‘I did this for my health’

A look to the future prompted one woman’s decision to have

weight-loss surgery

Not very long ago, Shelby Pace saw a picture of herself taken shortly before her bariatric surgery at T.J. Samson Commu-

nity Hospital last October. She was near her highest weight: 292 pounds. Pace was stunned by the image.

“In my heart, I knew I was close to 300 pounds,” says the 28-year-old Glasgow resident. “But I didn’t realize how heavy I actually was.”

Still, it wasn’t her size that motivated Pace to turn to surgery. “Even at my heavi-est, I was comfortable in my own skin,” she says. “I did this for my health—not my appearance.”

A PRECIOUS RESPONSIBILITY Pace’s health has never mattered more to her. She and her husband, Wesley, are the new and proud parents of 9-year-old Chloe Shea Elizabeth, whom they adopted last year. She entered their lives as a foster child and was barely verbal—Chloe has autism—when they first opened their home and hearts to her.

With their care, love and therapy, Chloe is now a chatterbox. “But I want and need to be fully there for her,” Pace says.

But Pace’s weight was a serious health

threat. Both her blood pressure and choles-terol were high. She had sleep apnea, also a complication of obesity. She had prediabe-tes, too, a condition where blood sugar lev-els are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. It raises the risk of full-blown diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Those risks frightened Pace, whose weight gain was a complication of polycys-tic ovary syndrome, a hormonal disorder that affects women. Up to 80% of women with the syndrome are obese. For many, los-ing weight can be a constant struggle.

A MOTHER’S EXAMPLE That was certainly true for Pace. Noth-ing had helped her shed pounds—eating well, exercising, even taking two different weight-loss medicines her doctor prescribed had not made a difference. “I was running out of options,” she says.

Still, one effective option remained: bar-iatric surgery. Besides the benefit of dra-matic weight loss, bariatric surgery can send a host of obesity-related health problems into remission, including those Pace faced.

And she had a firsthand look at surgery’s power to boost health.

In 2018, Pace’s mother, once also severely obese, had minimally invasive gastric sleeve surgery at T.J. Samson. Dur-ing that surgery, most of the stomach is removed, leaving only a banana-shaped sec-tion. Patrick Klapheke, MD, a surgeon with T.J. Regional Health, performed it.

“I saw what a huge difference it made in my mom’s health and quality of life,” Pace says. “And I thought if this is something I could qualify for, it might really help me as well.”

She was a candidate for the same surgery, which Dr. Klapheke also performed—and with the same success.

A GIFT FOR THE FUTUREThree months after her surgery, Pace was 87 pounds lighter. Her blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were all nor-mal, and her sleep apnea was in remission.

Recently, Chloe hugged her and said with genuine delight, “Mom, I can put my arms around you!”

“That was such a special moment,” Pace says. “This surgery was a gift to myself, my family and our future.”

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAIDPlatteville, WIPermit No. 7

T.J. Samson Community Hospital1301 N. Race St.Glasgow, KY 42141

APRIL 2020

2 DESTINATION HEALTH

Are you concerned about your child’s mood or behavior?

Then here’s important news: New help is now available in Green, Adair and surrounding counties for children struggling with mental health problems.

The credit goes to Alisha Risen, CPNP-PC, PMHS, who has been a pediatric nurse practitioner at T.J. Health Primary Care in Columbia and T.J. Health in Greensburg since 2016.

Over this time, Risen has cared for children from birth through age 21, helping them bounce back from an illness or injury and stay healthy with checkups, screenings and immuniza-tions. She’ll keep doing that.

But last November, Risen earned her national certification as a Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist. That certification means she can now diagnose and help manage many com-mon mental health problems children have, including anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

MEETING A COMMUNITY NEED For her training and certification, Risen

completed an online Ohio State University gradu-ate-level mental health fellowship in child and adolescent primary care, documented 3½ years of

past supervised clinical experience in pediatric

mental health care, and passed a rigorous qualifying exam.

“That was a lot to take on,” Risen admits. But she saw a local need she couldn’t ignore.

“In rural South-Central Kentucky, getting children with mental health needs quickly seen by an appropriate professional can sometimes be very difficult,” Risen says. “That was so frustrating. Now I have the opportunity to make a real and positive difference in children’s lives.”

She and her husband, Mark Risen, DPM—a foot and ankle surgeon affili-ated with T.J. Samson Community Hospital—have two children, including a 21-year-old son with special needs.

