Osteoporosis

High Blood
Pressure

Cholesterol

Hearing

Vision

Oral Health

Health Screening for Women Aging with a Disability

Women with disabilities very often do not get regular screenings or tests that are suggested by their health care provider. These tests can be used to detect disease early and provide a better chance for treatment. If your doctor or nurse has not talked with you about the need for health screenings, be sure to bring it up at your next visit.

You and your and your primary health care provider should decide how often you need the screenings based on current guidelines AND your own health history, your family history and your current state of health.

Women with disabilities often find it hard to find facilities that are accessible. You can talk with other women with disabilities and call facilities ahead of time to find out if they can meet your needs. Be sure to tell them what kind of help you will need such as help with transferring to the table, help with positioning, etc.

CANCER SCREENING
  The risk of getting many cancers goes up as you get older. Tell your doctor or nurse if members of your family have had cancer. Please remember that having a disability does not protect you from getting diseases such as cancer.

Here are some routine screenings:

Breast Cancer

• If you are a woman age 40 or older, the American Cancer Society recommends that you have a Mammogram done every year.

• You should perform Breast Self Examination monthly.
  

Cervical Cancer

• If you are sexually active or have been in the past and you still have a cervix**, you should have routine screening for cervical cancer.

• As a woman, you should begin Papanicolaou (Pap) testing when you become sexually active.

• You should have a Pap test at least every 3 years. There is no recommendation for or against continuing to have Pap tests as you get older. Sometimes your doctor or nurse may stop regular testing when you reach age 65 if you past screenings have always been normal. (Be sure to discuss this with your health care provider).

-U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 1996

DISCUSS your need for routine Pap smears with your primary care provider.

** Your cervix is the lower part of your uterus (womb). If you have had a hysterectomy, DO NOT assume that you don't have a cervix. Sometimes the cervix is not removed with a hysterectomy and you may still need a routine PAP smear.

Colorectal Cancer

• You should have screening for colorectal (colon) cancer or cancer of the bowel if you are age 50 or older.

• You should have fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) (testing for blood in your stool) every year.

• The American Cancer Society recommends that you have a sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. In a sigmoidoscopy the doctor looks at the lower part of the bowel through a narrow tube inserted into the rectum to make sure there are no problems.  

-American Cancer Society, 2001

PLEASE NOTE:

If you have a strong family history of colon cancer or other risk factors, you should speak with your primary health care provider about how often you should have screening done.


OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

   Osteoporosis is a preventable disease that causes the bones to become thin like lace. These thin bones can fracture or break easily. About 70% of fractures in people over 45 are due to osteoporosis. This disease is more common in women, especially after menopause.

Bone mineral density screening is done to see if you have low bone density or thinning of your bones and whether you should have more testing done.

At this time, there are no standard recommendations for screening for bone mineral density, except for those who are 65 years of age or over.

Click on our OSTEOPOROSIS webpage for learn more and to decide if you should have bone density screening done.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about your risk for osteoporosis. If you cannot do weight bearing exercise, this is a risk for osteoporosis. Your doctor or nurse may need to be reminded that this is a risk factor for osteoporosis.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

  High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. It is more common in those over 45 years of age and in African Americans. Exercise and healthy eating are two ways to keep your blood pressure normal. If necessary, high blood pressure can be well controlled with medicine. Often, people with high blood pressure don't have symptoms until the disease is advanced. If you are told that you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor's or nurse's advice for treatment. Just because you don't have symptoms, doesn't mean that your blood pressure is under control. Regular check-ups are key to finding and controlling high blood pressure.

Recommendations:

• Know your blood pressure. Learn what is normal for you and what numbers mean trouble.

• See your doctor or nurse for regular check-ups.

• Take your medication as prescribed.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENING

Cholesterol levels start to rise in middle age, in women just before menopause, and in people who have gained weight. High levels of low-density cholesterol (LDL) lead to clogged arteries, which is a major cause of heart disease. Eating foods low in cholesterol and saturated fats, keeping physically active within your limitations and staying within your normal weight range can lower your cholesterol. Medicine can also be used to lower cholesterol.

Recommendations:

• Know your cholesterol levels.

• Ask your doctor or nurse how often your cholesterol should be checked.

• Take your medication if it is prescribed.

ORAL HEALTH

Keeping your mouth healthy is very important. You need healthy gums and teeth to eat well. Minor infections in your mouth, if not taken care of, can become major infections and cause you a lot of pain.

If your disability prevents you from taking good care of your teeth and gums, speak to your health care providers about assistive devices that can help. You can also click on our PRODUCT RESOURCES page for links to assistive device suppliers. If you have a caregiver who helps you, make sure that good mouth care is part of your routine. 

Teeth and Gums

• Visit your dentist at least once, and maybe twice, a year for checkups.

• Brush your teeth after meals with a toothbrush that has soft or medium bristles.

• Use toothpaste with fluoride.

• Use dental floss every day. There are tools that can help you if you cannot floss well because of disability in your hands.

• Eat fewer sweets, especially between meals.

• Do not smoke or chew tobacco products.

• Schedule regular dental visits.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer includes cancers of the lip, tongue, pharynx, and
mouth.

• Most oral cancers occur in people over age 40 who
  use tobacco or alcohol.

• People who are in the sun a lot also are at risk for cancer of the lip.

• If you chew or smoke tobacco and drink a lot of alcohol, you
  should ask your dentist to examine your mouth for signs of
  oral cancer during your regular checkup. You may also
  need to see your dentist more often.

• You can help prevent oral cancer by not smoking and cutting back on the amount of alcohol you drink.

• If you are outdoors a lot, you should use a sunscreen on your lips

HEARING

• Hearing loss is one of the most common health problems, but it is often ignored or denied by people who have it.

• Hearing loss increases after the age of 50.

• You can tell if you have a hearing problem if you find that you have to strain to hear people talking. If you need to turn up the volume of the TV and/or radio so loud that others complain, you may have hearing loss.

• Talk to your health care provider about your hearing. He or she may
  suggest a hearing test.

VISION

• People age 45 and older are most affected by vision problems.

• You should see an eye doctor for regular eye exams.

• Eyeglasses or contact lenses can improve your vision. Doctors also have other ways to improve your vision and prevent you from losing your sight.

• Check with your health care provider about how often you should have your eyes examined.

• Keep track of when you need your next eye doctor visit.

Glaucoma

After age 45, glaucoma becomes more common. It is a disease that can lead to problems seeing and even to loss of vision. Early treatment—with medicine, surgery, or both—can prevent or delay the serious problems caused by glaucoma.

You are more likely to get glaucoma, and you should see an
eye doctor for a glaucoma test, if you:

• Have diabetes.
• Have a family history of glaucoma.
• Are over age 65.
• Are over age 40 and African American.

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08/11/2003 12:52 PM