Quesnel Health Expo

Do you know your numbers? How's your blood pressure? Are you eating right? Are you active enough?

Find out the answers at the Quesnel Health Expo, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 20 at the Quesnel & District Arts and Recreation Centre. Visitors will be able to sign up for comprehensive health screenings, listen to talks by experts, or ask questions about improving health and wellness at a number of exhibitor booths.

"We've developed a partnership between Leisure Services, Northern Health, and the Canadian Diabetes Association to provide our community with comprehensive health screenings at a convenient location," said Diane Rogers, Leisure Services Recreation Manager. "This is a great opportunity for all of us to get our loved ones to have a screening and spend some time learning about how we can improve our health."

Visitors will be able to register for medical screenings with public health nurses and physicians. The screenings cost $10, and cover topics including: cholesterol; blood glucose; managing stress; smoking cessation; blood pressure; activity; goal setting; and eating sensibly. The public is encouraged to consider registering for a screening if they are over 40 or have a family history of heart disease or diabetes. Child-minding and bus passes are available for screening participants.

Northern Health's nurses from public health, chronic disease clinic, home care, primary care, and mental health and a dietician will provide their expertise at the screenings and information booths. Dr. Jerry McFetridge, Dr. Morne Smit, Dr. Peter Slabbert and other physicians will also participate in healthy goal settings and Dr. McFetridge will present a talk how exercise is important medicine.

"There is no substitute for having your own family doctor and getting regular checkups, but health fairs such as the Quesnel Health Expo can supplement your health care through providing low cost risk screenings for heart attack, giving information on important cancer screenings, and lifestyle changes for prevention of chronic illness, and setting personal goals for lifestyle changes" said Margie Wiebe Primary Care Nurse and Primary Health Care Developer from Northern Health. "Early detection of heart health risks, cancer, and chronic illness are the most important factors for reducing heart attacks, and having better outcomes for cancer and chronic illness."

As November is Diabetes Month, information about prevention and living with diabetes will have a prominent place in the Expo and throughout the medical screenings and presentations. In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, the Association is asking individuals to visit diabetes.ca to see the stories of incredible volunteers, sponsors, members, partners, researchers and supporters - who are living healthy with diabetes, advocating for the cause and breaking ground towards a cure.

"Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes - a condition that, if left unchecked, puts you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In Quesnel, there are over 1,500 people living with diabetes," said Boyanne Young, Branch Coordinator of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Northern Region.

For more information, or to register for a screening, please contact 250-992-8200.