HEALTH BEAT
Acupuncture
Northfield Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine Clinic will hold workshops dealing with health topics including cancer, hepatitis and cardiovascular disease at 1 p.m. Thursdays at the clinic, 619 E. Sixth St. Topics of discussion will vary and the public is welcome. Registration is required to attend. Call 870772-8622.
Acute head and back pain
Ark-La-Tex Health Center offers free consultations for chronic and acute head, neck and back pain. Financial help may be available for those without insurance who are not already on Social Security or applying for Social Security benefits. Call 870-773-7246.
Birth control
Texarkana-Bowie County Family Health Center, 902 W. 12th St., offers complete reproductive health services (birth control) for men, women and teens including birth control methods (pills, depo shots and tubals), pregnancy testing, Pap tests, counseling, STD testing and treatment and referral for other services. The center is a Texas Women’s Health Program Provider. Call 903798-3265.
Miller County Health Unit offers Family Planning Services for Miller County residents including physical exams, Pap tests and choice of birth control method. Most services are free for Arkansas residents who qualify. Call 870-773-2108 for an appointment with our nurse practitioner 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
Blood pressure
Cypress Home Health provides free blood sugar and blood pressure checks to seniors from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the fourth Monday of each month at the Collins Memorial Senior Center, 3000 Texas Blvd.
Texarkana HomeCare will offer free blood pressure checks from 11 a.m. to noon the third Tuesday of each month at the Collins Memorial Senior Center.
Health Back Home Health will offer free blood pressure checks from 10:30 a.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Collins Memorial Senior Center.
Breast care
Arkansas Breast Care Program provides free mammograms, free clinical breast exams, free pelvic exams and Pap tests to women who are Arkansas residents ages 40 and older and meet the income eligibility requirements. Call 1-877-670-CARE for qualification verification or 870-773-2108.
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System provides a variety of free breast health services for qualified women and men through funding received from Komen Texarkana and Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Servicess. For more information on the assistance available for mammograms and diagnostic screenings, call Shelly Purifoy at 903-614-2667.
Health fair
The Charity Temple T.H.F.M. Health & Wellness Funfest takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27 at 1571 Hagan Drive, Ashdown, Ark. There will be free health checks including blood pressure, weight, BMI and more. There will also be free food, games and prizes.
Memory screening
The Alzheimer’s Alliance TriState Area offers free monthly memory screenings the second Thursday of each month. Call the Alzheimer’s Alliance for an appointment at 903223-8021. Memory screenings take about 10 minutes. The results aren’t a diagnosis but can suggest if a person should see their physician for a full evaluation.
Please address health-related topics to the city desk either by fax at 870-330-7570 or by mail to Ashley Gardner, P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504.