Health fair features free screenings, information and fun
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PABLO — Meridee Lieberg understands how important one room filled with health screenings and services can be for the wellbeing and lives of women. Lieberg has been a registered nurse for 42 years and works at the Community Medical Center’s Montana Heart Center in Missoula. This was the third year she hosted a booth at the fourth annual Women 4 Wellness health fair and halfway through the day she had already detected seven participants with severe hypertension and two with rapid heartbeats. Lieberg referred them all to physicians, because these symptoms could result in more serious conditions.
“If it wasn’t for these kinds of things, they wouldn’t have known about it,” Lieberg said.
The health fair on May 17 was an opportunity for women to visit with hundreds of vendors about their health concerns. Last year attracted around 1,100 participants and organizers estimate this year about 1,340 people attended the health fair that provided numerous free screenings, drawings and consultations.
Pat Stevens of Polson visited the Montana Heart Center’s booth, where she had her blood pressure checked. Stevens said health screenings like this are important because she has type 2 diabetes, and her father died from heart disease. She usually watches her health very closely and likes the health fair because of its convenience.
“I do as much as I can, but with this, you can get a lot done in one day,” Stevens said.
Barb of Polson, who wished to be identified by only her first name, said she visited a booth that did an ultrasound on the carotid artery to check to see if one is prone to a stroke. The carotid ultrasound shows whether a waxy substance called plaque has built up in the carotid arteries. If the plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form, which can block blood flow and cause a stroke.
“It’s nice to know,” Barb said, adding that she also planned to visit the booth that measures bone density.
In addition to screenings and tests, there were also many booths featuring beauty products, jewelry, local products and organizations.
“I found out about SAFE Harbor, and I didn’t know it existed,” said Ellen of St. Ignatius. She said she plans to make donations to the shelter for domestic violence and sexual assault victims.
“(The health fair) is one stop, and you can get a lot of things done,” Barb said.
