International Women's Day

Women - give yourselves the power of health

Much progress has been made in women's rights over the past few decades, which has dramatically improved the quality of female life. However, women still tend to take a back seat when it comes to their own needs, often putting children, life partners and other family members before themselves. This can have harmful effects for a woman, particularly if she does not pay attention to her healthcare needs and take the preventative measures that can protect her from long-term illness.

As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to explore certain important healthcare issues. This article looks at the subject of women's health this International Women's Day, 8 March 2015.

What are the major health issues affecting women today?
Women are faced with a multitude of health issues in today's world. The risk of developing chronic illness has increased along with a rise in obesity, stress, pollution, and other contributing factors.

It is interesting to note that the illness that kills the most women globally is cardiovascular disease, while in South Africa cervical cancer and HIV/AIDS related illnesses are two of the leading causes of death in women. According to recent figures from the World Health Organisation, women's life expectancy at birth in the African region was just 54 years, far lower than the life expectancy of 80 years in countries elsewhere in the world.

Despite this, there are preventative steps that women can take in reducing the rate of serious illnesses such as those mentioned above. 

How can I help to protect myself from long-term illness?
Preventative healthcare measures may to some people seem quite obvious as many of them make common sense. However, when it comes to actually practicing these healthy habits common sense is often left by the wayside with many individuals harming their bodies through unhealthy living.

There are a number of aspects to maintaining a healthy lifestyle including a balanced and nutritious diet, regular exercise, plenty of sleep and stress relieving activities. But there is one other element to preventative care that is easy to forget about as it may seem totally unnecessary - until we are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, that is.

So what is this important healthy and potentially life-saving habit? Having regular health check-ups. It may sound a bit too simple but undergoing the appropriate screening tests at the correct time in one's life can truly mean the difference between life and death. Why? Because the sooner a chronic illness is detected, the earlier it can be treated and the greater your chances of survival. 

What check-ups should I have and when?
As a woman, your physical make-up and therefore your biological characteristics and requirements are very different to those of a man. There are specific tests that women need to have at particular times of life in order to help protect against fatal illness.

Age: 20s, 30s and onwards

• A gynaecological check

This is performed by your gynaecologist who will examine your pelvic area and breasts as well as conduct a Pap smear to check for any abnormalities signalling health conditions such as breast and cervical cancer. It is recommended that you avoid having sex or using any vaginal medication for two days before your gynaecologist appointment as these can interfere with the accuracy of your pap smear.

Cervical cancer is the number one cancer killer in South African women. It is therefore wise to also be tested for human papillomavirus (HPV), as certain strains of the virus are the leading cause of cervical cancer.

You should have a gynaecological check-up every year.

• A heart-health check

If you do not have a pre-existing heart condition this can be done by your GP who will check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These tests will help to determine whether you are at risk for heart disease, which will help you to have better control over your health.

You should have your blood pressure checked every two years and your cholesterol every five. Once you turn 45 you will need to have both tests annually.

• A weight/BMI check

This can be done by your GP in conjunction with your heart-health check. He will weigh you and measure your height and from that will calculate whether your weight is dangerous to your health. Overweight is a major contributor to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and a number of other serious conditions.

You can keep tabs on your weight by weighing yourself regularly on a scale at home.

• An eye check

This has to be done by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist who will test your eyesight and examine your eyes for any signs of illness. This can diagnose any serious eye conditions as well as certain other health concerns such as diabetes and hypertension, or high blood pressure.

This should be done every three years until the age of 40, after which you will need to have a check every two years. You may require an eye check more frequently than this if you have a family history of eye disease or certain other conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

You can help to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with good quality lenses that offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Speak to your doctor about this.

• A skin check

This check is performed by your dermatologist who will examine you body for any unusual moles or marks on your skin. This is important for the early detection of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is more common among fair skinned people due to the lighter pigmentation in their skin. They should visit a dermatologist every one to two years. Darker skinned individuals may not need to see a dermatologist on a regular basis unless they have a pre-existing skin condition. However, you should always keep an eye on any moles or marks on your skin for changes in appearance or growth. If you notice any unusual developments on your skin you should consult a dermatologist quickly as you may have skin cancer.

Protecting yourself from the sun by wearing high-protection sunscreen and staying under cover in the hours around midday can help to prevent skin cancer.

Age: 40 onwards

All of the above checks, plus:

• A mammogram

This is an X-ray of the breasts and is an effective way for spotting cancerous growths. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in South African women and it is therefore vital that you have a mammogram every year from the age of 40 onwards. However, women who have a history of breast cancer in the family should start having mammograms earlier - five to ten years before the age your relative was diagnosed is possible. So if your mother or sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 38 for example, you should start having mammograms between the ages of 28 and 33.

It is advisable to schedule your mammogram two weeks after your period, as the breasts are less tender at this time.

• A diabetes check

It is estimated that between four and six million people have diabetes in South Africa, many of whom are not even aware that they have the disease. You should therefore have a blood-glucose level test, which determines whether you have or are at risk of diabetes.

You should have this test every three years after you turn 45, although your doctor may recommend the test earlier and more frequently if you are overweight or have a family history of diabetes.

It is important that you do not eat or drink anything for eight hours before the test in order to ensure accurate results.

You can help to prevent diabetes by eating healthily and exercising regularly.

• A Vitamin D test

This is a test to check your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is very important for your health, particularly the health of your bones, as it helps your body to absorb calcium. It can be found in natural foods such as egg yolk, fortified milk and salmon, however as you age your body does not process it as well as it used to.

Ask your doctor about a vitamin D supplement and how often you need to take it.

Age: 50 onwards

All of the above checks, plus:

• A colonoscopy

This test checks for any cancerous or potentially cancerous growths in your colon, which can be extremely dangerous if ignored. A doctor inserts a camera on the end of a long tube up into your colon. Any growths that are found are removed and tested for cancer.

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in South African women. You should therefore have this test every five to ten years or as your doctor recommends. A family history of the illness may mean you have to start having the tests earlier.

• A bone-density scan

This is a special kind of scan that measures the amount of calcium and other minerals present in your bones. This is particularly important for women because as you age your oestrogen levels decrease, which may lead to lowered bone density which in turn may lead to osteoporosis. Women with a smaller build or with family history of this are at higher risk.

Your doctor will tell you how often you should have a bone density scan.

You can help to protect your bones by doing at least 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, dancing, aerobics and golf. You should also eat calcium rich foods such as low-fat dairy products and dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach.

If you take a supplement be sure that it also contains Vitamin D as this is necessary for the assimilation of calcium. However do not take your supplement for 24 hours before your scan as it may affect the results.

• A thyroid test

This is a blood test of your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Extreme levels of TSH can affect your weight, sleep, energy levels, skin and nails.

You should have a thyroid test every five years though your doctor may advise you to start earlier if you start displaying symptoms.

If I think I may have or be at risk of a serious illness, what should I do?
If you notice any strange, uncomfortable or painful changes in your body you should visit your doctor. You may be noticing signs of an illness that could be life-threatening.

Remember, the earlier you seek medical attention the better your chances are of controlling or beating chronic disease.

Sources:

World Health Orgnisation - www.who.int  
WebMD - www.webmd.com  
Diabetes South Africa - www.diabetessa.co.za  
Skin Cancer Info Line - www.skincancerinfoline.com  
Health.com - www.health.com  
International Women's Day - www.internationalwomensday.com