Risen’s experience as a mother has made her all the more committed to seeing that no child with mental health problems falls between the cracks.

“On a very personal level, I want to provide this new mental-health service for children in our community,” she says.

Alisha Risen, CPNP-PC, PMHS

Special help for emotionally

troubled children

Seek help for your child. For more

information or to schedule an appointment at T.J. Health Greensburg

or T.J. Health Columbia, call 270-973-KIDZ

(270-973-5439).

According to Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Alisha Risen,

your child may be struggling with a mental health problem if he or she:

●●●●● Experiences a sudden drop in grades or loses interest in school.

●●●●● Acts aggressive toward others.●●●●● Has frequent feelings of sad-

ness, worry or fear.●●●●● Withdraws from friends

and family. ●●●●● Has lost pleasure in things

once enjoyed. ●●●●● Experiences significant appe-

tite or sleep changes.●●●●● Repeats actions or checks

things many times out of fear that something bad may happen.

●●●●● Has chronic trouble paying at-tention or sitting still.

●●●●● Engages in self-harm (like cutting) or risky behaviors.

If you have any concern, Risen can evaluate and treat your child or refer your child to a specialist if necessary.

“Counseling and medicine, if appropriate, can help chil-dren feel like themselves again,” Risen says. “But the first step always involves seeking help for your child.”

Red flagsfor parents

Children’s health

April 2020 3

Incontinence affects men tooAlthough urinary incontinence most often strikes women, the disorder doesn’t discriminate: Men can also struggle with it.

Incontinence in men is typically tied to prostate problems. That’s be-cause the prostate gland gets bigger with age. And an enlarged prostate can press against the urethra and cause men to leak urine. Leakage may also occur after surgery for prostate cancer.

Just like in women, incontinence in men is highly treatable. Sometimes simple lifestyle changes—like limiting fluids at night or cutting back on caffeine—are enough to help stop leaking. But doctors may also advise:

■ ■ Training the bladder to hold urine by gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits.

■ ■ Taking medicine to improve urine flow or relax the bladder. ■ ■ Treating incontinence with nerve stimulation or surgery.

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Institutes of Health; UpToDate

Laughing, exercising or not being able to find a bath-room quickly enough shouldn’t make you leak

urine. Yet that’s just what happens every day to countless women, who are twice as likely as men to have trouble controlling their bladders.

It can be embarrassing to admit to a doctor that you’re leaking urine, whether it’s just an occasional ac-cident or it’s an ongoing problem that’s disrupting your life.

But here’s an incentive to speak up: Urinary incontinence (that’s the medical term) is highly treatable. Now here’s a look at a topic that should never be taboo.

WHY ARE WOMEN SO VULNERABLE? Pregnancy, childbirth and meno-pause can all weaken the pelvic muscles needed for bladder con-trol. The urethra—the tube that takes urine out of the body—is also shorter in women than men. Con-sequently, it has less muscle. And if it’s weakened or damaged, it’s more likely to trigger incontinence.

Women can leak urine at any age. But it’s more common later in life. In fact, more than 4 in 10 women 65 and older have trouble with bladder control. That’s likely because dwindling levels of estrogen after menopause may weaken the urethra.

Women can leak urine at any age. But it’s more common later in life. In fact, more than 4 in 10 women 65 and older have trouble with bladder control. For more

information, please contact the TJ Health Urology Clinic at 270-659-5965.

Incontinence: A secret women shouldn’t keep

STAYING DRY There are many effective treatments for incontinence, and often doc-tors advise the simplest and safest first. That might be trimming down if you’re overweight, since extra pounds put pressure on your blad-der. Or stopping smoking if you light up, since the habit can con-tribute to leaking.

Your doctor may also advise:Doing Kegel exercises. These exercises involve tightening and relaxing the muscles that control

urine flow. Practicing them can help you hold urine longer.

Treating constipation by eating more fiber. Constipa-tion can make urinary inconti-

nence worse. Training your bladder. Gradually increasing the times between bathroom visits may

help you hold more urine. Changing your drinking habits. You’ll be less likely to

leak urine if you avoid carbonated drinks (such as soda), caffeinated drinks and alcohol.

If steps like these don’t help, your doctor may talk to you about other options. Among them: medicine; medical devices; nerve stimulation; and, in some cases, surgery.

