UF Health Wellness University Hosting Day of Free Seminars

UF Health Wellness University is kicking off December with four free seminars on Thursday at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to join us in the morning or afternoon for one or more of these seminars as the first is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and the last gets underway at 2:45 p.m.

UF Health Wellness University’s events are led by experts in health and wellness from UF Health. These initiatives support living a healthier lifestyle by learning about the latest advances in medicine, disease management, prevention and research. They are free and open to the public.

Registration: Register for one or more of the seminars below When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022; see times below Where: Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Price: Free Other info: Light refreshment will be served

Treatment Options for Enlarged Prostate: 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to enlargement of the prostate gland that tends to be more common and symptomatic as men age. It affects about 50% of men between the ages of 51 and 60 and up to 90% of men older than 80.

The exact cause is unknown. It may cause a frequent or urgent need to urinate during the day or night. It may also be difficult to start urination, make the urine stream weak, cause dribbling at the end of urination or progress to acute urinary retention.

Options for treatment include watchful waiting, medical therapies, minimally invasive therapies and surgery. Normally, more invasive therapies are reserved for the patients that have moderate to severe symptoms and for patients who have developed urinary retention related to obstruction. The goal of treatment is relief of symptoms that significantly impact quality of life.

Learn more about BPH from John Michael DiBianco, MD, who is a physician at UF Health Urology.

Hearing Loss and Options for Hearing Health Care: 10:45-11:45 a.m.

For the first time, hearing aids can now be purchased directly by consumers online and at retail stores without a prescription, but only about 20-30% of people who could benefit from hearing aids have ever purchased or used them. With so many options available at various price points, it can be difficult for consumers to make a choice.

The best way to determine when it might be time to get hearing aids is to consider the impact hearing loss has on your life, whether it be at work, in social situations, with your family or even in your home. If you struggle to hear in any of those situations, then you should seek help.

Research has demonstrated that hearing loss increases your risk of developing dementia. What we don’t have evidence of yet is if the use of hearing aids lessens that risk or reverses it. However, we do know that people with untreated hearing loss tend to limit their interactions with the outside world, which can have a detrimental effect on cognitive health. Getting treatment for your hearing loss will help you engage more effectively and more regularly with the people around you.

Hear more about this important topic from Sterling Sheffield, AuD, PhD, an audiologist and assistant professor in the University of Florida Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions.

Is an Eyelid Lift Right for Me? 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Is eyelid surgery right for you? Do people tell you that you seem angry or tired even when you are well-rested? Do sagging eyelids make seeing difficult?

Sagging in the face and eyelids is a common sign of aging. These changes can make you appear irritated or exhausted even if you are well-rested. See how eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can help you feel years younger, reduce signs of aging and restore your natural appearance.

Good candidates for an eyelid lift generally have excess skin in the eye region that’s either unsightly, impairs vision or both. Over 230,000 men and women choose this procedure each year to regain a firmer, younger looking eye region.

This seminar is hosted by John LiVecchi, MD, FACS, FSEE, from UF Health Ophthalmology. Dr. LiVecchi is a board-certified and fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon, subspecializing in eyelid and facial cosmetic surgery.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - The Silent Killer: 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Are you at risk for an abdominal aortic aneurysm? The exact cause of an aneurysm is unknown. It occurs due to weakness in the wall of the artery. Factors that can increase your risk of having this problem include: smoking, high blood pressure and genetic factors.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is most often seen in men over age 60 who have one or more risk factors. The larger the aneurysm, the more likely it is to break open or tear, which can be life threatening.

Aneurysms can develop slowly over many years, often with no symptoms. Symptoms may come on quickly if the aneurysm expands rapidly, tears open or leaks blood within the wall of the vessel (aortic dissection).

The UF Health Aortic Disease Center uses the latest technologies and innovative therapies to diagnose and treat even the most complex aortic diseases. Learn more from Michol Cooper, MD, PhD, who is a vascular surgeon at the UF Health Aortic Disease Center.