Should you take medicines to prevent disease?
If the screening tests show problems, you can
discuss with your HCP the actions you need to
take to regain your health. They can vary from
nothing, which is also called watchful
waiting, to lifestyle changes and/or medical
procedures such as an operation.

* Mammograms - Different organizations have
different guidelines as to how often women
should be screened for breast cancer. Talk to
your doctor about when and how often you
should get a screening mammogram.

* Pap tests - women should have their first
Pap test to screen for cervical cancer at age 21. If
results are normal and continue to be so,
screening can then be done every other year.
Less frequent testing may be an option as a
woman gets older.

* Obesity - Have your body mass index
calculated to screen for obesity. BMI is a
measure of body fat based on height and
weight.

* Cholesterol checks - Have your cholesterol
checked regularly starting at age 45. If you
are younger than 45, talk to your doctor about
whether to have your cholesterol checked if you
smoke, have diabetes or if heart disease runs in
your family.

* Blood pressure - Have your blood pressure
checked at least every 2 years, more often as
you age. Some racial and ethnic groups have a
higher risk and should discuss the issue with
their HCP.

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* Colorectal cancer tests - Begin regular
screening for colorectal cancer starting at age
50. Your doctor can help you decide which test
is right for you. How often you need to be
tested will depend on which test you have
.
* Diabetes tests - Have a test to screen for
diabetes if you have high blood pressure or
high cholesterol.

* Depression - If you've felt "down," sad or
hopeless and have felt little interest or pleasure
in doing things for 2 weeks straight, talk to
your doctor about whether he or she can screen
you for depression.

* Osteoporosis tests - Have a bone density
test at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis
(thinning of the bones). If you are between the
ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 lbs. or less,
talk to your HCP about whether you should be
tested.

* Chlamydia and STD tests - Talk to your
doctor to see whether you should be screened for
sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV and
chlamydia.
There are also some medications that have been
shown to stop or at least slow down some
medical problems. they include:

* Hormones - the risks of taking the
combined hormones estrogen and progestin
after menopause to prevent long-term illnesses
outweigh the benefits. Talk to your HCP about
whether starting or continuing to take
hormones is right for you.

* Breast cancer drugs - If your mother, sister
or daughter has had breast cancer, talk to your
HCP about the risks and benefits of taking
medicines to prevent breast cancer.

* Aspirin - Talk to your doctor about taking
aspirin to prevent heart disease if you are older
than 40 or if you are younger than 40 and
have high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
diabetes or if you smoke.

* Immunizations
o Stay up-to-date with your
immunizations.
o Have a flu shot every year starting at
age 50.
o Have a tetanus-diphtheria shot every
10 years.
o Have a pneumonia shot once at age
65 (you may need it earlier if you have certain
health problems, such as lung disease).
o Talk to your doctor to see whether you
need hepatitis B shots.



What else can you do to stay healthy?


* Don't Smoke - But if you do smoke, talk to
your doctor about quitting. You can take
medicine and get counseling to help you quit.
Make a plan and set a quit date. Tell your
family, friends and co-workers you are
quitting. Ask for their support.


* Healthy Diet - Eat a variety of foods,
including fruit, vegetables, animal or vegetable
protein (such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs,
beans, lentils, tofu or tempeh) and grains
(such as rice). Limit the amount of saturated
fat you eat.

* Exercise - Walk , dance, ride a bike, rake
leaves or do any other physical activity you
enjoy. Start small and work up to a total of
20-30 minutes most days of the week
.
* Healthy Weight - Balance the number of
calories you eat with the number you burn off
by your activities. Remember to watch portion
sizes. Talk to your doctor if you have questions
about what or how much to eat.

* Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation - If you
drink alcohol, have no more than 2 drinks a
day. A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of
beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine
or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

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