Your doctor can help you decide the right remedies for you. But you need to talk about the problem first. Sources: National Institutes of Health; Office on Women’s Health

Women’s health

4 DESTINATION HEALTH

It’s OK to give some symptoms—like the occasional runny nose or a slight sore throat—the

brush-off. You can wait for them to go away on their own or, if they’re bothersome, treat them yourself with a home remedy or a trip to the drugstore.

But these seven symptoms are important exceptions. They may be caused by a mi-nor illness or even a disease or condition not mentioned here. Still, each one needs a doctor’s attention since it might be a warning of some-thing serious.

symptomsyou shouldnever ignore

Primary care

April 2020 5

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Cancer Society; American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; American Lung Association; American Stroke Association; American Thyroid Foundation; Chest Foundation; National Institutes of Health; UpToDate

Puffy lower legs, ankles or feet may be symptoms of congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart can’t pump as much blood as the body needs. When this happens, blood backs up in other areas of the body, causing fluid to accumulate elsewhere, especially in the legs.

A swollen leg, or swelling along a vein in the leg, may also be a red flag of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), especially if the swollen area is warm, red or painful.

DVT is a blood clot in a vein deep in the body. And while one can form anywhere, they’re espe-cially likely to develop in the lower leg or thigh. A clot that breaks off can travel through the bloodstream and block an artery in the lungs—a life-threatening complication.

If there’s any chance you have a DVT, call your doctor right away.

This is different from normal drows-iness or the need to nod off. It’s a lack of energy and even motivation.

When steps such as getting enough sleep or good nutrition don’t relieve it, fatigue may be a sign of anemia, depression, a thyroid gland that is overactive or under-active, or a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. It may also be an early warning sign of some cancers, such as leukemia.

A cough that doesn’t disappear can have several causes. Among the worrisome ones:

Chronic obstructive pulmo-nary disease. Coughing up phlegm, coupled with shortness of breath, may be a sign of this serious, and progressive, lung disease that mostly affects current or former smokers.

Lung cancer. A nagging cough may indicate a cancer that started in the lungs or has spread there from other organs. You may cough up blood or rust-colored spit.

Asthma. A dry, sporadic cough—especially early in the morning or at night—could be a sign of this lung disease that makes your airways overly sensitive. You may also cough in response to certain triggers, such as dust, pollen or a furry pet.

Cancer of the larynx (voice box) or thyroid gland. Hoarseness that doesn’t improve could be a sign.

This could be a warning of diabe-tes. It may suggest type 2, the most common kind of diabetes, which comes on so slowly many people don’t know they have it. Or it might indicate type 1 diabetes, which has symptoms that happen suddenly.

In either case, feeling very thirsty often goes hand-in-hand with needing to go the bathroom a lot. That’s because your body tries to get rid of the extra sugar building up in your blood by making you urinate frequently.

Bright red rectal bleeding may be a sign of colon cancer. But don’t panic: Seeing a small amount of blood after you wipe, or in your stool or in the toilet, is often caused by hemorrhoids or a tear in the lin-ing of the anus. Still, do tell your doctor. Bloody or dark stools may also indicate an ulcer, so there’s an-other reason to speak up.

Blood in your urine may be a sign of bladder, prostate or kidney cancer. And if you’re a woman, look out for abnormal vaginal bleeding— for example, spotting between peri-ods, bleeding after reaching meno-pause or bleeding after sex. There can be many causes for such bleed-ing, and most are not serious. But it also may be a symptom of a repro-ductive cancer, such as cervical or endometrial cancers.

Bloody discharge from a nipple may also be a red flag of breast cancer.

Fitting into jeans that once were snug might seem like a gift. But losing 10 or more pounds for no clear reason could be a sign of cancer—most often a cancer of the pancreas, esophagus, stomach or lung.

Unexplained weight loss can also be a tipoff of an overactive thyroid, which means your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. Women, especially those older than 60, are particularly prone to this condition. Diagno-sis is critical since, if not treated, a revved-up thyroid can cause:

●●●●● An irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure.

●●●●● Double vision, light sensitivity and eye pain.

●●●●● Bone thinning.

That’s short for transient ischemic attack, which you may know as a mini-stroke. Like most full-blown strokes, a TIA happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. But the blockage doesn’t last long. As a re-sult, TIA symptoms—which are the same as those of a major stroke—typically only last a few minutes. They include sudden:

●●●●● Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

●●●●● Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

●●●●● Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

●●●●● Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.

