Health News

BANGOR – Beginning May 1, the Bangor STD Clinic will offer free hepatitis C antibody tests to persons at risk. The project is expected to last three months. An estimated 15,000-20,000 Mainers are infected, but only one in 10 is aware of it.

Hepatitis C can cause serious liver problems. Early detection and treatment is critical. The STD Clinic will offer referrals for medical care for all persons who test positive. Those eligible include:

. Those who have injected drugs.

. Those who received transfusions before April 1992.

. Hemophiliacs who received factor concentrates before 1987.

. Those with a current or past sexual partner who is hepatitis C positive.

. Those with a history of occupational blood exposure.

. Those on hemodialysis.

. Children born to HCV-positive mothers.

Testing will be done by appointment. Call 947-0700.

BANGOR – A free diabetes support group, sponsored by St. Joseph Healthcare, will feature monthly guest speakers beginning Thursday, May 2. Dr. Christopher Toth will discuss foot care for people with diabetes at 1 p.m. today.

The diabetes support group meets 1-2 p.m. the first Thursday of each month in the Willette Conference Center, Building 2, St. Joseph Healthcare Park, 900 Broadway.

Support group members share their personal experiences relating to diabetes management, stress reduction techniques and daily coping skills. Diabetes educators are available to facilitate the meetings and provide updates on nutrition, exercise, medications and supplies, as well as answer any questions. For information, call 262-1836.

BANGOR – The Dystonia Support Group of Greater Maine will meet 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at EMTC’s Rangeley Hall, Sylvan Road, to discuss treatments and services available for people who have a voice disorder known as spasmodic dysphonia.

Dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that force parts of the body into abnormal and sometimes painful movements or positions. Dystonia is the third most common movement disorder after Parkinson’s disease and affects an estimated 300,000 people in North America. Dystonia can occur in a generalized or focal form. It is not fatal, but can be debilitating.

Spasmodic dysphonia, one of several types of dystonia, affects the vocal chords, giving the voice a strained, hoarse quality, or a low, breathy, whispered quality.

The guest speaker will be Mary Bellandese, University of Maine assistant professor of communications sciences and disorders. She is also the director of the voice clinic at Conley Speech and Hearing Center in Orono. The topic of her presentation is “Treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia: Botox and-or Voice Therapy.”

Bellandese is certified by the American and Maine Speech-Language-Hearing Associations, and the Cleft Palate Association. She is a certified instructor of alaryngeal voice.

The public is invited to attend. For information, call 234-7225 or 942-3650.