Mayo Clinic recently released a list of top 10 preventable threats to women’s health which included risk-reducing steps to adhere to. Unfortunately, minority women are more likely to fall through the cracks and present later stage diseases than Caucasian women. In this instance, information is indeed powerful and can make the difference between living a long, healthy life and having it shortened abruptly by a preventable cause. It is one of our core missions, at Obaasema, to empower minority women to become active participants in the issues that affect their daily lives and to use this knowledge to call for system-wide changes that slowly affect our world and the experience of black women.
The following top 10 threats were included in Mayo Clinic’s list:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- COPD
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Injuries
- Type 2 diabetes
- Flu
- Kidney disease
- Blood poisoning (septicemia or sepsis)
To help reduce your risk for the above listed conditions, health departments across the world have created specific age-related screening tests. These are directly derived from scientific research studies which show increased incidence at certain ages within a population. However, since these data are derived from group means or analysis, individual variations might still be present. As such, the data provided below should only be used as a general guideline since it might deviate from your own experience. Talking to your doctor frequently about your health, known personal, social and family medical histories can help tailor the table below to your specific needs. For a complete listing of recommended screening tests, please download the following pdf file : http://www.womenshealth.gov/prevention/general/general.pdf
Table 1: Screening Tests and Immunizations Guidelines for Women
|
Screening tests |
Ages 18–39 |
Ages 40–49 |
Ages 50–64 |
Ages 65 and older |
| Heart health: Blood pressure test |
At least every 2 years | At least every 2 years | At least every 2 years | At least every 2 years |
| Cholesterol test | Start at age 20, discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Discuss with your doctor or nurse. |
| Bone health: Bone density screen |
Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Get a bone mineral density test at least once. Talk to your doctor or nurse about repeat testing. | |
| Screening tests | Ages 18–39 | Ages 40–49 | Ages 50–64 | Ages 65 and older |
| Diabetes: Blood glucose or A1c test |
Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Start at age 45, then every 3 years. | Every 3 years | Every 3 years |
| Breast health: Mammogram (x-ray of breasts) |
Every 1-2 years. Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Every 1-2 years. Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Every 1-2 years. Discuss with your doctor or nurse. | |
| Clinical breast exam | At least every 3 years starting in your 20s | Yearly | Yearly | Yearly |
| Reproductive health: Pap test |
Every 2 years starting at age 21. Women 30 and older, every 3 years. | Every 3 years | Every 3 years | Discuss with your doctor or nurse. |
| Pelvic exam | Yearly beginning at age 21. Younger than 21 and sexually active, discuss with your doctor or nurse. | Yearly | Yearly | Yearly |
| Colorectal health (use 1 of these 3 methods): Fecal occult blood test |
Yearly | Yearly. Older than age 75, discuss with your doctor or nurse. | ||
| Flexible sigmoidoscopy (with fecal occult blood test) | Every 5 years | Every 5 years. Older than 75, discuss with your doctor or nurse. | ||
| Colonoscopy | Every 10 years | Every 10 years, Older than 75, discuss with your doctor or nurse. | ||
| Immunizations: Seasonal influenza vaccine |
Yearly | Yearly | Yearly | Yearly |
| Pneumococcal vaccine | One time only | |||
| Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster vaccine | Every 10 years | Every 10 years | Every 10 years | Every 10 years |
| Screening tests | Ages 18–39 | Ages 40–49 | Ages 50–64 | Ages 65 and older |
| Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine | Up to age 26, if not already completed vaccine series; discuss with your doctor or nurse. |
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| Meningococcal vaccine | Discuss with your doctor or nurse if you are a college student or military recruit. | |||
| Herpes zoster vaccine (to prevent shingles) | Starting at age 60, one time only. Ask your doctor or nurse if it is okay for you to get it. | Starting at age 60, one time only. Ask your doctor or nurse if it is okay for you to get it. |
Table taken from : National Women’s Health Information. US Department of Health Information http://www.womenshealth.gov/prevention/general/
I have found it helpful to keep a hard copy of the table below to track tests I need to get done or questions I forgot to ask during my last visit to the doctor. I also keep a record on my computer just in case I lose my sheet in the mound of documents and mail presently taking over my bedroom.
My Personal Screening Test Record
|
Test For |
Last Test(mo/yr) |
Results |
Next Test Due(mo/yr) |
Questions for the Doctor |
| Breast Cancer (Mammogram) | ||||
| Cervical Cancer (Pap Smear) | ||||
| Colorectal Cancer | ||||
| Diabetes | ||||
| High Blood Pressure | ||||
| High Cholesterol TotalHDL (Good)
LDL (Bad) |
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| HIV Infection | ||||
| Obesity (BMI) | ||||
| Osteoporosis(Bone Density Test) | ||||
| Sexually Transmitted Infections |
Table based on research information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Sources:
1) MayoClinic Top 10 Threats. For full article, visit http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/womens-health/WO00014/METHOD=print)
2) Women’s Health Disease Prevention http://www.womenshealth.gov/prevention/
3) Women Stay Healthy At Any Age-Your Checklist for Health AHRQ Publication No. 07-IP005-A, Feb 2007. www.ahrq.gov/ppip/healthywom.htm