Forget Mother's Day, We're Taking the Whole Month!
Adena general obstetrician/gynecologist Neely Nelson Wade, MD has been practicing OB/GYN for the past 11 years (after having served as a general practitioner in the U.S. Navy for four years). She’s been with Adena for two years, serving patients throughout the week at appointments and rotating weekend coverage for labor and delivery with her Adena physician partners. She is a mother of two with a third on the way, so she understands the demands on mothers and women. She also loves the idea of moms dedicating a month to their health and wellbeing, “I know that being a mom is a challenge, but in order to be the best moms we can be, we have to take good care of ourselves.”
May We Take a Little Time for Ourselves?
May is Women’s Health Month and a great time for women to make healthy changes so we can look and feel our best. Whether you're a mother or not, focusing on self-care and your best health can revitalize your outlook, benefiting you and those close to you. As women, it's often in our nature to take care of others first. Let's make May the time to care about us.
A great place to start is by scheduling your Well Woman Annual exam with Dr. Wade and the team at Adena OG/GYN. Adena’s Well Woman Annual exams take patients’ whole health into consideration. “It is an excellent opportunity to address a women's general health,” says Dr. Wade. “We can discuss any particular concerns a woman has and also assess her smoking status, dietary choices, and exercise level—things, that if not curbed or controlled, we know can lead to health problems and can also negatively affect a women’s reproductive health.”
The Adena Well Woman Annual exam is comprehensive and looks at a number of health issues to help improve and benefit patients in the region. Among the many health items addressed in a Well Woman Annual exam, are blood pressure, screening for cancers of the cervix (Pap smear), breast exam (mammogram), pelvic exam, uterus exam (assessing any abnormal bleeding), body mass index (BMI), skin (assessing suspicious moles), discussions of substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), family planning counseling and healthy diet and exercise. “We want women to know we have numerous resources at Adena to help women achieve a healthy lifestyle,” says Dr. Wade. “If we can help our everyday caregivers (moms/women) develop healthy behaviors, it can translate into healthier behaviors for families and future generations.”
Screen Time is Important
In this case, we are talking about health screenings. Preventative health screenings are the best way to detect and treat health issues early. Below is a basic chart based on ages and key screenings, but family and personal histories also factor in. It is important to discuss all screenings with your Adena Primary Care physician or Adena OB/GYN at your annual exams.
Screening test | Ages 18-39 | Ages 40-49 | Ages 50-64 | Ages 65+ |
Annual check-up | Once a year | Once a year | Once a year | Once a year |
Thyroid test (TSH) | Every 5 years | Every 5 years | ||
Cholesterol | Every 5 years | Every 5 years | Every 5 years | |
Calcium Scoring | Every 10 years | Every 10 years | ||
Bone Density test | Initial test, discuss with provider | |||
Diabetes-blood sugar test | Starting at 45, every 3 years | Every 3 years | Every 3 years | |
Mammogram | Discuss with provider | Once every 1-2 years | Once every 1-2 years | |
Pap smear/pelvic exam | Annual exam | Annual exam or less based on provider recommendation | Annual exam or less based on provider recommendation | Annual exam or less based on provider recommendation |
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) | As recommended by provider | |||
Colonoscopy | Starting age 50 then every 10 years unless more often recommended by provider | Every 10 years unless more often recommended by provider | Every 10 years unless more often recommended by provider | |
Take Time, Make Time
For a well-balanced and healthy life, it is important for women to make time for themselves. It is often not easy or convenient and may require effort to make happen, but it is essential to maintaining your best health. Exercise is good way to take a little extra time for you and make you feel good. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exercise can help maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, lower blood pressure, improve heart health, improve mental health, reduce anxiety and depression, and help control weight, build muscle and reduce body fat. You can start with taking a simple walk after dinner, doing work in the garden or out in the yard. There are also many free online and video resources that guide you through exercises no matter what level you are capable of. The key is to schedule time for it and stick with it.
Yes, You May
We know women play an important role in their families. That means it’s equally important to stay healthy and feeling well. Dr. Wade and the team at Adena OB/GYN can help. They are here to guide women throughout their lives, from the reproductive years through the elder years. “As women’s health needs change over their lifetimes, we can help them focus on the best health practices to make good transitions,” says Dr. Wade.
Adena OB/GYN has the experience, resources and counseling skills to help you transition through all the many life changes women face. For example, Dr. Wade is highly skilled in minimally invasive robotic surgery and uses a robot to perform hysterectomies. By using the robot and small incision ports, patients typically have shorter recovery times, less discomfort, reduced need for pain medications, less blood loss and minimal, if any, scarring. “We continually work to improve patient outcomes,” says Dr. Wade, “technology has helped us make a lot of advances in women’s health.”
This May, we hope women everywhere will take time for themselves and to focus on their health and wellbeing. Call Adena OB/GYN at 740-779-7201 or visit Adena.org to book your Well Woman Annual exam. Whether it’s this month, or down the road, making your health a priority will have a positive lifelong impact on you and those you love.
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