●●●●● Severe headache with no known cause.

Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms, no matter how fleeting. A TIA is a medical emergency—you need to be evaluated. While it doesn’t cause permanent damage, a TIA often signals that a true stroke is coming.

Think of a TIA as both a warning that you’re at risk for a stroke and an opportunity to work with your doctor to prevent one.

A primary care physician (PCP) can

help determine if any symptoms are serious. Don’t have a PCP? Call

270-651-1111, and we’ll find one for you.

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75PERSISTENT

FATIGUE

SURPRISE WEIGHT LOSS

RED FLAGS OF A TIA

UNUSUAL BLEEDING

A LINGERING COUGH OR HOARSENESS

EXCESSIVE THIRST

SWELLING IN YOUR LEGS

6 DESTINATION HEALTHLiving well

The flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing. And suddenly, you feel more energetic than you have in months. It’s official:

Spring has sprung. For many of us, the warmer weather

comes with a burst of motivation to get healthier and tackle projects at home. So take advantage! Here are six simple, yet effective, ways to spring into action this season.

1 Plant an edible garden.Gardening is an easy (and inexpen-

sive) way for everyone in your family to fill up on fresh produce. Veggies are at their most delicious when picked and eaten at the peak of ripeness. And you might find that you appreciate the flavor even more when you grow them yourself.

You may reap some important health benefits too. Gardening is a fun way to be more active and spend less time sitting. And it delivers a nutrition boost: Fresh fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals. Eating more of them can help you maintain a healthy weight, as well as lower your risk for diseases like heart dis-ease, stroke and some cancers.

GET STARTED: Don’t have tons of outdoor space? Don’t worry. Many vegetables—like leafy greens, hot peppers and herbs—are easy to grow in pots or small gardens.

2 Get some outdoor exercise.

Let the backyard or local park be your gym. An outdoor sweat session can lift your mood, while the sunshine serves up a welcome dose of vitamin D. And a change of scenery is always nice, right?

It can be as simple as taking a brisk walk through your neighborhood. But don’t be afraid to mix it up. How about playing basketball or tennis with friends, trying an outdoor yoga class, or taking a post-dinner bike ride? Another idea: Use your surroundings as fitness props. Do push-ups or dips on a park bench, or wrap a resistance band around a tree.

GET STARTED: Do a mix of aero-bic exercise (like walking or bicycling), stretches, and strength exercises that work your muscles. And if you haven’t been active in a while, get your doctor’s OK before lacing up your sneakers.

3 Take stock of your kitchen.

Out with the old and in with the nutri-tious. Clear your kitchen of any less-than-healthy foods and replace them with better-for-you ones. For healthy meals and snacks, stock up on these staples.

For your pantry:●●●●● Whole grains like brown rice and

rolled oats, whole wheat pasta, and whole-grain cereal.

●●●●● Healthy and quick dinner builders like low-salt canned beans, salmon, tuna, to-matoes and marinara sauce.

●●●●● Nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts or sunflower seeds.

●●●●● Canned fruits and veggies like peas, to-matoes, pumpkin and pineapple. (Choose low-sodium and low-sugar options.)

●●●●● Flavor boosters like balsamic vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, and dried herbs and spices.

●●●●● Healthy cooking oils like olive or canola oil and nonstick cooking spray.

For your fridge or freezer:●●●●● Frozen vegetables like broccoli, cauli-

flower, leafy greens and squash. (Choose those without salty or cheesy sauces.)

●●●●● Frozen fruits like berries or peaches. (Choose those without added sugar.)

●●●●● Low-fat dairy products like milk, yogurt or cheese.

●●●●● Frozen meat like fish fillets, skinless chicken breasts and lean ground beef.

GET STARTED: You don’t need to buy all of these items at once. Just add a few new ones to your shopping cart each week.

4Weigh in on your weight.

Gaining a few pounds over the winter might not seem like a big deal.

But even a little bit of extra weight can increase your chances for high blood pressure and high blood sugar. And those things can put you at risk for heart dis-ease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Talk with your doctor if your body mass index (BMI) has crept into the overweight range (25 or greater). Should

you decide that you need to lose weight, eating better and being more active can help you reach a healthy weight.

GET STARTED: Don’t discount the power of a good night’s sleep to help you shed any extra pounds. Being well-rested may make it easier to avoid mindless snacking, research suggests.

