Wellness strategies for women

Posted by Crozer Keystone Staff on May 11, 2011

Women of all
ages can help themselves stay healthy by seeing their primary care physician
for regular health screenings and annual checkups that help to identify early
warning signs of disease. As you age, annual screening becomes even more
important so your doctor can detect any risk factors that may put you at
greater risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in women,
and for other diseases such as osteoporosis, breast cancer, peripheral artery
disease, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.

Monthly breast
self-examinations and mammograms are the greatest tools available to women to
detect breast cancer — and the earlier cancer is found, the better your chances
of successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends annual
screening mammograms beginning at age 40.

A pelvic
examination and clinical breast examination should be part of your yearly
checkup. In addition, most healthy women over age 30 can receive a Pap smear
every two to three years, instead of once a year, depending on the results of
previous tests. A pelvic exam can help spot infections and abnormalities in the
reproductive organs, while the Pap test detects abnormal cells that may
indicate cervical cancer.

Annual height
monitoring can help you doctor determine if you are losing bone mass, which may
point to osteoporosis. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG) recommends routine bone mineral density testing (a DEXA scan) for all
postmenopausal women over age 65.

Other Important
Tests

Cholesterol
check: Elevated blood cholesterol puts you at greater risk for heart disease
and stroke, the third-leading cause of death in America. I recommend a test
called a lipid panel or lipoprotein profile, which measures total cholesterol,
HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides. This should
be performed every five years after age 20.

Screening for
peripheral artery disease: PAD is caused by the buildup of fatty plaques that
cut off blood flow to your legs and feet. One of the most noticeable symptoms
of PAD is “intermittent claudication” — cramping pain in your lower legs while
walking or exercising that stops when you sit down or stop moving. Doctors
screen for PAD using a non-invasive type of blood pressure test called ankle
brachial index (ABI).

Colorectal
cancer screening: Current medical guidelines recommend colonoscopy screening
once every 10 years beginning at age 50 or around age 40 if colorectal cancer
runs in your family or you have been treated previously for colon polyps.
Doctors use several methods to screen for colorectal cancer: digital rectal
examination, fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium
enema. Ask your doctor which method is appropriate for you.

Blood pressure
screening: Regular blood pressure screening is important because hypertension,
or high blood pressure, has no symptoms. Postmenopausal women are especially at
risk for high blood pressure. According to current medical guidelines, the
optimal blood pressure for both women and men is less than 120/80 mmHg.

Diabetes test:
Type 2 diabetes occurs more frequently in women, African-Americans, and
Latinos. In my office, we use the fasting plasma glucose test or an oral
glucose tolerance test to check for diabetes. The American Diabetes Association
recommends either of these tests for all adults beginning at age 45.

For more
information on these and other women’s health topics, visit the American
Academy of Family Physicians’ consumer
website.

*Joshua Feinberg, D.O., is a family medicine
physician in practice at the Crozer Health Pavilion, 145
Brinton Lake Road, Suite 201, Glen Mills, PA 19342, 610-459-1619

About Crozer Keystone Staff

Crozer-Keystone Health System’s physicians, specialists and advanced practitioners are committed to improving the health of our community through patient-centered, quality care across a full continuum of health services. Crozer Brinton Lake is Crozer-Keystone’s comprehensive outpatient care facility in western Delaware County, offering primary care, specialty services, outpatient surgery and advanced cancer treatment. Contact us: 300 Evergreen Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342 http://www.crozerkeystone.org/Brinton-Lake 1-855-254-7425