Mat-Su Regional Medical Center hosts annual health fair

PALMER— The Mat-Su Regional Medical Center’s annual Family Health Fair drew in hundreds of people this year with 37 different booths and activity stations. From birth to golden years, a little something for every age group with family health at the center.

“Parents have to be healthy to raise healthy kids,” Rhoda Sahlstrom, Nurse Manager for the Heartreach Center, said.

During the fair, attendees had many things to choose from. They could go on guided tours in the cardiac catheterization labs or take on interactive challenges like peeling a starburst wrapper with robotic fingers.

MSRMC director of marketing and public relations Alan Craft noted that this annual health fair has been a tradition for the hospital, pre-dating the Parks Highway location. It originally started as a women’s health fair at the old hospital in downtown Palmer. This event is regularly anticipated by many locals since it offers free medical services like blood work and flu shots.

In 2014 heart disease and stroke were the second and fourth leading causes of death in Alaska, according to a 2016 Brief Report for Chronic Disease in Alaska from the Department of Health and Social Services. Heart disease accounted for 19 percent of deaths, stroke accounted for 4 percent, and 26 percent of adults in Alaska reported having high blood pressure.

The exposition-style environment of this event is geared for visitors, particularly with families to casually chat from booth to booth and address some health and wellness goals without having to make an appointment or pay for a consultation.

This is Kate Gallaway’s first health fair at MSRMC. Gallaway, a nurse, stood in the main lobby inviting guests to try their hands at the Da Vinci Surgical System, featuring a set of two-fingered, robotic arms linked to a real-time interface. Several people sat down to the right of a podium with a brightly colored starburst candy on top. The goal? To unwrap the wrapper with the metal fingers, much like a surgery during a delicate operation. Only in this case, it was candy so the stakes were low but the victories were sweet.

“The starburst is out patient,” Galloway said with a laugh.

The Da Vinci Surgical System premiered at MSRMC nine years ago. It’s commonly used around the country with a range of abilities. Galloway noted that at MSRMC there are three main uses, general, gynecology and urology. Galloway said that hernia repairs and prostate surgery are some of the more common reasons doctors use the machine.

Prostate cancer is the third most common form of cancer in Alaska, according to according to the 2016 Brief Report for Chronic Disease in Alaska.

Mark Strom is the lead cardiovascular technologist at MSRMC. He led several tours at the cath lab throughout the day. When Strom was asked how to prevent heart disease, he joked, “don’t get old.”

“We all age. Age is the biggest factor of heart disease, of all disease,” Strom said.

When it comes to preventing heart disease and other ailments, Strom recommend eating the right foods, hydrating, getting enough sleeping, and getting exercise.

“It’s all the same stuff we were told as kids,” Strom said.

Strom noted that a family’s history is very important aspect when it comes to heart health care, particularly as people age. As people age, they tend to be at higher risks of health conditions passed on from their genealogy. Elderly people are also at higher risks. That’s why Strom recommend regular exercise to promote circulation throughout the body and help prevent cardiovascular health issues.

“That’s why we’re here today, to educate,” Strom said.