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If you have a Pap smear every year and leave it
at that, you're not doing enough, says Dr. Vivian Dickerson, the division
director of general obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California at
Irvine Medical Center.
"A lot of diseases that begin to develop in
your twenties and thirties, like cervical cancer and heart disease, are often
silent at first," says Dickerson. "But if they're caught early through screening
tests, they may be cured or corrected before more serious complications
develop." That's one reason to let your ob/gyn know that you're using her as
your primary health-care provider and to make sure that she's comfortable in
that role. If she assumes that you also see a family physician or internist, she
may not address issues such as skin-cancer and cholesterol screenings during
your yearly exam.
If you're between the ages of 18 and 40, here
are five important health exams and screenings that can help doctors pinpoint
disease early.
1. Breast Exam
Ideally, you began doing a monthly breast
self-exam at age 20. If you don't know how, next time you see your doctor, have
her show you. Until then, here's a basic description: Lie on your back with a
pillow under your left shoulder and your left hand behind your head. With your
right hand, use the flat parts of your three middle fingers (not your
fingertips) to palpate your left breast. Press firmly around the breast in a
circular (clockwise) or up-and-down motion, or mentally divide your breasts into
sections and examine each one separately. Now use your left hand to examine your
right breast. Next, repeat the exam standing up, making sure to check the armpit
area. Finally, do a visual exam in the mirror, keeping alert to any changes in
the appearance of your breasts. Remember that breast tissue is full of glands,
which can sometimes swell and feel hard, probably due to hormonal fluctuations.
Also, some women's breasts are just naturally lumpy. However, it's important
that you inform your doctor of any lump or any change such as tenderness, pain,
or discharge. She can decide whether a breast ultrasound (to check for cysts) or
a mammogram (to screen for a benign or cancerous tumor) is necessary.
How often should you do the exam?
Monthly. The best time is about a week after your period ends, since this is
when hormone levels are at their lowest and your breasts aren't tender or
swollen. If you're not menstruating, due to pregnancy or breast-feeding, do the
exam at the same time each month. And starting at age 40 (or sooner, if you have
a family history of breast cancer), you should have a yearly mammogram.
2. Gynecologic Exam
A thorough gynecological checkup involves both
a breast and pelvic exam. The pelvic includes a Pap smear, an examination of the
vaginal walls, and possibly a check of the rectum. With a Pap smear—recommended
for all women over 18 and for any girl who's sexually active—the doctor scrapes
cells from the cervix to check for evidence of abnormalities, which could
indicate or be precursors to cancer.
How often should you have the exam?
Once a year. If you have a family history of certain cancers or abnormalities
such as ovarian cysts, your health-care provider may wish to see you more often.
3. Cholesterol Screening
The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists recommends a blood test to screen for high cholesterol starting at
age 45. However, high cholesterol is associated with coronary heart disease, so
if you have a family history of heart disease, are more than 20 percent over
your ideal body weight, have high blood pressure, or eat a high-fat diet, you
should have this test done immediately, no matter what your age. If your
cholesterol is above normal, your doctor will likely recommend dietary changes
and an exercise program and may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication. The
most accurate test involves drawing a sample of blood from your arm, then
sending it to a lab for analysis. Don't rely on finger-prick tests that give
instant results, since they are often unreliable.
How often should you be screened? Every
three to five years, if everything is normal. If not, this test should be done
yearly.
4. Type II Diabetes Screening
If you're of African, Hispanic, Native
American, or Asian descent or have a parent or sibling with the disease, you're
at a higher risk of developing type II diabetes—a condition in which the body
becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone that is essential in helping the body
convert food into energy. The illness often begins gradually after age 40, most
often in people who are overweight. It can typically be controlled with diet and
exercise. If you fall into a high-risk category, you should have this test done
no matter how old you are; otherwise, you can wait until age 45. (This test
doesn't screen for type I diabetes, which usually begins in childhood or
adolescence, or gestational diabetes, which affects pregnant women.)
How often should you be screened for type
II diabetes? Every three years.
5. Skin-Cancer Screening
Regular screenings for skin cancer are
recommended beginning at age 18. If you haven't yet had this exam, it's
important to do so. Your dermatologist or primary-care physician should examine
your skin, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet, looking for
suspicious moles, freckles, nodules, or lesions. If, during a self-exam, you
notice changes in a freckle, mole, or lesion (it's bigger than a pencil eraser,
it develops irregular borders, or it bleeds), tell your health-care provider
immediately.
How often should you be screened?
Yearly, either by a dermatologist or as part of your annual physical. However,
if you have a history of chronic exposure to sunlight (either due to hobbies
such as swimming or gardening or because of your job), have had one or more
blistering sunburns, or have a family or personal history of skin cancer, your
doctor may want to see you more often. Self-exams are recommended at least every
three months, more often if you're at high risk.
Dana Sullivan writes about health for several
national magazines and is a regular contributor to ClubMom.
Copyright © 1999-2004 ClubMom, Inc. All rights
reserved.
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