Women’s Health Check-In
Stay Up on Your Health!
Ladies, this one’s for you! Listed below are many resources that serve as a reminder for women to stay up on their health not only during Women’s Health Week in May, or Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, but all year round. You can’t care for your family unless you are taking care of yourself, too!
Top 10 Women’s Health Reminders
Take a minute to read through this checklist, from Baylor College of Medicine, to make sure that you and the women in your life are slayin’ that healthy lifestyle game! Women of all ages should complete a yearly well-woman exam with their healthcare providor. This appointment can address the following:
- General wellbeing
- Mental health screenings
- Blood pressure, heart rate and basal metabolic index
- Exposures to toxins like nicotine, alcohol and other drugs
- Counseling for sexual health and contraception
- Screening for abuse or neglect
- Counseling on healthy lifestyle choices, including exercise, diet and sleep
- Skincare and cancer prevention
- Risk assessment for heart disease, diabetes and gender-specific cancers
- Use of complementary or alternative medicine
There are specific screenings for each age group that women should prioritize:
Women ages 18-39:
- Cervical cancer screening with a Pap smear
- STI screenings
- Breast self-exams and clinical breast exams (If you have a family history of breast cancer, a baseline mammogram should be completed at age 35.)
- Blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol and diabetic screenings
Women ages 40-64
- Cervical cancer screening with a Pap smear
- STI screenings
- Mammogram screening is recommended every one to two years starting at age 40.
- Annual risk assessment by measuring blood pressure, BMI, heart rate and inquiring about personal and family history defines the possible need for cholesterol, diabetes and thyroid function testing.
- The recommended age for colon cancer screening is 45. If there are any abnormal findings, the screening could be repeated every three to five years. In case of a normal colonoscopy, it’s repeated every 10 years. (If there is a family history of colon cancer in first-degree relatives, screening starts at an earlier age or is completed more frequently.)
Women ages 65 and above:
- Bone density assessment starts at age 65 for low risk patients, repeated every 2 years.
- The bone density assessment can be started any time after age 50 if patient is at high risk for bone loss.
- Colon cancer screening continues every 10 years unless the gastroenterologist recommends that there is more risk with the procedure at a certain age.
- Mammogram is recommended every one to two years but its frequency can be personalized according to risk factors like family history of breast cancer, personal history of breast biopsy, or cancer.
- If previous Pap smears and HPV testing are negative, the last Pap smear is completed by age 65. If it’s normal, no further cervical cancer screening is recommended.
- Blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetic screenings
Breast Cancer Awareness
We talked to local expert Dr. Danielle Henry, a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist with the Breast Care Center at Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center, about breast cancer and how women can be proactive in lessening their risk. Click here to read the full blog post. Here are a few of her recommendations:
- Get your mammograms annually after age 40.
- Maintain a healthy weight; exercising 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week; no smoking; avoid excessive alcohol intake.
- Perform monthly self-exams to detect any changes.
- Schedule your mammogram with a friend. Talk about your positive yexperiences to encourage the women in your life to attend their yearly mammograms.
Supporting the Health of Others
Women are often the drivers of family healthcare. You work so hard to make sure that your partner, children, family, friends, and even coworkers are taken care of. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with this role, we gotchu! Take a look at our blog post for ideas on how to offer healthy support to your loved ones. And if you need some help maintaining your own wellbeing, click here for simple mindfulness tips to help you get through your hectic days.
Dear Younger Self…
We asked a few wise ladies from their 30s to 80s what they would say to their younger selves in regards to physical health, mental health, relationships, skincare, hair care, and more! Here’s a snippet of what they said. Click here to read their full advice.
“Just a note to my younger self. Thank you for getting a well-woman exam when you were 16. It has made all the difference for staying on top of my health over the years.” – Kathy, 56
“So many things I wish I could tell my younger self… stay out of tanning beds and wear sunscreen: skin cancer is no joke.” – Ashley, 35
“Keep your mind strong. Life is full of surprises. You have to learn to not be overwhelmed and get depressed. Always keep a smile on your face and think positive. Remember, it’s one day at a time!” – Marilyn, 80
So, to all our West Orange sisters out there: we support you and are cheering you on in your health journeys! Remember to take care of your own health needs, and take action in disease prevention. You got this!
