Vital health screenings every mom needs

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You always make sure to get your child to the doctor for his well visits, and maybe you even push your spouse to get a yearly physical – but are you up to date on your own health check-ups? Find out the latest guidelines and recommendations that will keep you healthy, strong, and full of energy.

Pap smear and HPV test

A pap smear is one of the most important tests you need, as it is the screen doctors use to identify precancerous cells that could lead to cervical cancer. In the future, using DNA from pap smears may even be used to screen for endometrial and ovarian cancers, according to a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine.

Previously an annual test, new recommendations issued in 2012 now call for a pap smear every three years for women ages 21 to 29. For women 30 and older, recommendations call for a pap smear every three years or a pap smear and an HPV test every 5 years. It’s important to speak with your doctor about how often you should get these tests depending on other risk factors.

Well-woman visit

Despite the new pap smear guidelines, visiting your OB-GYN for an annual well woman visit is still necessary, according to Alyssa Dweck, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and co-author of V is for Vagina.

Your doctor will do a pelvic exam to look for abnormalities of the external genitalia, cervix, uterus and ovaries. You will also have a breast exam which is recommended every one to three years for women ages 21 to 39, and yearly for women 40 and older. A well-woman visit is also a great opportunity for your doctor to evaluate your overall health and address any concerns you may have.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two STIs that can cause serious damage to the reproductive system if they’re not treated. “These are often silent infections where women have no symptoms,” Dweck said.

Since they’re most common in women ages 15 to 24, yearly screening until age 25 are recommended. Depending on your risk, your doctor may also recommend regular screening for other STIs, including HIV.

Mammogram

Starting at age 40, you should get a yearly mammogram to screen for breast cancer. However, depending on your genetic and family history – as well as other risk factors – your doctor may recommend getting a mammogram earlier.  

Cholesterol

One in four women die from heart disease each year, so keeping your cholesterol levels in check is important for a healthy heart. A blood test which screens for both LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) levels and triglycerides should be checked once a year, according to Dr. Rose Kumar, a board-certified internist, founder and director of the Ommani Center for Integrative Medicine, and author of Becoming Real. If your levels are elevated, you should be tested six months after you’ve made lifestyle changes or have been prescribed medication.  

Thyroid

“The thyroid gets sluggish in association with the hormonal changes that occur,” said Kumar.  She added that anytime estrogen or progesterone change, particularly after giving birth or during perimenopause, a thyroid test that establishes a normal thyroid hormone level is ideal. If you’re breastfeeding, have postpartum depression, or you’re tired or have gained weight, it’s important to have your thyroid level checked as well.  

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for strong bones and healthy skin – and some studies suggest may even prevent certain cancers.  All women are at risk for being vitamin D deficient, particularly breastfeeding moms, according to Kumar. “A lot of the calcium is coming out of their bones in order to supply calcium for the child,” she said. High levels of vitamin D can be toxic, so speak with your doctor about your diet and about adding a supplement.

Julie Revelant is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, health, food and women's issues and a mom. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com.

Julie Revelant

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Dr. Manny: Forcing employees to undergo health screenings for insurance is wrong

By Dr. Manny Alvarez

Dr Manny's Notes

Published March 20, 2013

FoxNews.com

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Should employees be forced to undergo health screenings to get coverage under their employer’s insurance plan?

I say "No." However, this trend is on the rise, thanks to health care reform.

Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, many companies are forcing its employees to undergo a physical examination in order to get health insurance, or be levied with a surcharge. I received a letter from my employer at the hospital stating that I needed to see a physician in the human resources department, or I would be forced to pay a penalty of $50 extra each month.

Companies like CVS Caremark are also asking workers to undergo health screenings to measure weight, body fat, glucose levels and other vitals, or pay up to $600 more a year for their health insurance. The reason this is happening is because companies are desperate to try to find ways to cut costs, or perhaps, disqualify some employees from standard policies and recommend they instead look for coverage through a public exchange.

In my opinion, this is fundamentally wrong. It takes away the privacy of the individual, and it’s a form of discrimination. I don’t have a problem with companies promoting healthy habits for its employees – which happens sometimes, almost to the point of harassment.

Yes, people should lose weight, eat healthier, stop smoking and incorporate exercise into their daily routine – we’ve been telling them that for years. But to force them by making them pay, knowing full-well that financial penalties could compromise an individual’s ability to provide for their family is just plain wrong.

Unfortunately, I know this will one day be the norm in our country as we watch our freedoms disappear.

