Did you know that cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women worldwide with approximately 471,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to www.cervicalcancer.org? Attacking a woman’s reproductive or- gans, cervical cancer is most often spread through various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmit- ted viral infection. With the prevalence of cervical cancer at an all-time high, it’s important to take the proper precautions to keep your life and your body healthy and strong. Prevention and wellness begins with knowledge! To live well and avoid the risk of cervical cancer, it is important for women to have Pap Smears (also known as “Paps”) done starting at age 21. A Pap checks for changes in your cervical cells and detects infection or the presence of cervical cancer. Being proactive with your health transforms the fear of the unknown to the freedom of peace of mind. It is crucial to know and identify the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, even if early signs of cervical cancer may not exist, it is IMPERATIVE for women to have Pap smears done regularly in order to de- tect any potential threat. If Paps are not performed on a regular basis and cancer goes unnoticed, the following signs may appear: • Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause • Watery or bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor • Pelvic pain/pain during intercourse We owe it to ourselves to be prepared and we owe it to our families to be unwavering. We owe it to the younger women in our lives who view us as a source of inspiration to undertake any potential health threat in our lives, leaving no room for defeat and only best possibil- ity of VICTORY! News and information for members of St. Mary’s Medical Center’s women’s health program JANUARY 2014 Cheers to a healthy new year Raise your champagne glass and kiss the old year goodbye! It’s a new beginning: time for creative resolutions and a passionate pledge to embrace HEALTH! Time is on your side once again with the arrival of a New Year! Make it the finest year of all for your health and wellness because you deserve it. CONTACT US: Lisa Hastings, Total Woman coordinator • (304) 526-1271 • [email protected] • www.st-marys.org A note from Total Woman Coordinator Lisa Hastings, RN, BSN, MHA HEALTH TIP UPCOMING EVENTS Run Smart, Run Safe Total Woman Sign-Ups Tuesday, Jan. 21 • 4-7 p.m. Marshall University Rec Center 402 Thundering Herd Dr., Huntington The Total Woman program will be signing up new members Members receive the following discount at MU Rec Center: • 20% off yoga, Zumba, bellydance and women’s workout classes • 20% off one nutrition consultation • 20% off first personal training session The next time you go for a run or jog, staying safe should be your first concern. The Road Runners Club of America offers these safety tips: • Don’t wear headphones. • Always run against traffic. • Follow all traffic signals and rules. • Carry ID with you, or label the inside of your running shoes with your ID and medical information. • Wear reflective gear at night. • Carry a phone and a noisemaker. • Run with a buddy, and vary your usual route in familiar areas. • Tell loved ones where you will be. • Avoid isolated or overgrown areas. Be proactive by getting Pap exams for the early detection of cervical cancer HOPE program begins Highmark Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Tuesday, Jan. 21 St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute Four-week program to improve bone health and prevent or manage osteoporosis. To register, or for more information, call (304) 526-8072.
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Did you know that cervical cancer is the � fth most common cancer in women worldwide with approximately 471,000 new cases diagnosed each year, according to www.cervicalcancer.org?
Attacking a woman’s reproductive or-gans, cervical cancer is most often spread through various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmit-ted viral infection. With the prevalence of cervical cancer at an all-time high, it’s important to take the proper precautions to keep your life and your body healthy and strong.
Prevention and wellness begins with knowledge! To live well and avoid the risk of cervical cancer, it is important for women to have Pap Smears (also known as “Paps”) done starting at age 21. A Pap checks for changes in your cervical cells and detects infection or the presence of cervical cancer. Being proactive with your health transforms the fear of the unknown to the freedom of peace of mind.
It is crucial to know and identify the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, even if early signs of cervical cancer may not exist, it is IMPERATIVE for women to have Pap
smears done regularly in order to de-tect any potential threat. If Paps are not performed on a regular basis and cancer goes unnoticed, the following signs may appear:
• Vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause
• Watery or bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor
• Pelvic pain/pain during intercourseWe owe it to ourselves to be prepared
and we owe it to our families to be unwavering. We owe it to the younger women in our lives who view us as a source of inspiration to undertake any potential health threat in our lives, leaving no room for defeat and only best possibil-ity of VICTORY!
News and information for members of St. Mary’s Medical Center’s women’s health program
JANUARY 2014
Cheers to a healthy new year
Raise your champagne glass and kiss the old year goodbye! It’s a new beginning: time for creative resolutions and a passionate pledge to embrace HEALTH!
Time is on your side once again with the arrival of a New Year! Make it the � nest year of all for your health and wellness because you deserve it.
