29 Sep Women and Healthy Aging
After a year of adjusting to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now moving away from virtual visits and getting back to in-person visits with our primary care physicians (PCPs) in the office. General health maintenance visits are important, especially for the aging woman, to ensure one is keeping up with preventative health screenings and medical evaluation specific to age and gender.
With celebrating Healthy Aging in September, it is important that women are aware of what is important to discuss with their PCPs during any in-person health maintenance appointment.
For women 65 years or older important health topics to discuss during a health maintenance visit include cancer screenings, general health screenings, and vaccinations.
Breast cancer and colon cancer are examples of malignancies that are screened for in older adult women. Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women worldwide, and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and bone density are additional health screenings that can be ordered by a general practitioner. Vaccinations are also an important health topic to discuss as this also a part of general health maintenance screening.
Other care providers such as Dermatologists and Obstetric and Gynecologists (OBGYNs) also take part in women’s health screenings. Skin cancer, which is managed by a dermatologist, is the most common cancer in women in the United States. For this reason, it is recommended that women over the age of 65 see a dermatologist for annual skin assessment.
Health maintenance screenings will vary from person to person depending on age, medical history, family history and individual clinical risk. For this reason, providing your primary doctor with a thorough medical history is key to ensuring the appropriate screenings are done and kept up to date.
As the mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, wives, and caretakers of those in our family we must prioritize our own health with focus on preventative health so that we can continue to care for those whom we love.
The Members at Park Springs are very fortunate to have Dr. Footman as one of our on-staff Geriatricians.