HEALTH BRIEFS

Strides of March

Chattanooga Cares' 17th Annual Strides of March fundraiser walk will be held Sunday, March 25, noon at Renaissance Park. Register online at www.chattanoogacares.org. Chattanooga Cares is the Tennessee Valley's resource for HIV/AIDS providing education, prevention and support to all those affected by the virus. For information call 648-9912 or e-mail davidm@chattanoogacares.org

Mammograms

Memorial Hospital's Mobile Mammogram Coach will provide mammogram screenings for women 40 and older, who haven't had a mammogram in the last 12 months, with or without insurance, at the Spring City Municipal Building, 229 Front St., Spring City, Tenn., on Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Call 423-495-4040 or toll free 866-591-2254 for appointment.

Gluten meeting

The Gluten Group meets at 6 p.m. Sunday at Tyner United Methodist Church in Wesley Hall, 6508 Standifer Gap Road. Guest speaker is Dr. Gordon Heinrichs, author of "Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivities, A Troubled Past but Promising Future." He will speak via live-stream Internet hookup. Contact Dr. L.W. Nichols at 991-3592 for information.

NAMI speaker

The Chattanooga Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold its free Speaker's Forum, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday at Joe Johnson Center, 420 Bell Ave., North Shore district. Janice Bigger, marketing director, Strategies for Life of Tennessee-Community Behavioral Health Center, will offer tips designed to prevent inpatient hospitalization or further stabilize patients being discharged from inpatient hospitalization. For information call 899-6922 or visit www.namichattanooga.org

Hard of hearing

The Hearing Loss Institute will host Carolyn Matthis of Memphis to demonstrate the new Captel captioned telephone for hard of hearing people. The meeting and free lunch is noon Friday at Staybridge Suites dining room, 1300 Carter St., downtown. For reservations call David Harrison at 624-1669 or e-mail letmypeoplehear@yahoo.com.

Functional neurology

Complementary Health Education Organization's free meeting 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Eastgate Mall community conference room, 5600 Brainerd Road, features Tomas E. Stangel, D.C., whose topic is "Brain Based Therapy for Health and Neurological Conditions: the Unique Approach of Functional Neurology." Common conditions include balance, dizziness, movement disorders, Parkinson's, Autism, Alzheimer's/dementia, chronic pain and headache. For information visit www.4cheo.org.

Healing workshop

Well Nest Chattanooga will offers its third "Elements of Healing" Workshop, "Air," the inspiration for March 31, 1-3:30 p.m. Next session is April 28. Therapist Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, director of Well Nest and healer Stephen Cavitt will facilitate. $25 for each workshop. Registration required. Held at Well Nest, East Ridge (for street address or to register e-mail drrick@wellnestchattanooga.com or Stephen@stephencavitt.com).

Colon cancer walk

The second annual "Get Your Rear in Gear" Chattanooga 5K Run/Walk raises awareness for early colon cancer screenings and provides support to those affected by the nation's No. 2 cancer killer. Held Saturday, March 24, at Coolidge Park. Register online in advance of race day at www.getyourrearingear.com or on race day beginning at 7:30 a.m. The 5K race begins at 9 a.m., Kiddie Run at 10:45 a.m. and 5K Fun Walk at 11:15 a.m. Volunteers needed. Sign up to assist on race day at 757-0716.

Diabetes

Diabetes Education Class, Thursday, March 22, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Erlanger Chattanooga Lifestyle Center. This class will explore ways to manage diabetes. Call 778-9400 for information on physician referral and insurance reimbursement.

Weight-loss surgery

The Gastric Band Institute will hold a free seminar on gastric banding (Lap-Band and Realize Band) and the new sleeve procedure for people 75 pounds overweight, on Wednesday, April 11, 5:30 p.m., at 7405 Shallowford Road (across from Steak n' Shake). Call 423-899-1000 for reservations. Free insurance verification.

Myeloma meeting

The Multiple Myeloma Networking Group meets tonight, 6 p.m. at Memorial Center for Cancer Support, 605 Glenwood Drive, Suite 307 (Plaza Building next to Memorial Hospital). A video presentation by Dr. Noopur Raje, director of the Center for Multiple Myeloma at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, will discuss progress achieved in multiple myeloma and bone issues. For information, contact Jack or Linda Huguelet at 886-3554.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Free screening for men and women 65 or older, to detect bulge in artery wall, with no previous diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and no abdominal CT in the past five years. Screenings held Monday-March 23, at Memorial Hospital, Memorial Hospital Hixson and Memorial Ooltewah. Registration and appointment required at 495-6000.

Items for this column are due the Friday before Thursday's publication date. Write to Linda Weaver, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447; fax 668-5071; e-mail lweaver@timesfree press.com.

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