Greetings Divas! I know you all may be super busy, but I hope that you take a moment to read this post in its entirety. It provides information on a very important topic: Women’s Health!
Now I am not a doctor in any shape or form, but I do have a great
relationship with my primary physician. So great in fact that I often
talk with him about different types of health-related screenings for
women. In having these discussions with my doctor, and the nurse
practitioners in his office, I have learned of a long list of health
screening that all women should have, but neglect to get…hence the
reason for this post!
In the spirit of healthy living, please accept this list of the 4 important health-screenings that all women should have,
and why. For all of you Divas in the medical field, please
feel free to comment on this list and/or add additional screenings. I
would love for this to be an open forum for us to exchange information
that is beneficial to our health, so help me out and spread the word!
Mammogram and Breast Examination
– According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), breast cancer is
the most common cancer among women in the United States, and is one of
the leading causes of cancer death among women of all races. As such, the American Cancer Society recommends the following breast screening guidelines for most adults:
- Starting at the age of 40, women should have yearly mammograms so long as the woman is in good health;
- Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam about every 3 years;
- Women should conduct regular breast self-exams starting in their 20s;
- All women should know how their breast normally
look and feel, and should immediately report any breast change to their
health care provider.
Please
note that there are different breast screening recommendations based on
a woman’s family history, genetic tendencies, or other factors. These
women should speak with their doctor about the need for additional
tests.
Pap Tests and Pelvic Exams
– According to the CDC, the number of cases of cervical cancer and the
number of death from cervical cancer has significantly decreased over
the past 40 years. This decline is largely attributed to women getting
regular Pap tests and pelvic examinations. These tests are successful in
finding cervical pre-cancer before it turns into cancer. As
such, this screening is a MUST for women! The American Cancer Society
recommends the following cervical screening guidelines for most adults:
- All
women should begin screening for cervical cancer about 3 years after
they begin having vaginal intercourse, but no later than 21 years old.
These screenings should occur every year with the regular Pap test, or
every 2 years using the liquid-based Pap test;
- Beginning at age 30, women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 2 to 3 years;
- Women older than 30 may get screened every 3 years
with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the human
papilloma virus (HPV) test;
- Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or
more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the
last 10 years may choose to stop having Pap tests;
- Women who have had a total hysterectomy may choose
to stop having Pap tests, unless the hysterectomy was performed as a
treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer; and
- Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix should continue to have regular Pap tests.
Again,
there are different cervical screening recommendations based on a
woman’s family history, genetic tendencies, or other factors. These
women should speak with their doctor about the need for additional
tests.
Blood Pressure Screening – Fact: High blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke, which are the 1st and 3rd leading causes of death in the United States, respectively. Fact: High blood pressure can also lead to congestive heart failure and kidney disease. Fact: One out of three adults in the United States has high blood pressure. Fact:
High blood pressure is preventable! How you ask? In addition to
adopting a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and being
physically active, getting your blood pressure checked regularly is a
great step towards prevention. The Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality recommends that women have their blood pressure checked at least
every 2 years, so get tested!
Cholesterol Screening – Did you know that in the United States, more women than men have high cholesterol?
According to the CDC, 10.3% of women age 20-34 and 12.7% of women age
35-44 suffer from high cholesterol. Need more numbers? Well, 19.7% of
women age 45-54 suffer from high cholesterol. The interesting thing is
that high cholesterol usually exhibits no signs or symptoms, but can
increase your risk for health disease. How do you know if your
cholesterol is high? You get a blood test! The National Cholesterol
Education Program recommends that healthy adults have their cholesterol
levels every 5 years. Have you had yours?
Okay
Divas, these are my four. I challenge you all to take control of your
health, meet with your team of medical professionals, and schedule the
necessary tests. I hope that you all have learned a little something
from this post. Again, I want this to be an open forum for an exchange
of beneficial health information, so please spread the word!
LEX
