October 27, 2009

 

ELMIRA-- In this economy it's easy to focus on spending money on the necessities: clothes, food and keeping a roof over your head, but an event Tuesday was a reminder for women that your health isn't something to forget about.
     “The economy is really bad and we needed something with free screenings and things that would bring people out to get some care for themselves,” said Jan Stillman, the YWCA Women's Wellness Event coordinator.
     More than 100 women stepped up to the plate to check their numbers.
     Amanda Sharp, Horseheads, says she leads a healthy lifestyle, and wants to make sure it's working.
     “My blood sugar was normal; I do not have hypertension and my cholesterol was 140 so I'm right where i want to be,” Sharp said.
     For Sharp, she was able to confirm what she already knew, while other women were in for a surprise.
     “The osteoporosis screening, it was a little shocking just to find out at a young age the results of that,” said Christie Speciale, Corning.
     From blood work to spinal checks, information on skin care or just a nice massage: coordinators want women to know nothing's more important than their health.  But they also know the economy makes it hard to get regular checkups.
     “If you don't have health insurance you're not going to go and have cholesterol and glucose screenings done. They're expensive, they cost money and people will pick putting food on the table rather than having things done for themselves,” Stillman said.
     That's why Stillman is hoping the crowd of women who got checked Tuesday will be back again sometime soon.
     She says they'd like to make this an annual event.