Well Ahead Philly

Women's Health Matters

Women are conditioned to take care of others first, at the expense of their own health needs. You can still support others while nurturing yourself. Consider this your reminder to make your health a priority.

Improve your mental and physical health

Commit to a healthy diet. A healthy, balanced diet keeps away health issues like some forms of cancer, heart disease, stroke or diabetes. You hear this all the time, but the New Year is a great opportunity to give your diet a fresh start. Add more fruits and veggies to your diet. Choose whole grains and lean proteins like poultry, fish, beans and legumes. Cut down on processed foods, sugar, salt and saturated fat.

Get moving. Exercise boosts your heart health, builds muscle and bone strength and wards off health issues. Find an activity you enjoy, and you will be more likely to make time and stick with it. If you haven't exercised in a while, and you want to start again, talk to your doctor first.

Maintain a healthy weight. Shed pounds, don't lose them. Once they are gone, you don't want to find them! Aim for a slow, steady decrease. Once you reach your ideal weight, maintain it by staying active and eating better. Need help? Consider Main Line Health's comprehensive weight and wellness program.

Manage your emotional wellness. Main Line Health's Women's Emotional Wellness Centers (WEWC), with locations in King of Prussia and Newtown Square, help women and families cope with grief and loss, depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), work and family stress, parenting challenges, marital difficulties, unexpected medical diagnoses and outcomes, and more. Your mental health matters!

Sleep better. There are several things that can affect sleep quality, including your health, weight, stress levels and lifestyle. But for women, there's one more factor to add to the list: hormonal changes. Menopausal women are quite familiar with the effect on their sleep quality, but it's not the only time hormones can make sleeping difficult. During and after pregnancy as well as your monthly periods can also detract from your sleep quality. Make sure you're getting the best rest possible with the sleep medicine team at Main Line Health.

Visit your doctors. Get an annual checkup, including a blood pressure check and bloodwork, from your primary care physician. Remember to also make an appointment for your annual well-woman visit with your gynecologist. Your annual well-woman exam will include a breast exam, pelvic exam and pap smear (as needed). These appointments are a great time to talk with your provider if you're experiencing symptoms including pelvic pain, pain with intercourse or painful periods. They can refer you to our Advanced Gynecology Program for further evaluation and treatment.

Get regular screenings

Cardiac stress test—A cardiac stress test or treadmill test is done to measure how well your heart performs during exercise. You may need a cardiac stress test if your doctor suspects coronary artery disease (CAD). It may also be used to determine the cause of symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. A stress test can also help predict future risk of heart attack.

DEXA scan—As we age, our bones get weaker. Most women age 65 or older should have a DEXA scan, also known as a bone density scan. A DEXA scan is a simple, painless imaging study used to measure bone mineral density and accurately diagnose and monitor osteoporosis.

Mammogram—Main Line Health recommends all women begin annual screening with mammography at age 40. Women at higher risk (e.g., those with genetic abnormalities, strong family history and/or personal risk factors) should discuss with their physician whether additional screening studies or starting screening earlier would be beneficial. Annual screening should continue into later years as long as a woman is in good health.

Pap test and HPV vaccine—The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a yearly Pap smear for women who are over the age of 18 or sexually active. If three consecutive Pap smears are negative, screenings may be done every two or three years. Until recently, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was only offered to people ages nine to 26. In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended the recommended vaccination guidelines to include all adolescents and adults ages nine to 45.

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