5 Give your house a checkup.

Spring cleaning is also prime time for some important home safety checks. Be sure to:

Test for radon. Radon gas is a lead-ing cause of lung cancer. You can’t see or smell it—but a simple DIY test kit (available online or at home improvement stores) can reveal if the level of radon in your home is too high. If it is, a quali-fied radon professional can remove the excess gas.

Inspect smoke detectors. Replace them every 10 years—even if they still work. Find the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm.

Clear tripping hazards. Tuck away loose wires or cords, replace throw rugs that slide or bunch, and fix any uneven flooring.

Move furniture away from win-dows. If you have any kiddos at home, this will keep the climbers from acciden-tally falling out a window.

GET STARTED: Make a safety to-do list and cross off completed items so nothing gets missed.

6 Be alert to allergies. Unpleasant sneezing and stuffiness

are common this time of year. And sea-sonal allergies are often to blame.

It might be tempting to Google your symptoms—but you’re better off seeing an allergist. They can identify your specific allergens and offer lifestyle changes and medications that can help you feel better.

Making a doctor’s appointment is especially important if you have asthma. There’s a good chance that you also have an undiagnosed allergy, which could be making you even more uncomfortable this time of year.

GET STARTED: A deep spring clean-ing won’t just make your house sparkle—it’ll also help clear away irritating allergens like mold, dust and pet dander.

Sources: American Cancer Society; American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology; American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health; Safe Kids Worldwide

SPRINGintoACTION

Do you have a primary care provider? If not, add “Make an appointment” to your spring to-do list.

We can help you with that task. Call 270-651-1111.

April 2020 7 Wellness

Diabetes Workshop

Registration is required! Call 270-781-8039, ext 219 or toll free 1-877-641-5822

by Apr 23rd at noon to sign up!

April 27, 28, 294:30p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (all days)

atTJ Health Pavilion, Community Room

312 N L Rogers Wells Blvd., Glasgow, KY 42141*Refreshments provided

**Please plan to attend all sessions

Join us to learn the latest information on managing diabetes, including healthy eating, developing an active lifestyle, taking medications and reducing health risks. Little to no cost to you.

GIVEAWAYS & DOOR

PRIZES!!!

SPECIAL COOKING

SEGMENT!

What to know about sepsisEvery year at least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis, a potentially deadly condition that is striking more and more Americans.

Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system triggers an extreme response to an ongoing infection. This response—a release of immune chemicals into the blood—creates widespread inflammation in the body, which causes blood clots and leaky blood vessels. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to or-gan damage, multiple organ failure and, in some cases, death.

Sepsis is a result of infection, and any-one can get an infection. But sepsis is more likely to occur in people with chronic conditions like diabetes, lung disease, cancer, kidney disease or AIDS.

Other people at high risk for sepsis include adults 65 or older, people with compromised immune systems, and children under the age of 1.

The symptoms of sepsis are similar to many other illnesses, which can make it difficult to diagnose in its early stages. If you have any reason to suspect that you have sepsis and are exhibiting any combination of the

following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention:

●●●●● Fever or feeling very cold.●●●●● Clammy or sweaty skin.●●●●● Extreme pain or discomfort.●●●●● High heart rate.●●●●● Shortness of breath. ●●●●● Confusion or disorientation.

People with sepsis are typically treated in a hospital intensive care unit. They’re often given antibiotics and fluids. Some patients may also need a breathing tube, kidney dialysis or surgery to remove tissue damaged by the infection.Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health

Don’t ignore that snore

I t may be hur t ing your hear tSometimes snoring is more than just snoring. Sometimes it’s a sign of sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous condition that, among other things, can be hard on your heart.

The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstruc-tive sleep apnea (OSA). It causes someone to stop breathing as much as 30 times or more during sleep. These pauses momen-tarily wake a person up, although they may not remember being awake. Breathing pauses also cause oxygen levels to go up and down, which puts a big strain on the heart.

OSA also can increase the risk of heart failure, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), type 2 dia-betes and stroke.

WHAT CAUSES OSA?OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway in the back of the nose, mouth and throat during sleep. The vibration of the relaxed airway triggers the snoring. When the airway closes completely, it cuts off oxygen to the lungs. That’s what wakes someone up, gasping for air: Oxygen can’t get to the lungs and brain, and the body becomes oxygen-deprived.

