The community is invited to a free health workshop on Sunday in Hamilton to find out more about the causes of swelling in the body's tissues.

The event, which will run from 11am at InTouch Therapy at 45 King Street, will be hosted by Tanaeya Burch, a physiotherapist and lymphoedema expert.

Dr Burch said while the event targets people aged 40 and over, it is open to all residents who are experiencing difficulties finding reliable and specialised information regarding their condition and management options.

She said the workshop will provide insight into lymphoedema, which is a long-term, chronic condition that causes swelling in the body's tissues.

She said: “It’s a free event and people can be able to make better decisions, specifically those who are dealing with any type of swelling — whether it be from a diagnosis of lymphoedema, or a side-effect of having diabetes or post-surgical swelling.

“It could be that they have had a surgery or the swelling just wouldn’t go away.”

She added: “We basically just want to provide information to the community and let them know that there is help out there and that a lot of people are suffering for no reason.

“Even if one doesn’t have swelling, they can come and if they know someone who cannot get there, they will get that information and they may know someone they can help educate.”

Dr Burch returned to Bermuda in 2004 and in 2006 started the lymphoedema clinic at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

She noted that she had treated many people for swelling after leaving the hospital for her InTouch Therapy practice.

“I have been here at InTouch Therapy for 13 years and I still have a wait list,” she added.