. Saturdays (8:30 a.m. the third Saturday), Crystal River Train Depot, 109 Crystal St. Suitable for ages 8 and older. Bring a mat or towel; wear clothes that allow stretching and ease of movement. Call 563-6535 or 795-3710, 795-3662 or 795-1645.

Hepatitis C support group: Meets at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22, Lecanto County Health Department, 3700 W Sovereign Path. Refreshments provided. Call 527-0068 or 795-6233.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The Centers: Outpatient treatment groups for adults three evenings and two days a week. Groups and individual sessions offered as needed. Outpatient services for adolescents. Call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., 628-5020. For emergency assistance for detoxification of acutely intoxicated adults, call (352) 629-9595; after 5 p.m., 726-7155.

Nar-Anon: Meets at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Act II, 1065 N Paul Drive, Inverness. Addiction and recovery affect the whole family; meet with others who understand. Support group for families and friends of addicts. Call Donna, 344-5963. Visit its Web site, www.nar-anon.org.

Alcoholics Anonymous: There are several AA meetings in Citrus County. For information or locations, call the Nature Coast AA Intergroup Hotline at 621-0599.

Al-Anon: The following groups meet regularly in Citrus County. For information, call 697-0497.

- Inverness AFG: 8 p.m. Mondays, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 550 S U.S. 41.

- Crystal River AFG: 8 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Benedict Catholic Church, 455 S Suncoast Blvd.; 11:30 a.m. Thursdays, 147 Seventh St.

- Last Resort AFG: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, First United Methodist Church, 3896 S Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness.

- Lecanto AFG: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2149 W Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto.

- Awareness Lunch Bunch AFG: 12:30 p.m. Fridays, St. Margaret Episcopal Church, 114 N Osceola Ave., Inverness.

Educational

Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center: The hospital offers free programs open to the public in the Medical Office Building Community Room, 6201 N Suncoast Blvd. (U.S. 19), Crystal River. To register for free programs, call 795-1234 or toll-free 1-800-436-8436. Speakers are available for community group health-related presentations. Call Jennifer Hall, 795-8344 or 489-2022, ext. 8344.

You can e-mail a SRRMC patient or send an eCard to any personal e-mail address around the world by visiting the hospital's Web site at www.srrmc.com Go to "Quickfind" or "Patient and Visitor Info" and click on the "E-mail a Patient" link. Fill out the form and hit send. Messages are checked weekday mornings at 8 a.m. and delivered by 10 a.m. All messages are confidential.

- Free balance screenings: 12:30-1:30 p.m. the first Monday monthly, Seven Rivers Rehab & Wound Center, 1675 SE U.S. 19. No appointment necessary. For information call 795-0534.

- Early Pregnancy: Women in their early months of pregnancy will learn about changes expected with pregnancy, and also about conditioning, relaxation techniques and proper nutrition. Call Women's and Family Center for an appointment, 795-2229.

Citrus Memorial Health System programs: The hospital offers free educational presentations and support groups for patients, families, caregivers and anyone who is interested. Meetings are in the CMHS auditorium on Grace Street, Inverness, unless otherwise noted. Parking is available in the Q lot across from the auditorium. Registration required for educational presentations. Call 344-6513 or the number listed.

- Childbirth classes: Ongoing four-week course meets 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Registration required; call 344-6576.

- Diabetes education: Classes for people who have recently learned that they have diabetes and those who might need a refresher course in dealing with the disease. By appointment. Call registered nurse Carol McHugh, a certified diabetes educator, at 344-6404.

CITRUS MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM SUPPORT GROUPS

Breast cancer support group: noon Jan. 12, Robert Boissoneault Cancer Center, Allen Ridge Medical Mall, 522 N Lecanto Highway, Lecanto. Call 527-8371.

Cancer support: 3 p.m. last Wednesday monthly, Cancer Treatment Center, 3406 N Lecanto Highway, Lecanto. Call Tina Wicks, 746-1100.

Citrus cancer support group: 4:30 p.m. third Tuesday monthly, CMHS cafeteria meeting room. Call 726-1551, ext. 3329 or 6596.