COULD I HAVE OSA?Loud snoring is the most obvious hallmark of OSA. But if you live alone, you may not have had anyone tell you that you snore.

Other signs and symptoms you might have OSA include:●●●●● You stop breathing while you’re sleeping.●●●●● You wake up from sleep gasping or choking.●●●●● You wake up frequently.●●●●● You have headaches in the morning.●●●●● You feel sleepy or tired during the day or have

problems concentrating.

HOW IS OSA TREATED?Your first step is to talk with your doctor if you suspect you may have OSA.

The condition can be diagnosed by a sleep study or with an at-home sleep apnea test. OSA can be treated with a continu-ous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which involves wearing a mask while sleeping that keeps air pressure flowing in your airways so they don’t close down.

It’s important to not shrug off OSA as just a snoring problem. Treatment is vital to your heart—and your overall good health.Sources: American Academy of Sleep Medicine; American Heart Association

8 DESTINATION HEALTH

TJSAMSON.orgFind a Doctor Get connected to the right physician for you and your family. Our provider directory makes it easy to search by name or specialty.

Health Library Find reliable, up-to-date health information and learn more about related services and events.

Event Calendar Learn about screenings and health classes and sign up online.

Bookmark itHere’s your 24/7 source for the latest in health care informa-tion. At work or at home, you can connect with the resources you need, including doctors in your area, health education classes, support groups and more.

TJSAMSON.org: the health information you need—at your fingertips.

DESTINATION HEALTH is published as a com mu nity service for the friends and patrons of T.J. SAMSON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL1301 N. Race St. Glasgow, KY 42141270-651-4444

Information in DESTINATION HEALTH comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider.

Models may be used in photos and illustrations.

2020 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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D E S T I N A T I O N HEALTH

APRIL 2020

Events

EDUCATION

American Heart Association Adult CPR/First AidClasses are offered quarterly. For dates and times, please call the Continuing Education Department at 270-651-4355. Learn heartsaver CPR skills for people 8 years and older (adult) and basic first aid. $65 for each class. Classes are held in the T.J. Samson Community Hospital fourth-floor classroom.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Health Screenings at the PavilionWednesday, Aug. 26, 7 to 9 a.m.

■ ■ Lipid panel: $20■ ■ Blood sugar: $1■ ■ Bone density: $5

Call the Continuing Education Department at 270-651-4355.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Bariatric Surgery SeminarFirst Monday of each month, 6 p.m.Informational seminar on the benefits of bariatric surgery, hosted by Patrick Klapheke, MD. For information, call 270-659-5945.

PARENTING

Childbirth Prep and Newborn Care Four-week session, Wednesdays, May 6 through May 27Register in your second trimester. Classes are held in the T.J. Samson Community Hospital fourth-floor classroom. Call Megan Richardson at 270-651-4105 to register.

Introduction into Parenting Class Wednesday, April 1, 6 to 8 p.m. The course will cover newborn care more in-depth: swaddling, burping, bathing and car seat safety. Call Megan Richardson at 270-651-4105 to register.

Saturday Childbirth Class Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call Megan Richardson at 270-651-4105 to register.

SUPPORT GROUPSAll support groups are free.

A Stroke AheadFirst Tuesday of each month, 4:30 p.m. A neuro support group for people who have had a stroke or suffered some other type of brain trauma. For more information, please call Emily Grinstead at 270-659-5650.

Bariatric Support GroupThird Monday of each month, 5:30 p.m.For people in the process of having bariatric surgery or who have already had the surgery. For more information, please call Megan Asberry at 270-659-5945.

Bereavement Support GroupThird Monday of each month, 2 to 3:30 p.m.For people who have lost loved ones. Call Emily Boston at 270-651-4430.

Grandparents Support GroupThird Friday of each month,11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Sponsored by Glasgow/Barren Counties Family Resources and Youth Services Center. Call Tammy Lindsey at 270-651-1327.

Oncology Support GroupCall for next day and time.Group sessions are offered quarterly. Open to individuals affected by all types of cancer. The group is formed to give family, caregivers and survivors the support and strength to move forward together. For dates and times, call Amy Stephens at 270-659-5893.

Our focus at T.J. Samson Community Hospital is on

your family’s health. Check out the many opportunities

below to improve and preserve your health.

Unless otherwise noted, all classes and

support groups take place in the Community

Center of the T.J. Health Pavilion. For more

information, please call 270-651-4355.