Women Seek Help on Taking Control of Their Wellness

Vendors offered discount and information pamphlets to attendees.

Zonya Faco got the audience excited with one brief workout.
Photos by Courtney Harris

By Courtney Harris
Outlook Writer

Hundreds of women came to find out all they could about themselves – from how to diet to practicing good healthcare.

 
This past Saturday, Capital Regional Medical Center held its annual Women’s Wellness Day, which attracted over 200 participants. The turnout at Florida State University’s Turnbull Conference Center was the largest since the event’s inception.

 
The audience seemed attentive as some took notes and engaged in information-filled conversations during the three-hour event. The discussion went beyond basic health, touching on the spiritual and mental well-being of women.

 
Participants heard from two physicians and renowned dietician and author Zonya Foco.

 
“My business is to help create or reconstruct your form and function,” said Dr. Michael Douso, an OB-GYN.

 
A board certified neuro-gynecologist, Douso described the inner workings of the female anatomy as an art form. He went on to say that plans are in place to establish one central unit for women that would make obtaining specific services more convenient.

 
“I’m happy to announce that we are starting the Florida Institute for Pelvic Health and Incontinence at Capital Regional Medical Center,” said Douso. “By the top of the year we want all the services under one roof to deal with your issues.”

 
While pelvic health is important, heart disease and stroke are major concerns, as they rank first and third among the leading causes for death in women.
One in four women will die of heart disease, according to Dr. Carey Dellock of Capital Regional Cardiology Associates.

 
Dellock encouraged the audience to know their bodies so they could detect any physical problems at an early stage. For example, if an EKG is done early enough it has the potential to help physicians stop a stroke or heart attack.

 
“Nobody cares about you like you,” Dellock said. “If you have the knowledge you will not leave an emergency room without an EKG.”

 
While there are several factors that could lead to heart disease, it is widely known that potential victims could change their fate with an exercise routine and a proper diet.

 
A good start would be to simply check food labels, Foco said.

 
“We all tend to see healthy wording on packages and think they’re healthy,” she said, “but many times they are over-processed.”

 
Foco went one step further, saying people can eat their favorite foods as long as they do so in moderation.

 
“If you halve it, you can have it,” she said, adding that such small steps could lead to healthier living.