WellStar Opening Women's Health Series Today

A low-cost evening out with other ladies to dine and learn about staying healthy can be a wise investment as well as a mid-week break.

WellStar Health System is hosting its fifth-annual series on "Speaking about Wellness for Women," beginning tonight in Kennesaw and Thursday evening in Douglasville.

Open to women of all ages, these programs are presented as a series throughout this year. At this week's first programs, participants will receive a class notebook. Additional notebook material will be supplied at future meetings. 

Women completing all four programs will receive special recognition and a gift at the end of the year.

Two new features to this year's programs are "Healthy Happy Hour" and "Health Extras."

Healthy Happy Hour

Healthy Happy Hour begins one hour before the programs. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., women will have time to socialize  as well as take advantage of various health-related services, including:

• Meet and greet time with WellStar physicians
• Free health screenings
• Information and education booths

Health Extras

Also new, "Health Extras" programs will address specific health topics, free of charge, in a classroom setting.

Light refreshments will be served, and participants will receive an educational folder to accompany the topic being discussed.

Topics for this year include:

• Uterine Fibroid Care
• Breast Health
• Bladder Health
• Sleep Health

Additional information, including dates, times and locations of events, will be mailed before each event.

'Speaking about Wellness for Women' programs

Locations for these programs will be at the:

• Kennesaw State University Center for Continuing Education, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw. From I-75 north at exit 271, turn right on Chastain Road, right on Busbee Drive and right at the second driveway of the KSU Center. The KSU Center for Continuing Education is on the south side.
• Douglasville Downtown Conference Center, 6701 Church St., Douglasville, with free public parking across the street.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for dinner, and the programs will last from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The cost of $10 per program includes not only dinner and dessert but a presentation by a featured speaker, educational materials and a free gift to each participant.

To register, call 770-956-STAR (7827).

Program topics will be:

• "Heart Health: Chocolate, Wine and Aspirin" today in Kennesaw and Feb. 24 in Douglasville. Mindy Gentry, M.D. will speak in Kennesaw, and Harvey Sacks, M.D. will be the Douglasville speaker.
• "Celebrating Women: Your Chance to Ask the Experts" on May 10 in Kennesaw and May 12 in Douglasville.
• "Joint and Bone Health: How to Live and Work through the Aches and Pains" on Aug. 23 in Kennesaw and Aug. 25 in Douglasville—both with Mohammad Kamran, M.D.
• "Fall into Winter: Healthy Habits for Your Mind, Body and Soul" on Oct. 25 in Kennesaw and Oct. 27 in Douglasville—both with Ryan Breshears, Ph.D. and a WellStar Registered Dietitian.