Mercy to host Healthy Happy Hour for women on May 4

Mercy believes that women’s health is something to celebrate. That’s why Mercy is hosting a free Healthy Happy Hour for women on Thursday, May 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Ross Conference Rooms at Mercy Regional Medical Center, 3700 Kolbe Rd., Lorain, Ohio 44053.

Women of all ages are welcome to come indulge in a little pampering while learning tips and tools for staying healthy. Attendees will enjoy: • Appetizers and wine tasting • Chair massages • Free health screenings and signups for mammograms

• Local vendors providing products and services for mind, body and spirit

• Raffle for a chance to win a relaxation package

Keynote speaker Dr. Charles Wehbe, Mercy Health — Lorain Vascular and Interventional Radiology, will discuss varicose veins, how to identify them and the minimally invasive treatments that are available. He’ll also talk about symptoms and treatments of uterine fibroids.

Vein disease in the legs is one of the most common medical conditions in the United States. About half of the population have some form of it. Vein disease appears in 15%–20% of all adults. About half of people over 50 have it. Women get this condition more often than men.

Most people with vein disease (about 70 percent) inherited this condition from their parents. Pregnancy, especially for women who have more than one pregnancy, contributes to vein disease. Increasing age, obesity and jobs that require standing for long periods also make it more likely that a person will develop vein disease. Obesity and long periods of standing can make vein disease develop faster.

Varicose veins generally get worse over time. First you feel slight pain and restlessness in the leg with the diseased vein. If the vein is untreated, pain increases. Pain from vein disease can make it hard to walk and cause cramps when you sleep. Eventually, varicose veins can lead to open sores on the foot, blood clots and the need to remove tissue.

Dr. Wehbe is a board certified Interventional Radiologist. He received his medical degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed a fellowship in vascular interventional radiology at the University of Virginia. He specializes in minimally-invasive procedures like treatment of varicose veins and uterine fibroid embolization. Healthy Happy Hour is free but registration is required. Please call 877-247-6161 to RSVP.