5/15/2012
"It's Your Time" to Take Care of Yourself
GDNS features Julia Abraham of Rural Health Care, Inc.
FT. PIERRE, S.D. - Women need to take the time to take care of themselves. This is National Women's Health Week, an observance to bring together communities, businesses, government, health organizations and other groups to help women take care of themselves.
Julia Abraham, a physician's assistant at Oahe Valley Community Health in Fort Pierre, says more women should think about preventive health care.
"A lot of women forget about Pap smears and mammograms and doing not only a self-breast exam but a clinical breast exam. Those are things that really help screen for breast cancer as well as cervical cancer. There are programs available that are out there for all women, not just those who are insured, but for all women in every state where they can get coverage, and have an appointment."
While breast and cervical cancer are threats, Abraham says, heart disease is also a major risk for women, and they need to check for that too.
"We also consider checking things like your blood pressure and your cholesterol; we talk to you about smoking cessation, appropriate diet, and appropriate exercise. Those are all things that can contribute to heart attack or stroke."
Abraham says many women are so busy taking care of others that they forget to take care of themselves.
"A lot of women are so busy, they are mothers and they are in the work force and have a lot of other things on their minds. Sometimes they have to make themselves a priority, and that's not always the easiest thing to do, but it's so important in the long run."
