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Spectrum Health Medical Group’s Women’s Health Network Explores Possibilities at Free Seminar

No one looks forward to the health challenges that come with getting older. A team of experts from the Spectrum Health Medical Group have some ideas to make the aging process a little better and healthier for women.

A free seminar – “Healthy Aging in an Unhealthy World” – will be held on Monday, May 9, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Calvin College Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids. The seminar will feature Spectrum Health Medical Group physicians who will explore the health changes women face as they age.

“Our goal is to help women discover their best selves by understanding their individual challenges and developing successful methods of dealing with them,” said Diana Bitner, MD, medical director, Women’s Health Network, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “It’s about making choices that will place you on the path that is best for you, your body and your lifestyle.”

Bitner says that women between 35 and 55 years old who can answer “yes” to any of the following questions should consider attending the seminar:

• Is your weight becoming more difficult to control?
• Are you more fatigued than you think you should be?
• Are night sweats disturbing your sleep?
• Have you or someone close to you noticed higher levels of irritability?
• Have the new stresses in your life created relationship issues?
• Are you yelling at your kids more?
• Are you experiencing more bouts of depression and/or anxiety?
• Has your diet become high in carbohydrates for energy?
• Do you have a diminished sex drive?

There is no cost for the seminar but reservations should be made by calling 616.776.9626. More information is available at www.shmg.org/womenshealthnetwork.

Bitner will also be available to answer questions about hormones, aging and other women’s health issues during an online chat on Monday, May 23, beginning at noon at www.spectrumhealth.org/onlinechat.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which includes nine hospitals and 180 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 17,700 employees. The organization provided $115.9 million in community benefit during its 2010 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.