Making Healthy Choices in 2013

Although I counsel my patients all the time about keeping up to date with their routine health exams, I realized recently that I was overdue for my pelvic and breast exams, as well as my yearly mammogram.
So, I decided it was time for me to make a New Year’s resolution to take care of my own routine preventive healthcare.

What are the preventive-health recommendations for women?

Fortunately, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has outlined a clear list of recommended preventive services for all Americans. Some of these recommendations are specifically targeted at women and can be used by all American women to become healthier.
The USPSTF’s recommendations for women include:

• Daily aspirin to prevent stroke for women age 55 to 79 who are not at risk of GI bleeding
• Blood pressure screening for all women age 18 and older
• Screening mammogram, with or without clinical breast exam, every 1-2 years for women 40 and older
• Cervical cancer screening for women with a cervix and who are sexually active. (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends starting pap smears for all women at the age of 21)
• Screening for Chlamydia infection in all sexually active women 24 and younger, as well as in older women at risk
• Screening for gonorrhea infection in all at-risk women
• Syphilis screening in all at-risk women
• Cholesterol screening is strongly recommended for women over 45 who are at risk of heart disease and is also recommended for women between 20-45 at risk of heart disease.
• Colorectal screening (fecal occult testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy) starting at age 50 and continuing to age 75
• Diabetes screening for those with sustained, elevated blood pressure higher than 135/80
• Osteoporosis screening for all women 65 and older and for women 60 and older at risk of fracture
• HIV screening for all at-risk women

Recommendations specific to pregnant women

• Screening for anemia
• Screening for bacteria in the urine
• Screening for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
• Screening for Hepatitis B
• Screening for Rh incompatibility
• Taking a folic-acid supplement

The USPSTF also recommends that all women be screened for alcohol and drug misuse or abuse, obesity, and depression, and that they be directed to counseling if needed. Similarly, counseling should be recommended for all women interested in tobacco cessation or eating healthier.

Making the healthy resolution

So it’s time to put preventive health care on your list of resolutions for this year. Call your providers and schedule the necessary checkups. I know I have a few phone calls to make myself!