Health Watch

Vision Help

Braille Institute offers a free six-week program in independent living for people with fading vision. The classes, offered once a week, are held at various sites in Southern California. Information: (323) 663-1111, Ext. 1252.

EDUCATION

* Today: Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, along with the Verdugo Hills Business and Professional Women’s Club, will present a session on women’s health care. Glendale Hilton Hotel, 100 W. Glenoaks Ave., Glendale. Noon. Free. Reservations: (818) 771-7234.

* Tuesday: Lithium awareness seminar, Las Encinas Hospital, Suite 3, 2810 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. (626) 577-7788.

* Tuesday: “Fats, Oils and Health: Increase Your Fats, Increase Your Health,” led by a dietitian, will be held at Artista’s Nutrition (Park Plaza Shopping Center), 870 N. Western Ave., San Pedro. 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Reservations: (310) 519-7111.

* Wednesday: “Infant Massage,” led by a licensed massage therapist, is designed for infants (up to 8 months) and their parents. Beach Cities Health Center, Beach Cities Room, 514 N. Prospect Ave., Redondo Beach. 6:30-8 p.m. $15 for residents, $20 for nonresidents. Registration: (310) 374-3426, Ext. 126.

* Thursday: “Prepared Childbirth” will provide information about the labor process and pain-reducing techniques. (Also in Spanish.) White Memorial Medical Center, Women’s Services Classroom, 1720 Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles. 7-9:30 p.m. $65. Registration: (626) 286-5641.

* Saturday through Monday: Cancer convention, sponsored by the Cancer Control Society, will focus on alternative therapies, nutrition and holistic medicine. Sheraton Universal, 333 Universal Terrace Parkway, Universal City. $25 per day. (323) 663-7801.

SUPPORT GROUPS

* Today: The Center for Mood Disorders, designed to help people experiencing depression, will sponsor a meeting at the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, Suite 270, 2050 S. Bundy Drive, West Los Angeles. 1 p.m. Free. (Also Tuesday at 7 p.m.) (310) 820-4111.

* Today: Cancer support group, City of Hope Cancer Center, Hilquit Building, Room 405, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte. 3-4:30 p.m. (626) 359-8111, Ext. 2282.

* Today: Better Breathers support group, for people with respiratory difficulties. Northridge Hospital’s Sherman Way Campus, second-floor conference room, 14500 Sherman Circle, Van Nuys. 1-3 p.m. Free. To register, contact Rose at (818) 901-4522.

* Tuesday: Depression and Manic Depressive Assn. support group. Huntington Hospital’s Della Martin Center, 760 Pasadena Ave., Pasadena. 7-9 p.m. (800) 310-9855.

* Wednesday: The group Being Alive will hold an AIDS meeting at the Sherman Oaks Hospital, Doctors Dining Room, 4911 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 7 p.m. (818) 889-9259.

* Wednesday: Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a group for people who want to lose weight. Temple Akiba, 5249 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. 9:30 a.m. (310) 837-5970.

* Friday: Stroke support group. Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, Rehabilitation Dining Room, 1420 S. Central Ave., Glendale. 2-3 p.m. (818) 502-1900, Ext. 4787.

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Health Watch appears weekly. Send items typed and double-spaced three weeks in advance to Health Watch, Health, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90053.