Dr. Manny Alvarez

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10 vital health screenings your child needs

From the moment your child is born, he or she will have a series of tests to make sure everything is healthy and developing normally. Sure, height and weight are no-brainers, but what about all the other health screenings? Find out which ones are really important and what you need to know about them.

1. Newborn screens

The Apgar score, the first test your baby will ever have immediately after birth, evaluates your baby’s color, heart rate, activity, muscle tone and response to stimulation.  Named after American pediatric anesthesiologist Dr. Virginia Apgar, this test helps to determine if the baby is depressed, under stress or lacking oxygen—and if intervention is needed.

The metabolic screen—a heel prick test—is another important test that is done within 48 hours after birth. Your baby’s blood will be screened for a host of metabolic and genetic disorders like hypothyroidism and sickle cell disease.  “Although these conditions are rare, they can be devastating,” said Dr. J.J. Levenstein, a board certified pediatrician and founder of MDMoms.com, who says picking them up early is key.

A brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) test, also done in the hospital, evaluates your baby’s hearing from the brain stem level, is non-invasive and can detect congenital deafness early on.

2. Head circumference

Measured at every well visit from birth to 2 years old, your baby’s head circumference is one of the most important tools available to the pediatrician. If your baby’s growth slows, it could mean that the seams of the skull are fusing too early or that he has a congenital infection or a developmental delay.

Rapid head growth, on the other hand, could indicate a serious condition like Hydrocephalus. “That why those regular, frequent visits and us charting those numbers meticulously—despite the baby’s protests – are so important,” Levenstein said.

3. Developmental

During infancy and toddlerhood, your pediatrician will ask about key developmental milestones, like eye contact, social interaction and play. At 18 and 24 months old, a questionnaire called the M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) will screen for autism. As your child gets older, his behavioral and social development will constantly be evaluated as well.

4. Height and Weight

At every well visit, these two measurements will be charted to determine BMI (body mass index), which is the best way to identify a child’s risk for being overweight or obese.  On the flip side, BMI can also point to a potential eating disorder. Your doctor will also ask about your child’s diet, eating habits, and exercise. “It’s non-invasive but lets us have a visual representation of how a kid is doing,” Levenstein said.

5. Hemoglobin

At 1 year and 2 years old, your child’s hemoglobin will be tested to make sure he’s not deficient in iron. “If you are anemic, your brain doesn’t work well and you can lose IQ points over time,” said Levenstein, who added that anemia can also affect your child’s activity. “It’s a big stressor on the heart, the brain, the cardiovascular system and even on growth.”

6. Lead

Approximately four million homes house kids who are being exposed to lead, according to the CDC. Lead exposure can affect your child’s IQ and high levels can be toxic. At 1 year and 2 years old, your child’s pediatrician will ask about your home environment, toys your child plays with and what your baby puts in his or her mouth. A blood test to determine lead exposure may also be ordered.

7. Vision

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children see an eye doctor every year between the ages of 3 and 6 – and then every other year. Starting at 9 months old, your pediatrician might suggest your child be screened with the Visual Evoked Potential machine, which presents a series of images.  “It can measure the electrical activity of the brain in the vision center and see if there is equal activity on both sides,” Levenstein said.  “It can be a very nice early screening tool to see if a child needs an ophthalmology visit sooner rather than later.”

8. Scoliosis

Scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, affects approximately five to seven million people in the U.S., according to the American Chiropractic Association.  The condition usually shows up between the ages of 10 and 15. As soon as your child can touch her toes, she should be screened for the condition, because it could become more severe later on in life, Levenstein advised.

9. Safety

Questions about your child’s safety are just as important as other health screenings and should be asked at every visit, Levenstein said. Your child’s doctor may ask about pets in the home, medications used by other family members, where your baby’s crib is placed, if you have a pool, and if there are guns in the home.

Your pediatrician may also talk to you about bullying, your child’s sexual behavior, and if you have concerns about drug use and academic performance. “The screening never stops,” Levenstein said.

10. Diabetes

Screening for diabetes is not routine, but it’s definitely on the minds of physicians, since obese adults are more likely to be pre-diabetic. In fact, kids with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have increased more than 20 percent since 2001, according to the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study.

If your child is losing weight or has excessive urination, your pediatrician may test him or her for type 1 diabetes. Kids with type 2 diabetes usually gain weight, are sluggish and are not active. If your child has acanthosis nigricans – or a darkening and velvety texture of the skin around the neck or under the armpits – he or she should be screened for high levels of insulin, lipids and cortisone.   

Julie Revelant is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, health, food and women's issues and a mom. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com.

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