For Your Well-being

Health is a big part of the 2018 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Senior Expo. Visitors to the expo will receive a lot of information about their health, both from guest speakers and from essential health screenings that will help attendees understand their personal health care needs. For those looking for info on nutrition, Brendan C. Stack Jr., M.D., a surgeon for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will present “Calcium and Vitamin D,” which will give advice for seniors on the benefits of vitamins and minerals. During “Time is Brain — Be Fast,” Martin G. Radvany, M.D., a neuroradiologist for UAMS, will explain how blood loss during a cardiac event can impact neurological function. The expo’s political panel, “Seniors and the Upcoming Election,” will feature John Brummett, columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Skip Rutherford, dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service; Little Rock attorney Sylvester Smith; and political consultant Bill Vickery. The panel will discuss issues important to seniors in November’s election. Joint pain can be an issue for many seniors, and the “Hip and Knee — Staying Active” panel, led by UAMS surgeon Paul Edwards, M.D., will give advice and answer questions seniors may have about hip and knee issues. For many seniors, a fall can be deadly. The “Staying Steady on Your Feet” panel will be informative for those who may have walking or balance issues. The panel will be led by Jeanne Wei, M.D., Ph.D., executive director of the UAMS Reynolds Institute on Aging. She will be joined by UAMS neurologist Rohit Dhall, M.D. UAMS departments that will be present include orthopedics, physical therapy, nutrition services, Transnational Research Institute/ARresearch, Vascular Center, neurology/stroke/AR Saves/movement disorders, caregiver training, the Reynolds Institute on Aging, and the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

AVAILABLE SCREENINGS AND INFORMATIVE SEMINARS

• Ask a pharmacist: A UAMS pharmacist will be on hand to answer questions about medication. • Ask a doctor: UAMS physicians will help with any questions about illness, procedures and more. • Blood-glucose screening: This test measures the amount of sugar, called glucose, in the blood. Glucose is a major source of energy for most cells in the body. This test can help detect signs of diabetes. • Blood pressure and heart rate: Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. High blood pressure can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. Blood pressure can be controlled through healthy habits and medication. • Lung-cancer screening: This screening looks for signs of cancer. The earlier this cancer is found, the easier it may be to treat. If the screening test result is abnormal, a patient may need to have diagnostic tests performed. • Vision testing: As people age, their eyesight naturally tends to get worse. Whether this is through nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, it often becomes difficult to see things as clearly as in the past. Through vision testing at the expo, seniors can find out if they need to alter their current eyeglass prescription or if they need to invest in new eyewear to see more clearly.