Learn to live well with heart failure

NILES — Lakeland Health will offer “Living Well with Heart Failure,” a free class for community members about congestive heart failure (CHF), a chronic condition characterized by the heart’s inability to meet the blood flow needs of the body. The program will take place on Tuesday, July 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Buchanan Area Health Resource Library at Lakeland Hospital, Niles, located at 31 North St. Joseph Avenue.

Participants will learn to identify common causes and symptom s of heart failure, as well as new daily routines that can dramatically improve one’s quality of life. Preregistration for the class is required; call     (269) 556-2808 or (866) 260-7544. Visit www.lakelandhealth.org or find Lakeland Health on Facebook or Twitter for more classes and events.

 

Free pre-diabetes class in Niles

NILES — Lakeland Health is offering a free program designed to help anyone with higher-than-normal blood sugar levels learn about lifestyle changes which may help them avoid or delay the onset of diabetes. The class will take place on Thursday, July 7, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Buchanan Area Health Resource Library at Lakeland Hospital, Niles, located at 31 North St. Joseph Avenue.

During the first hour of the program, a registered nurse will guide attendees through the disease process of diabetes and introduce healthy lifestyle changes. The final hour will be spent with a registered dietitian who will suggest meal selections that can help you maintain health and manage weight.

This program does not require a physician referral. Pre-registration for this free class is required, and class size is limited. For more information or to register, call (269) 556-2868. Visit www.lakelandhealth.org or find Lakeland Health on Facebook or Twitter for more classes and events.

 

Caring Circle offers free screening of ‘Being Mortal’

ST. JOSEPH — Community members are invited to attend a free, community screening of the PBS “Frontline” film “Being Mortal” hosted by Caring Circle, a Lakeland Health Affiliate. The screening will take place on Monday, June 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the First Church of God, located at 2627 Niles Avenue in St. Joseph. After the screening, audience members can participate in a guided conversation on how to take concrete steps to identify and communicate wishes about end-of-life goals and preferences.

“We are proud to work with our community to encourage healthy conversations about what people want their healthcare experience to look like,” said Melinda Graham, CEO of Hospice at Home. “This film is an important first step in helping people plan ahead and talk with family members about end-of-life decisions.”

Based on the best-selling book by Atul Gawande, MD, “Being Mortal” explores the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness and the relationships with the physicians who treat them.

The documentary follows Dr. Gawande as he shares stories from the people and families he encounters. When Dr. Gawande’s own father gets cancer, his search for answers about how best to care for the dying becomes a personal quest. The film sheds light on how a medical system focused on a cure often leaves out the sensitive conversations that need to happen so a patient’s true wishes can be known and honored at the end.

For a complete list of additional showings, visit www.lakelandhealth.org/events

 

Bones in balance classes helps individuals with osteoporosis

ST. JOSEPH — Lakeland Orthopedic Physical Therapy is now enrolling participants for Bones in Balance, a four-week program designed to teach those diagnosed with osteoporosis and osteopenia how to successfully live with these conditions through self-management. Bones in Balance incorporates education and exercise and is led by specially trained physical therapists. The program includes valuable self-management tips from a pharmacist, registered dietitian, nurse educator, and counselor.

Classes meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a four-week period at the Center for Outpatient Services, located at 3900 Hollywood Road in St. Joseph. Registration is now open for the next set of classes which will run from July 5 to 28 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that affects over 44 million Americans, and although both men and women can develop the disease, over 80 percent of sufferers are women over the age of 45.

Osteoporosis is commonly referred to as “the silent disease,” because bone loss occurs without any visible symptoms at first. Many people don’t realize they have osteoporosis until their bones are so weak that the smallest strain or fall causes a bone to fracture.

A physician’s order is required for Bones in Balance, and the class is billable to insurance. There is a $25 registration fee. For more information or to register, call (269) 556-7150. Visit www.lakelandhealth.org or find Lakeland Health on Facebook or Twitter for more events at Lakeland facilities.

 

Free weight loss seminars offered

ST. JOSEPH — The Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center is offering a free seminar, “Lose Weight…Find Health.”

The first seminar will take place on Wednesday, July 6 in the Frederick S. Upton Education Center at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, located at 1234 Napier Avenue. A second seminar will be held on Wednesday, July 20 in the Community Conference Room at the Lakeland Medical Suites, located at 42 North St. Joseph Avenue in Niles. Both seminars will be presented from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Bariatric surgeons Jill Gorsuch, DO, and Michael Schuhknecht, DO, will discuss programs available for losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight for years to come.

The Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center specializes in working with each person to create a customized lifestyle plan, including medical weight loss management through diet or bariatric surgery, nutrition counseling, individualized exercise programs, and monthly support groups.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 190 million adults in the United States are overweight and obese. Individuals more than 40 percent overweight are twice as likely to die prematurely as someone of average weight. However, the good news is that losing as little as 5-15 percent of your initial body weight can reduce your risk of diabetes and other illnesses, and can even eliminate your need for some medications.

For more information or to register for the seminar, call (269) 687-4673 or (877) 467-3858. Visit www.lakelandhealth.org or find Lakeland Health on Facebook or Twitter for more classes and events.