Page 4 - Sharon Hospital | Life & Health | Winter 2013

STAYING healthy is o en a
matter of daily decision making.
Choosing to buy a sandwich made
on whole-grain bread. Deciding to
quit smoking. Finding time for a
visit to the gym, a swim at the pool
or an invigorating walk with a friend
over lunch.
Some decisions that af-
fect your health may come
around less frequently—
but they’re just as
important.
Scheduling a mam-
mogram every year.
Checking your blood
pressure at least
every two years.
Having a colo-
noscopy every
10 years.
ese health screenings are vital
for keeping track of your health, but
they’re sometimes so infrequent that
they can easily be forgotten. So, how
can you remember them?
Working closely with your health-
care provider is a good start. (When
was your last general checkup, by the
way?)
e information on these pages
might also help. e chart at right
describes common tests that screen
for signs of disease, with the aim
of spotting health conditions early,
when treatment usually is easiest.
You’ll also nd a list of recom-
mended immunizations that help
prevent illness caused by viruses or
bacteria.
Take these pages to your next
medical visit, and they can help serve
as a starting point for discussing
your screening and immunization
needs. Based on things
like your family’s
history, your race
or ethnicity, and
your lifestyle, you and
your provider can come up
with a plan that is tailor-made to
help you stay healthy.
Sources: American Cancer Society; American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists; U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services
to stay well
H E R E ’ S T O A H E A L T H Y N E W Y E A R !
WOMEN’S HEALTH
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