Over 200 people attended the Chicago Defender’s first annual health fair Saturday, which provided free health screenings and information on such things as diabetes, HIV and prostate cancer- ailments health experts said often plagues the Black community.
Dr. Damon Arnold, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, one of the event’s sponsors, said the screenings were an important aspect of the fair.
“Lack of access to health care is a growing problem in Illinois. And many minorities go years without seeing a doctor even though there are public health facilities that provide free care,” he said. “Not knowing what your HIV status is or if you have high blood pressure can kill you, so screenings serve as a preventive measure. Once a person knows their status they can begin to seek medical attention to address it.”
Several forums were also a part of the fair, which was held at the Charles Hayes Center, 4859 S. Wabash Ave.
Dr. Immire Laguerre practices family medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and moderated the forum on diabetes.
“A big part of diabetes is the foods we eat. How often does a person read the ingredient label on the foods they eat and liquors they drink?” she questioned the audience. “You'll be surprised by what you are putting into your body.”
She explained that fried foods, artificial drinks, such as smoothies, are filled with sugar ingredients and that is not healthy.
“Lifestyle modifications are needed to improve one’s health condition. Too many people eat their biggest meal for dinner and then go to bed a few hours later. That’s not good because while you are sleeping your body is still up working to digest the foods you ate,” the medical doctor said. “I recommend making your biggest meal breakfast or lunch because you have the rest of the day to move on around and fully digest your food while you are on your feet.”
Diabetes is when the body has the inability to break down sugar. One symptom for those with diabetes is frequent urination, even without having consumed a lot of liquids.
Mark Sanders, 49, attended the diabetes forum and said his wife died from diabetes eight years ago.
“She apparently had diabetes for years but we did not find out until late,” he recalled. “By this time it was not a whole lot that could be done and rather than take her medications my wife stopped taking them and eventually died.”
Health officials report that prostate cancer also plagues the Black community.
A forum on the disease was held at the health fair.
Aside from the screenings and forums there were also health exercises, such as aerobics, for attendees to participate in, and a bodybuilding demonstration.
jstnice