CONTACT US: Lisa Hastings, Total Woman coordinator • (304) 526-1271 • [email protected] • www.st-marys.org
A note from Total Woman Coordinator Lisa Hastings, RN, BSN, MHA
HEALTH TIP
UPCOMING EVENTS
Run Smart, Run Safe
Total Woman Sign-UpsTuesday, Jan. 21 • 4-7 p.m.Marshall University Rec Center402 Thundering Herd Dr., HuntingtonThe Total Woman program will be signing up new members Members receive the following discount at MU Rec Center:• 20% off yoga, Zumba, bellydance and women’s workout classes• 20% off one nutrition consultation• 20% off fi rst personal training session
The next time you go for a run or jog, staying safe should be your � rst concern. The Road Runners Club of America off ers these safety tips:• Don’t wear headphones.• Always run against traffi c.• Follow all traffi c signals and rules. • Carry ID with you, or label the inside of your running shoes with your ID and medical information.• Wear refl ective gear at night.• Carry a phone and a noisemaker.• Run with a buddy, and vary your usual route in familiar areas.• Tell loved ones where you will be.• Avoid isolated or overgrown areas.
Be proactive by getting Pap exams for the early detection of cervical cancer
HOPE program beginsHighmark Osteoporosis Prevention and EducationTuesday, Jan. 21 St. Mary’s Regional Heart InstituteFour-week program to improve bone health and prevent or manage osteoporosis. To register, or for more information, call (304) 526-8072.
Total Woman members receive
special discounts and off ers from our local business partners when presenting their membership card.
For a complete list of discounts and participating locations, visit our website at www.st-marys.org and click on The Total Woman link or call (304) 526-1271.
Featured Partner:Chick-� l-AFree diet lemonade with purchase of grilled chicken sandwichMelody Farms Road and Huntington Mall locations in Barboursville
OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS
The Total Woman Newsletter • St. Mary’s Medical Center January 2014
Becoming a partner in your health care will help you get the most out of your pri-mary care doctor visits, an expert says.
That’s because “primary care is turning its eff orts toward wellness and prevention initiatives to keep patients healthy, as well as treating them once they get sick,” Dr. Anthony Ardolino, executive dean of the Quinnipiac University School of Medicine in Hamden, Conn., said.
“For this new approach to succeed, patients and physicians need to view their relationship as a partnership, and patients need to take a greater share of the responsi-bility for their health,” he explained.
Communication and preparation are the key components of a productive doctor-patient relationship, Ardolino said.
Take time to prepare for your visit to the doctor, he advised. This includes having an up-to-date list of not only prescription medications, but also over-the-counter and herbal remedies. These products can inter-fere with prescription drugs and your doctor may decide to adjust a dose or give you a diff erent prescription.
Prepare a list of questions. For example, you may want to inquire about screening for diabetes, high blood pressure, or colon, prostate, cervical or breast cancer. Ask your doctor if you should have fl u, pneumococcal or hepatitis vaccinations, Ardolino suggested.
Provide your doctor with a family medical history, which is a major predictor of health. This includes a list of any conditions that run in your family, such as diabetes, high blood
pressure, heart disease, depression, stroke and cancer.
It’s also important to tell your doctor about any changes that you’ve experienced since your last visit. For example, unexplained weight loss or gain, increased diffi culty climb-ing stairs or new sleeping problems. You also need to inform your doctor about any life-changing events -- such as job loss or divorce -- that may aff ect your health.
Time can be an issue for both you and your doctor. So it’s a good idea to think about your top two or three main concerns or complaints before your visit. Doing so can lead to a more effi cient and productive visit for both of you, Ardolino said.
HEALTH TIPHow to help kids feel better about themselves
Kids who have a negative body image feel more self-conscious and isolated, and are more likely to end up overweight or with an eating disorder. On the other hand, kids with a positive body image are more likely to succeed, and they don’t dwell on weight gain or their looks.
The American Dietetic As-sociation suggests how to help parents promote a healthy body image among children:
• Speak positively about your body to avoid teaching a child to be unhappy with his or her own appearance.
• Focus primarily on your child’s health, not weight alone. Stress the importance of eating nutri-tious foods.
• Get children involved in phys-ical activities that they enjoy.
• Check with your child’s school to make sure it addresses bullying.
• Help your child understand that no one has a perfect body, despite images seen on TV and in the movies.
The cold, dry air of winter can deplete your skin of moisture and cause “winter itch.” But you can take steps to protect your skin and prevent that itchy feeling, according to Dr. Robyn Gmyrek of the Skin and Laser Center at NewYork-Presby-terian/Columbia University Medical Center.
Moisturize daily with petrolatum- or cream-based moisturizers, Gmyrek said. Apply them directly to your wet skin after
a bath or shower so that the moisturizer can help trap surface moisture. For sensitive skin, choose a moisturizer without fragrance or lanolin.
Clean your skin, but don’t overdo. Too much cleansing depletes the skin’s natural moisturizers, Gmyrek explained. Washing your face, hands, feet and between the folds of your
skin once a day is enough. You can rinse your trunk, arms and legs daily, but you don’t have to use soap or cleanser every day.
Be a partner in your own health care
Tips for coping with dry skin in the winter
CONTACT US: Lisa Hastings, Total Woman coordinator • (304) 526-1271 • [email protected] • www.st-marys.org
a bath or shower so that the moisturizer can help trap surface
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