Transcript What Other Screening Tests Are Important For Women`s Health

What Other Screening
Tests Are Important For
Women’s Health?:
The final presentation in the series of screening
protocol updates
Created by Megan Blomeyer, St. George’s University, MS-IV
Why Is Cholesterol
Important?
Cholesterol is an important component of cells and
hormones, but too much can be detrimental to your
body. The excess cholesterol travels into your blood
vessels and clogs, narrows and hardens these vessels.
This is known as atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol Screening
Cholesterol screening should occur every 5 years
beginning at age 45, or sooner if you have risk factors
such as high blood pressure, tobacco use or family
history of heart disease.
Reducing Your
Cholesterol Level
Having an active lifestyle, eating more fiber (oats,
beans and fruit) and starches (grains, carrots, turnips,
etc.) and quitting smoking can help reduce your
cholesterol levels.
Medications are also available for those in whom
lifestyle changes do not adequately reduce cholesterol
levels.
Colon Cancer
Information
Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related
death in women with more than 70,000 women
diagnosed each year.
Screening can detect precancerous lesions (polyps),
which can be removed, and can identify cancer in
earlier stages when it can be more easily treated.
Colorectal Cancer
Screening
A colonoscopy every ten years beginning at age 50 is
the most common screening tool.
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you
should begin screening ten years prior to the age of
diagnosis of your family member.
Also, patients with certain bowel diseases should be
screened before age 50. Consult with your doctor if you
feel that you are at increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Additional Information
Visit the American College of Obstetrics and
Gynecology website,www.acog.org, or ask your
doctor for more information about cholesterol
and colorectal cancer screening.
References
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Cholesterol and
Your Health: Frequently Asked Questions. 2013 June. Web. 14 July 2013.
<http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq101.pdf?dmc=1&ts=
20130714T2110447288>.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Women Have
Options for Colorectal Cancer Screening . 22 February 2011. Web. 11 July
2013.
<http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/News_Room/News_Releases/2011
/Women_Have_Options_for_Colorectal_Cancer_Screenings>.