HANCOCK - More than 100 Copper Country men received check-ups and got tips on how to make their lives longer and healthier at Saturday's Men's Health Tune-Up at Portage Health.
This year's event drew 111 people, up from 70 last year, said Angela Luskin, community health coordinator for Portage Health.
This was the third year for the event, which this year had a focus on overall wellness with exercise and nutrition. Past years have focused on sleep and prostate health.
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Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette
Sally Tuovila, an audiology assistant at Portage Health, administers a hearing test to Gordy Sedar of Lake Linden at Saturday’s Men’s Health Tune-Up at Portage Health. One-hundred-eleven men came to this year’s event, which included a full lipid profile and tests for blood pressure, bone density and body composition.
"I think the goal behind the Men's Health Tune-Up is to give an opportunity to the Copper Country men to come out and enjoy half a day of health, learning about their health with the screenings educating them on health and having some fun, too, so they're in a comfortable, relaxed environment," Luskin said.
Attendees got a full lipid profile, including high- and low-density lipoproteins ("good" and "bad" cholesterol), triglycerides and blood glucose. Other screenings included hearing, blood pressure, bone density and body composite, which looks at how much fat and lean mass a person has.
They also heard talks from local medical figures. Jason Carter, chair of Michigan Technological University's Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, discussed staying active as men get older, while Pam Dove from Baraga County Memorial Hospital talked about how to control diet.
J.P. Suchoski of Hancock has attended the past couple of years. He said it's helped reinforce the importance of getting check-ups on a regular basis.
"It's been great information both years," he said after Carter's talk. "Dr. Carter made a great presentation today. It's great to have a bunch of screenings at once ... it's an inexpensive, good handle on health."
Gordy Sedar of Lake Linden was undergoing a hearing test. For the most part, his ears were in good shape, the test showed.
"I heard it on the radio and I figured I'd give it a try and see what kind of services they offered," he said. "It's been good ... They seem to be running a good program here. Hopefully this will help some people."