While National Women’s Healthcare Week is celebrated annually in May, women should make their health a priority every week of the year. We asked Haley Gleason, APRN-BC, what women should know to help them stay healthy throughout their lifetimes. Here’s what she said:
As women, we may know generally what we should do to maintain our health, but we may not know when or how often we should think about exams, screenings and checkups. Here are 5 facts about women’s health, and why they should matter to you:
Nearly 2/3 of Americans who have Alzheimer’s disease are women. By age 65, a woman has a 1 in 5 risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease at some point in her life. There are no definitive ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease but leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. And women often don’t recognize the signs of a heart attack. A woman may experience symptoms different from what we traditionally think of as signs of heart attack.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. Women should begin regular screenings for cervical cancer at age 21 and screenings for colon cancer at age 45.
Breast cancer is probably the most-discussed cancer in women. And for good reason – 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. Yearly screening mammograms can detect cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat.
Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, please talk to your healthcare provider. They can provide information about available treatments.
Keeping tabs on your health through regular exams with your primary care provider or a specialist in gynecologic care is another step you can take to stay as healthy as you can. Our obstetrics and gynecology care team at the Medical Pavilion on Great Bend Campus offers the following services:
Birth control management, including IUDs and Nexplanon implants
General mental healthcare, including premenstrual dysphoric disorder and generalized and postpartum depression and anxiety
Infertility management
Interstitial cystitis treatment
Menopausal symptom management
Prolapse management
Robotic and minimally invasive gynecologic procedures, including hysterectomy
Screening and treatment for osteoporosis
Weight-loss counseling
Well-woman exams and cervical cancer screenings
To schedule an appointment with any of the members of our obstetrics and gynecology team at the Medical Pavilion on Great Bend Campus, Haley Gleason, APRN, Veerayyagari Annapurna, MD, or Jodi Henrikson, MD, call 620-792-2151.
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