Fremont, Calif. – Providing men with educational tools to improve their overall
health is the goal of Washington Hospital’s Men’s Health Fair
that is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 3. This year’s
theme is “Get Fit, Stay Healthy” and the fair will highlight
many specific issues that affect men’s health including the importance
of regular fitness and practicing healthy habits.
Expert panelists speaking at the fair will include physicians specializing
in lung health, urology and sleep disorders, as well as a dietitian, who
will focus on preventing diabetes through nutrition. Attendees will also
have access to a number of educational booths and men’s health screenings,
including a prostate screening.
“The goal of this health fair is to engage men into taking preventive
measures and practicing healthy behaviors,” says Dr. Albert Brooks,
Washington Hospital’s Chief of Medical Affairs. “I really
want to emphasize regular screening tests because if diseases are detected
early, they are easier to treat.”
Dr. Brooks will discuss men’s health issues with a panel of Hospital
physicians and special guest Shooty Babbit, former baseball player with
the Oakland A’s will sign autographs and talk to participants at
the fitness booths during the fair.
The following physicians and clinicians will make up the Men’s Health
Fair panel:
Dr. Rao Sunkavally, a Washington Hospital Medical Staff physician specializing
in urology. will focus on how to identify some of the symptoms relating
to an enlarged prostate and what to look for, as well as the screening
process for prostate cancer and why it is important to screen. Cancer
of the prostate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), is by far the most prevalent form of cancer in men.
Dr. Jason Chu, a Washington Hospital Medical Staff physician specializing
in pulmonary care, will tackle important lung health issues, including:
Lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) and influenza.
Dr. Chu will discuss types of lung cancer, symptoms and why lung cancer
is so difficult to diagnose in early stages, as well as why it’s
important for nonsmokers to be aware of the causes of the remaining 10
percent of lung cancer cases, which include second-hand smoke, radon,
dust, asbestos and air pollution.
Dr. Nitun Verma, medical director of the Washington Township Center for
Sleep Disorders will discuss common sleep disorders including obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA), which is characterized by intermittent episodes in
which the sufferer stops breathing during sleep. Dr. Verma will also discuss
treatment options, including CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)
masks, surgery and oral appliances made by a dentist.
Macaria Meyer, R.D., a Washington Hospital registered dietitian, will spend
her portion of the Men’ Health Fair panel discussion tackling the
issue of how men can lower their risk of diabetes. Meyer also will talk
about healthy diet and exercise as two of the main ways men can reduce
the chance of developing diabetes.
The Men’s Health Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in
the Conrad E. Anderson, M.D. Auditorium. Registration for the health fair
is required and pre-qualification for the prostate screening (separate
registration) is required. Call (800) 963-7070 to register. (Sorry, no
walk-ins).
Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 359-bed acute-care hospital;
the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife® Center;
Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center;
Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Outpatient Catheterization
Laboratory; Washington Center for Joint Replacement; the Institute for
Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery; and Washington West, a complex
which houses Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center
and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities.