Here are a selection of health-related news items from this week's paper edition, and possibly a few news briefs that didn't make it in the paper.

Presentation will cover hearing aids

Audiologist Ryan Gregg will present “Can You Hear Me Now? Advancements in Hearing Aid Technology” at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the lower level of the Onalaska Clinic, 191 Theater Road.

Gregg will provide an overview of the latest technological developments in the hearing aid industry. Normal hearing friends and family will have the opportunity to experience simulated individual hearing loss.

The presentation is free and open to all. Refreshments will be served.

To register, call 392-4172.

Viterbo to host community health fair

Viterbo University will host a community health fair — featuring massages, foot scans, spinal screenings, glucose checks, hearing tests and more — from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in the Varsity Athletics Center on campus.

All events and services at the fair are free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by Midwest Security Insurance Companies, a UnitedHealth Group company. It will include a BloodCenter of Wisconsin blood drive (from noon to 5 p.m.), health screenings, hands-on activities, educational displays, food, door prizes and much more.

“The Viterbo University Community Health Fair is a great opportunity to learn about health and wellness,” said Sue Danielson, director of health services at Viterbo. “It will be a good place to learn about local health resources that you may have been unaware of in the local community.”

More than 40 local agencies are scheduled to participate in the event, including Gundersen Lutheran, Franciscan Skemp, Allergy Associates of La Crosse, Aramark Food Service, Midwest Dental, local chiropractors and many more.

For people in need of transportation to the event, shuttle buses will be operating throughout the day. The buses will run from Midwest Security in Onalaska and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (the corner of 16th and Vine St.) every 30 minutes.

Pre-diabetes talk planned at clinic

A free presentation on pre-diabetes will be presented by Franciscan Skemp certified diabetes educator Jacqueline Andrews, RN.

The presentation will be offered Tuesday, April 8, from

6 to 7 p.m. at Franciscan Skemp’s La Crosse Campus St. Francis Building, Marycrest Auditorium (second floor), 700 West Ave. S.

There is no charge for this presentation, but seating is limited. Register at least a week prior to presentation by calling (608) 392-7824 or logging on to www.franciscanskemp.org.

Approximately 20 million Americans have diabetes, but nearly one-third are unaware that they have the disease. An additional 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes, a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Having pre-diabetes means a person is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Individuals may delay or prevent this through healthy lifestyle changes.

Blood donation now open to 16 and older

Beginning March 15, 16-year-olds in Wisconsin will have the opportunity to donate blood with the American Red Cross with a signed Red Cross parental consent form.

“This is tremendous news for the Red Cross,” said Tony Procaccio, CEO of the Badger-Hawkeye Blood Services Region. “The Red Cross introduced this legislation not only to help bolster the blood supply, but also to introduce young people to a unique form of community service — one that will hopefully become a lifelong tradition.”

In addition, with school currently in session and blood drives being held at high schools, this means even more students will be able to donate. Approximately 20 percent of blood donations made to the blood Red Cross comes from high schools and colleges.

Many of today’s committed blood donors began donating while in high school, which is why the American Red Cross encourages students to start the lifelong habit of donating blood now.

“Blood donors are generous people who take the time to give blood for patients in need. However, the need for blood is growing so new donors are always needed,” added Procaccio. “We would like to ask all eligible students to donate. We hope parents will support and encourage their high school students to give blood.”

Donors must be in general good health, weigh 110 pounds or more, and be at least 16 years old. Sixteen-year-olds must bring a signed American Red Cross parental consent form with them to the blood drive. Consent forms can be obtained by contacting the American Red Cross or a volunteer blood drive coordinator.

For more information, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or log onto givebloodgivelife.org.

Clinic Web site offers health answers

Are ginkgo and aspirin safe to take together? Is chiropractic or acupuncture as good as surgery for back pain? Can pregnant women safely use echinacea?

There is a place to find information about complementary therapies like these with Natural Standard through the Gundersen Lutheran Health Sciences Library including support and review by Gundersen Lutheran pharmacists.

To access the information, log onto gundluth.org/libraries and click on Health Websites - General/Natural Standard. Natural Standard users can search or browse for information on foods, herbs and supplements, various medical conditions and treatments, and comparative effectiveness for complementary therapies, including the level of research done on a particular substance or therapy.

Natural Standard also has interactive tools including an interactions checker, symptom checker, nutrition information for many fast food menus and diet foods, calculators, a dictionary and more.

Nominations sought for doctor award

The Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians is seeking nominations for its 2008 Family Physician of the Year Award.

The annual award is made on the basis of outstanding service to patients, community and devotion to family medicine. The nominee must also be a member in good standing of the academy.

Individuals are encouraged to send letters of nomination to the Wisconsin Academy describing why their family physician should receive the Family Physician of the Year Award.

Past recipients of the award include Dr. James Deming of Tomah, Dr. James Damos of Baraboo, Dr. Alan Carlson of Cumberland, Dr. David Eitrheim of Menomonie, and Dr. Ron Cortte of Tomahawk.

The physician selected for the Wisconsin award may also be nominated for the National Family Physician of the Year Award presented by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Nomination letters should be sent by May 1, 2008. Mail, fax or e-mail nominations to Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, 210 Green Bay Road, Thiensville, WI 53092, (262) 242-1862 or academy@wafp.org.