Tips for Preventative Health Care for Women

When it comes to women's health, preventative care is the best care. With the advances in both technology and medicine, women today have for more advantages to stay healthy than our mothers and grandmothers. There are three main ways to stay healthy and help prevent disease, get regular screenings, utilize healthy behaviors, and take preventative medicine if needed.

Screening Tests

Screening tests are important ways to find diseases early thus making them easier to treat. Having these tests done are crucial to keeping yourself in good health.

Obesity: Have your Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated to check for obesity. BMI is the measure of body fat based on your height and weight. Obesity is linked to many diseases, such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Breast Cancer: At age 40, start having mammograms every 1-2 years.

Cervical Cancer: Every 1-3 years have a pap smear if you are over 21 or have ever been sexually active.

High Cholesterol: Starting at age 45, have regular cholesterol screenings. If you smoke, have diabetes, have high blood pressure, or if heart disease runs in your family, have regular screenings before age 45.

High Blood Pressure: Every 2 years. High blood pressure is 140/90

Colorectal Cancer: Starting at age 50 have a screening for colorectal cancer. If there is a history in your family, you may want to be screened earlier.

Diabetes: If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or if you have a family history.

Osteoporosis: At age 65, have a bone density test.

STDs: If you are sexually active, get tested at least once a year.

HIV/AIDS: If you have had unprotected sex with multiple partners, are pregnant, have used or are using IV drugs, exchange sex for money or have partners who do, have had or have sexual partners who are HIV infected, bisexual, or use IV drugs, are being treated for STDs, Have had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.

Depression: If you have felt sad, "down", or hopeless for more than 2 weeks or if life has no interest for you or pleasure.

Healthy Behaviors

Healthy living is also a huge part of preventative health in women. No matter your age, a healthy life style can be a great benefit to living well.

Do Not Smoke: If you are a smoker, talk to your doctor about quitting. There are many resources today for smoking cessation. If you are pregnant and smoking, quitting now will help your baby and you.

Alcohol in moderation: If you drink alcohol, do not drink more than one drink per day. This consists of one 12ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5 ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits. Do not drink if you are pregnant.

Safe Sex: If you are sexually active, practice safe sex. Use condoms and have regular STD screenings.

Be physically active: walking, dancing, swimming, bicycling, and jogging are just a few examples of physical activity. If you are not already physically active, start slow and work your way up to at least 30 minutes every day. Incorporate an exercise routine that you enjoy.

Maintain a healthy weight: To decrease weight gain as you get older, reduce your caloric intake and increase your exercise or physical activity. Eat and drink fewer calories than you burn in a day.

Healthy Eating: Eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats, poultry, eggs, beans, and nuts. Avoid sodium, empty calories, and high fat foods.

Healthy hygiene: Not a lot is usually said about hygiene and prevention. Simply keeping yourself and your home clean can help prevent many germs, bacteria, and viruses from spreading. Wash your hands often and maintain a clean environment.

Go Green: There is some controversy about green living, but eating organic foods and using natural products keeps the chemicals out of your body.

Physicals: Aside from preventative screenings, have a yearly check up no matter your age. Your doctor will help monitor your general health.

Preventative Medicine

Immunizations: Stay up to date on immunizations. If you are 50, have a flu shot every year. When you are 65, have a pneumonia shot every year.

Aspirin: Talk to your doctor about taking aspirin daily for heart disease prevention.

Hormones: Do not take hormones for preventative medicine. Discuss hormones with a doctor if you are in need of relief from menopausal symptoms.

Using this preventative checklist will greatly help you live a long healthy life. Ladies, do not forget what Ben Franklin said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" Take care of yourself because you are worth it.

(information taken from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthywom.htm )