Family Health Magazine - Spring/Summer 2001 - Saint Barnabas Medical Center

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Family Health Magazine - Spring/Summer 2001

Women's Health: A Prescription for Better Living

As reported in the April 1997 issue of New Women's Movement: Women's Healthcare, women make three-fourths of the health care decisions in American households and spend almost two of every three health care dollars, approximately $500 billion annually. More than 61 percent of physician visits are made by women, 59 percent of prescription drugs are purchased by women, and 75 percent of nursing home residents over the age of 75 are women.

"Women are often the caretakers of the health care needs of their children, spouses and extended family members," says Susan Weinstein, R.N., Director of Women's Health Education at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. "It is important that in their effort to prevent illness in family members, that they do not neglect their own health. In today's busy society where women often juggle child-rearing and a career, personal health can sometimes take a backseat."

Be Heart Smart

It may surprise some to learn that the leading cause of death for American women is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Last year, CVD claimed the lives of approximately 500,000 women, 50,000 more women than men. Women typically develop CVD up to ten years later than men; however, female heart attack victims under age 50 have greater death rates than men of the same age.

"Women's symptoms of cardiovascular disease may present differently than men's," says Gary Rogal, M.D., Chief of Cardiology Services for Saint Barnabas. "Women most often experience angina as the initial and subsequent symptom of CVD, whereas in men, heart attack and sudden death are often the first symptoms. Women are also likely to have more subtle or atypical symptoms, such as indigestion, abdominal or mid-back pain, and nausea and/or vomiting."

Early detection of heart problems can make all the difference for women. The American Heart Association recommends that adults age 20 and over should have their blood cholesterol checked at least once every two to five years, depending on an individual's heart disease risk factors. If accurate HDL cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride measurements are available, they should be checked at the same time. In addition, an annual physical should include a hypertension screening and blood pressure check.

Breast Health

When the Society for Women's Health Research asked which health concern they feared most, breast cancer was the number one response for women. The American Cancer Society reports that finding breast cancer as early as possible greatly improves the likelihood that treatment will be successful. Early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year and more lives could be saved if even more women and their health care providers took advantage of these tests.

The American Cancer Society provides the following recommendations for early breast cancer detection:

Women age 40+ should have a screening mammogram every year.
Between the ages of 20 and 39, women should have a clinical breast examination by a health professional every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.
Women age 20+ should perform a breast self-examination (BSE) every month.

"Through the use of mammography, clinical breast examination and breast self-examination, women have the best opportunity for reducing the breast cancer rate," says Linda Danieu, M.D., medical oncologist of The Cancer Center of Saint Barnabas Medical Center.

Cervical Cancer Update

Another form of cancer that can be best fought with early detection is cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society's research shows that this form of cancer can usually be found early by having regular Pap tests and pelvic examinations. Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment.

Annual pelvic examinations and Pap smears to check the pelvic area both internally and externally should begin at age 18 or when a women becomes sexually active. During this exam, the health care professional feels the ovaries and uterus for size, shape, and consistency. Cervical cancer deaths are higher in populations around the world where women do not have access to routine Pap tests.

"Despite the recognized benefits of Pap test screening, not all American women take advantage of it," says Robert Taylor, M.D., Associate Director of the Division of Gynecological Oncology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Saint Barnabas. "Between 60 percent and 80 percent of American women with newly diagnosed invasive cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear in the past five years, and many of these women have never had a Pap test."

AGE MEDICAL EXAM WHO TO SEE HOW OFTEN

Age	Medical Exam	Who To See	How Often
18+	Dental examination	Dentist	Every 6 months
	Pelvic exam. Pap smear and examination for fibroids	Gynecologist	Once a year or as your doctor recommends
	Breast examination	Primary physician or gynecologist	Every 1-3 years or as your doctor recommends
	Hypertension screening/blood pressure check	Primary physician	Every 1-2 years
	Baseline cholesterol check	Primary physician	Every 1-3 years
	Skin cancer examination	Primary physician or dermatologist	Every 3 years between 20 and 40, then annually
30+	all of the above, plus:
	Glaucoma check	Ophthalmologist	Every 2 years
	Baseline mammogram	Radiologist	As your doctor suggests
40+	all of the above, plus:
	Mammogram	Radiologist	Every 1-2 years, (greater frequency if indicated by risk factors)
	Heart test, including EKG stress treadmill test for heart function	Cardiologist	As physician recommends for sedentary individuals who want to exercise, or those with risk factors or symptoms
	Blood glucose for diabetes	Primary physician	Once a year
	Screening for gynecologic cancer	Primary physician or gynecologist	Once a year beginning at age 45
50+	all of the above, plus:
	Thyroid screening	Primary physician	Once a year
	Screenings for colorectal cancer	Primary physician	Once a year
60+	all of the above, plus:
60+	Flu shot and pneumococcal vaccine	Primary physician	Flu shot annually; vaccine once
*THOSE WITH RISK FACTORS FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED CONDITIONS MAY REQUIRE SCREENING EARLIER THAN THOSE WITHOUT RISK FACTORS. All EXAMS AND SCREENINGS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN. Sources: John's Hopkins' Family Health Book, Good Living Magazine, SBMC physicians

For more information about any of the tests or screenings described, you may call the following departments.

The HEART HOSPITAL of New Jersey can be reached at
1-(888)-8-HEART-1.
The Cancer Center of Saint Barnabas can be reached at
(973) 322-5200.
The Division of Gynecological Oncology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Saint Barnabas can be reached by calling
(973) 322-5282.

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