Women's Health Article

Women’s health checklist
September 23, 2008

Today we would like to bring you an article written by AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn Clancy. Dr. Clancy has prepared brief, easy-to-understand advice columns for consumers to help navigate the health care system. Dr. Clancy, a general internist and researcher, is an expert in engaging consumers in their health care.

If you’re like most women, you make health decisions for your family, including your parents or relatives as they get older and need more medical care. Finding time to tend to your own health may not be high on your list of things to do.

But taking care of your health isn’t as hard as it may seem. Practicing healthy behaviors, getting screening tests, and taking medicines if you need them can go a long way toward keeping you in good health and lowering your risk of getting some diseases.

Women of all ages can greatly improve their health and reduce their chance of disease by daily following these five steps that are included in the checklist:

Don’t smoke.
Exercise.
Eat a healthy diet.
Stay at a healthy weight.
Drink alcohol only in moderation.

No one calls these steps simple, because for some people quitting smoking or getting daily exercise is not easy. But these steps have been proven to improve health and lower your risk of disease. If you have to change your behavior to follow these steps, it will be worth it in the long run.

Another way that you can stay healthy is to get the screening tests that are recommended for your age and medical condition. Talk to your doctor about which ones you need and how often you should be tested.

Here are some conditions that affect women and for which good screening tests are available. Advice on how often you should get them is included.

Breast cancer: Have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40.
Cervical cancer: Have a Pap smear every 1 to 3 years if you have ever been sexually active and are between the ages of 21 and 65.
High blood pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years.
High cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you have diabetes, you have high blood pressure, or if heart disease runs in your family, talk to your doctor about whether to have it checked.
Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones): Have a bone density test beginning at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis. If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh less than 154 pounds, talk to your doctor about being tested.

Some women take medicines to prevent disease without first talking to their doctor. We advise against that: All drugs, even over-the-counter medications, have side effects and can hurt you if they are not used properly.