Everyone who flies has heard the refrain over the airplane intercom: “In the unlikely event of emergency, put your own oxygen mask on first before assisting others.” It’s a message more women should take to heart in their personal lives, healthcare experts say.
To improve health awareness, a Women’s Health Fair providing information and healthcare assistance to women is being presented by Parkland through Friday at the E. Carlyle Smith Jr. Health Center in Grand Prairie from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., focusing on different topics daily. On May 14 the topics will include breastfeeding; and on May 15 health screenings for blood glucose, cholesterol and rapid HIV testing will be provided. Speaker presentations are in English and Spanish, and admission is free.
“Too often, women put their own needs last,” said Sentayehu Kassa, MD, Lead Staff Physician, Parkland’s Vickery Health Center. “Women make healthy lunches for our husband and children but are too busy to take a lunch break ourselves,” said Dr. Kassa. “We run our kids from school to soccer or dance practice, but can’t find time to get ourselves to the gym. And many times, women make sure everyone else in the family gets regular check-ups but fail to schedule their own doctor visits.”
Making your own health a priority is the best thing you can do for your loved ones, physicians say, because if you aren’t getting oxygen, how can you help others breathe and thrive? And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agrees. The agency’s Office on Women’s Health (OWH) leads the annual observance of National Women’s Health Week, this year observed May 10-16, to encourage women to improve their health.
According to OWH, one of the most important steps to protect your health is to visit a doctor for regular checkups and preventive screenings.
Here’s a list of some of the most essential health screenings recommended for women by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and other healthcare organizations:
- Blood pressure screening, starting at age 18, at least every two years.
- Cholesterol: the USPSTF recommends screening women aged 20-45 for lipid disorders if they are at increased risk for coronary heart disease and strongly recommends screening women 45 and older for lipid disorders if they are at increased risk for coronary heart disease.
- Cervical cancer screening in women aged 21-65 years with Pap smear every three years.
- Mammograms and breast exams: The USPSTF recommends screening mammography for women 50-74 years of age every two years. However, the American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. Breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s.
- Bone density screening: The USPSTF recommends screening for osteoporosis in women 65 years and older and in younger women whose fracture risk is equal to or greater than that of a 65-year old white woman who has no additional risk factors.
- Blood glucose tests, every three years starting at age 45, or sooner if risk factors or symptoms of diabetes are present. The USPSTF recommends screening for type 2 diabetes in asymptomatic adults with sustained blood pressure (either treated or untreated) greater than 135/80 mm Hg.
- Colon cancer screening using fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy or colonscopy in adults, beginning at age 50 and continuing until age 75.
- Body mass index, a calculation performed during annual physical exam to assess risk for heart disease, diabetes and other weight-related health conditions.
- Screenings for sexually transmitted diseases (HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis) as recommended by your healthcare provider according to your age and risk.
- Dental check-up, twice-yearly.
For more information about women’s health and screening recommendations, visit www.womenshealth.gov . For more information about Parkland’s women’s health services, visitwww.parklandhospital.com
