As women go about their days, it’s not uncommon for them to put their needs last. They may devote themselves to work, parenting, caring for an aging loved or volunteering — often a combination of all of the above.
While noble, that selflessness can cause women to overlook their own well-being. Women’s Health Week, observed each May, offers a reminder for women to prioritize their physical, mental and emotional health. Here, we discuss how key screenings can help with this.
Renee Bruckner, APNP, a family medicine nurse practitioner with ThedaCare, says establishing and maintaining a relationship with a primary care doctor can help facilitate that.
“Preventive care is about tracking changes over time and addressing issues before the become bigger problems,” she says. “When women take care of themselves, they’re safeguarding their own health and well-being. This also allows them to better show up for the people they love.”
What to Expect at Wellness Visits
You’ll discuss key areas of your health at your annual wellness visit. Your care team will recommend screenings that coincide with your age, personal and family health history, and lifestyle choices. They’ll also discuss any vaccines you might need.
“Preventive care helps us track and manage risk factors,” Bruckner says. “In addition, normal test results provide reassurance and peace of mind.”
5 Health Screenings Not to Miss
Mammogram
- What it is: A low-dose X-ray exam of the breasts to look for abnormal changes.
- Recommended for: ThedaCare recommends women of normal risk begin annual screening exams at the age of 40.
- Why you need it: One in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. A mammogram is the best method available to detect breast cancer early. The screening exam can detect a lump before it can be felt. If you need additional types of testing, your doctor will discuss these with you.
- Key points: It’s best to choose a 3D mammogram, an imaging test that combines multiple breast X-rays into a 3D picture of the breast. Compared to 2D, 3D mammograms have shown to reduce the need for follow-up imaging. They’re also more effective at detecting cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
Colonoscopy
- What it is: A colonoscopy allows your doctor to examine the inner lining of your large intestine. You will need to clean out your colon (colon prep) the day before your procedure. Plan to stay home during your prep time since you will need to use the bathroom often. On the day of your colonoscopy, you will have anesthesia at the medical center. During the test, the doctor will use a flexible tube to look at the colon.
- Recommended for: Women and men of normal risk should have their first colonoscopy at age 45. If normal results, repeat the test every 10 years through age 75 or based on a doctor’s recommendations.
- Why you need it: Colorectal cancer is the second-most common cause of cancer death. It’s also highly treatable when caught early. Most colorectal cancers develop slowly from colon polyps that grow on the inner surface of the colon. A colonoscopy can help doctors find and remove polyps before they turn cancerous. Rates of colorectal cancer are on the rise in adults younger than 50, so screening and vigilance are key.
- Key points: Other tests also are available to detect colorectal cancer. Additional tests that allow for visual examination of the colon include CT colonography and sigmoidoscopy. Stool-based tests can detect blood in the stool. If these tests show blood, you’ll need a colonoscopy to follow up on the results. A colonoscopy is the only test that allows for removing polyps during the procedure. Talk to your doctor about which test is best for you.
HPV Testing
- What it is: Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause nearly all cervical cancers. Experts recommend HPV testing as part of cervical cancer screening. Screening tests for HPV check for the virus in people who have no symptoms. During the test, women have a sample of cells taken from their cervix or vagina.
- Recommended for: The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends women between the ages of 25 to 65 have a primary HPV test every five years. A primary HPV test is one that is done by itself for screening. If primary HPV testing is not available, women may undergo screening with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Pap test every five years or a Pap test alone every three years. Women over 65 who have undergone regular screening in the past 10 years with normal results can stop cervical cancer screening.
- Why you need it: The HPV test, along with the Pap test, can help prevent cervical cancer or find it early.
- Key points: HPV vaccination also is critical to preventing cervical cancer. The ACS lays out the following recommendations:
- HPV vaccination of children, including boys, between the ages of 9 and 12.
- Children and young adults age 13 through 26 who have not been vaccinated, or who haven’t gotten all their doses, should get the vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccination of young adults will not prevent as many cancers as vaccination of children and teens.
Bone Density Test
- What it is: A bone density test, sometimes also called a DEXA scan, uses a small amount of X-ray to measure the amount of mineral in the bones of your lower back, hip and sometimes forearm. The test is quick and painless. It can help determine whether you are at risk for osteoporosis.
- Recommended for: ThedaCare recommends bone density scans for women starting at age 65.
- Why you need it: A bone density test uses X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone materials are packed in a segment of bone. If test results show you have osteoporosis, your doctor can recommend medications and exercises that can help slow bone loss and encourage bone growth.
- Key points: “For most women, bone loss increases after menopause, when estrogen levels drop sharply. In the five to seven years after menopause, women can lose up to 20% or more of their bone density,” according to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation.
Cardiovascular Assessments
- Blood pressure check
- What it is: Your care team measures your blood pressure using an inflatable cuff on your arm.
- Why you need it: High blood pressure can lead to severe complications without any prior symptoms. The risk for high blood pressure increases with age. It’s also related to weight and lifestyle. When you treat high blood pressure, you can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
- Cholesterol test
- What it is: Your care team can check your cholesterol level through a simple blood test called a lipid panel.
- Why you need it: A high level of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood causes sticky plaque to build up in the walls of the arteries, increasing your risk of heart disease. A condition called atherosclerosis leads a hardening and narrowing of the arteries. It can progress without symptoms for many years. Over time, it can lead to heart attack and stroke.
- Key points: Heart disease remains the leading of cause of death for women and men alike. Women’s risk for heart disease increases after menopause. Your care team can track and manage your risk and recommend additional heart tests and treatments you may need.
Well-Rounded Care
Your primary care team is your proactive partner in health. In addition to these screenings, they can recommend others you might need based on your unique health factors and history. Whether you’re coming in for preventive care or a new health concern, your team also will assess you for any mental health concerns.
Bruckner says all women should feel empowered in their care.
“We need to acknowledge and honor the way women experience their health and wellness,” she says. “I love the opportunity share these insights and explore the ways we can celebrate and support women in our care.”