Diabetes support group: 11:30 a.m. fourth Wednesday, Cypress Room. Call Carol, 344-6504.

Dystonia support group: 10 a.m. third Saturday, bi-monthly, next meeting in January, Cypress Room. Call Anna DePleco, 726-8489.

Ostomy support group: 2 p.m. third Sunday monthly in the Cypress Room. Call Bob, 746-6693; Betty, 726-3802; Elizabeth, 489-6166; or Frank, 341-0005.

Parkinson's support group: 1 p.m. first Tuesday monthly in the Cypress Room. Call Catherine Clark, 344-9630.

Prostate cancer support group: 11:30 a.m. first Wednesday monthly, Robert Boissoneault Cancer Center, Allen Ridge Medical Mall, 522 N Lecanto Highway. Call 527-0106.

CITRUS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Diabetes management: The Citrus County Health Department offers ongoing classes in managing diabetes. "Medications and Monitoring" will be discussed from 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 8 in the Lecanto office, 3700 W Sovereign Path. Fasting blood sugar testing is offered daily at all three offices from 8 to 9 a.m. There is a $10 fee, but no appointment is necessary. Call Lynece Hand, 795-6233, ext. 240, or Carol Burke at 726-5222.

Speakers available: CCHD provides speakers to groups interested in health topics including nutrition, HIV/AIDS education, stop smoking, environmental health, disease prevention, food safety, car seat safety, disaster preparedness and women's health. To request a speaker or for information call Judith Tear, 527-0068, ext. 271.

Health Department Web site and toll-free information line: The Citrus County Health Department provides up-to-date information on local, state and national health news on its Web site, www.citruscountyhealth.org. Check out its calendar and "Hot Topics" links. CCHD offers a toll-free information line that provides up-to-date information on advisories, warnings, notices and community events: 1-877-746-3248; follow the prompts. For information call Judith Tear, 527-0068, ext. 271.

Medicaid program: Special Medicaid program for mothers who have recently had a baby, paid for by Florida Medicaid. Spacing pregnancies two to three years apart gives babies a healthier start in life. Services include annual exams with Pap smear, birth control supplies, pregnancy tests and limited treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. To see if you qualify, call 527-0068.

Family planning: Citrus County Health Department offers a female provider who specializes in women's health. Services offered to women of childbearing age include birth control services, nutrition services and annual physical examination, including Pap and breast exam. Birth control supplies provided at time of visit. Confidential services provided using a sliding fee scale to determine cost at the office nearest you: Inverness, 726-1731; Crystal River, 795-6233; and Lecanto, 527-0068.

Car seat safety inspections: Citrus County Health Department offers free child safety seat checks at the Inverness office, 120 N Montgomery Ave. A certified child passenger safety instructor will inspect your child's car seat for recalls, necessary adjustments and secure installation. By appointment. Call Sue Littnan, 726-1731, ext. 242.

Pneumonia vaccine and health screening: The Citrus County Health Department will be offering pneumonia shots during health clinics 9-11 a.m. on the following dates and locations. Blood pressure screening is free. Also offers tests for fasting blood sugar (have nothing to eat from midnight until testing), anemia and blood in the stool ($5 per test).

. Homosassa: Jan. 22, West Citrus Community Center, 8940 W Veterans Drive.

. Inverness: Jan. 8, East Citrus Community Center, 9907 E Gulf to Lake Highway.

. Lecanto: Jan. 29, Central Citrus Community center, 2804 W Marc Knighton Court.

Pneumonia vaccine is recommended for anyone 65 years and older. The cost of the pneumonia shot is $25. Medicare, Part B, will cover the cost. Make sure to bring a copy of your Medicare card. BE ADVISED: If you have Medicaid/HMO or HMO coverage, you will need to receive your vaccines from your health care provider or pay for the vaccines upon receipt. If you have questions, call one of the health department locations: Lecanto, 527-0068; Inverness, 726-1731; or Crystal River, 795-6233.

[Last modified December 30, 2006, 20:46:24]