5 Things Women Can Do to Live Well With Preventive Care

We all live fast-paced lives and experience plenty of stress on a daily basis. Women especially go through a lot of stress and obligations and they often forget to take care of their health. However, health is the most precious thing we have and it is important to take good care of it. This can be achieved with preventive care. Preventive care entails taking proactive steps to keep from getting sick or steps that can keep sickness from getting worse. There are a lot of things that fall into preventive care, including screenings, knowing your body, healthy lifestyle habits and so much more. So, if you would like to start taking better care of your health, here are some things you as a woman can do.

Regular Well-Woman Visits

Women have different health needs than men, and those needs often and majorly change as a woman gets older. That is why women should regularly schedule their well-woman visits to their doctors. A woman's body goes through several major hormonal changes, and those changes can negatively impact their body. A well-woman visit to your doctor can help assess your medical history and make sure your body is in good health. To schedule your well-woman visit, you can speak with your gynecologist about pelvic exams, Pap smears, and physical breast examinations. Additionally, you can go to counseling for birth control, STD testing, and HPV tests. All these tests are essential in order to make sure your body is in perfect condition.

Go to Diabetes Screenings

Another important test is diabetes screening. Due to the amount of stress on a daily basis and bad eating habits that may occur, women are often at risk of suffering from diabetes. What’s more, pregnant women are at an even higher risk of diabetes during their pregnancy. That’s why those screenings are a must. Diabetes can be controlled if you suffer from it during pregnancy, but you should still go to regular checkups and examinations to make sure all is good with you and your baby. This condition can reverse post-pregnancy. And if you are not pregnant and suspect you might have diabetes, you should go to your doctor for examination and further consultation about your therapy. It is manageable, but if left neglected, diabetes can be fatal.

Measure Your Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is another health aspect that can be impacted by genetics and daily stress. High blood pressure or hypertension is the most common factor that causes heart disease. However, it is highly manageable and modifiable. No matter what genetic predispositions you have regarding heart disease and blood pressure, you should still get it measured regularly. Your doctor can measure it and based on the results consult with you on how to manage your condition. High blood pressure is easily manageable with minor lifestyle changes, a healthier diet, quitting cigarettes and alcohol, and many other healthy habits. Along with blood pressure, you can schedule a screening for blood lipid levels and make sure your cholesterol levels are in order.

Breast Examinations are a Must

Preventive care includes breast examination, too. Women are at a higher risk of breast cancer and due to that fact, mammographs are a must. These are usually scheduled later in a woman’s life, usually around menopause. However, if you know you have a family history of breast cancer, you can talk to your doctor about getting tested as soon as possible. Especially if you have concerns or have found a lump.

Additionally, you can talk to your doctor about self-examinations that you can do at home alone. And if you do feel a lump, there is no reason to panic, because not every lump is cancer. Sometimes it’s a benign cyst. But if you have concerns, talk to your doctor.

Introduce Healthy Habits

Besides regular visits to your doctor, there are changes you can introduce in your life as measures of preventive care. For example, you should start eating healthier foods such as veggies and fruits and minimize the use of processes sugars and junk food. Additionally, you should practice safe and moderate drinking of alcohol if you don’t want to stop drinking in general. Also, you shouldn’t smoke or do drugs so your cardiovascular system can stay healthy and functional. Lastly, try and exercise at least three times a week to improve your physical and mental health.

Preventive care basically means being mindful of your health and making educated decisions about your body. To take preventive care to another level, you should go to your doctor once a year and get screenings and tests that can put your mind at ease and make sure your body is in top-notch condition.