Red is the new pink for women’s health
Just as October is awash in pink for breast cancer awareness, February will be rolling in red to remind everyone that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of adult women.
The official Wear Red Day is Feb. 4, and both men and women are invited to visit their local fire station to get their blood pressure taken, then plug that number into My Life Check, to get their heart-health score (and a customized plan to improve it).
Other deals and events to look for:
Macy’s is offering deals if you stop by the department store wearing red between Feb. 2 and 6. If you aren’t wearing red, you can buy a red dress pin for $2 and receive the all-day savings. Macy’s will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the pins to Go Red For Women. From Feb. 6 through Feb. 14 for every Valentine sent through Macy’s Facebook page, Macy’s will donate $1 to Go Red For Women, up to $250,000.
Sweetbay will donate 1 percent from the sale every pound of strawberries in the month of February to the American Heart Association.
Even babies! On Wear Red Day Feb. 4, St. Petersburg General Hospital and Community Hospital babies will receive red caps from the American Heart Association, and their moms will get info on staying healthy.
Buildings go red. The SunTrust Building in downtown Tampa and The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg will be turning crimson, too. The SunTrust Building goes red on Feb. 3 and will remain illuminated in red for the entire month of February. Starting Feb. 3, The Pier will be turning shades of red in honor of Go Red For Women.
Boomer women and their doctors reluctant to talk about bladder & other health problems
There appears to be a communications gap between female baby boomers and their doctors, according to a Harris Interactive survey sponsored by Swedish personal hygiene manufacturer SCA.
The Boomer Women’s Health Survey (of North Americans aged 45 or older) finds these women have increased personal health needs as they enter midlife but only 16% are likely to discuss their symptoms with a doctor. 67% were less likely to see a doctor if they felt their symptoms were merely a “normal part of aging.” 26% felt uncomfortable, embarrassed or “judged” when discussing common health issues with their doctors. More than half (55%) would not contact their doctor at all, even if their symptoms got worse.
Dr. Cynthia Hall of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center says that as this generation enters midlife it’s common to experience potentially embarrassing problems like bladder control. Since most are not talking to their doctors about how to manage these problems, “they’re seeing their daily quality of life suffer unnecessarily.”
Dr. Hall also says doctors are not initiating conversations about such sensitive topics. Bladder weakness and low sex drive are the most embarrassing issues seldom raised by doctors. Bladder weakness affects about one in four women over the age of 40. The survey was conducted in association with SCA’s TENA brand: its Be TENAcious campaign encourages women to speak up about these health issues.
Department of Public Health webinar about HPV this Thursday
Springfield, Ill. —
In recognition of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the Illinois Department of Public Health Office of Women’s Health and STD Program are sponsoring a webinar called, “The Many Issues of Human Papillomavirus and Its Prevention.”
The focus of the webinar is to provide additional education to physicians, nurses and public health personnel about cervical cancer and human papillomarvirus (HPV), to help ensure they are able to provide people with the best information and care possible.
The webinar will provide information on the risk factors for HPV infection, HPV transmission, vaccination as a primary prevention for HPV infection, and the importance of cervical cancer screenings.
“Two types of HPV cause approximately 70 percent of cervical cancers. The more education we can provide to physicians and health care workers about HPV risk factors, transmission, vaccination and screenings, the better able we are to reduce the risk of cervical cancer and other cancers caused by HPV,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold.
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas, mouth and throat of both women and men. Most people with HPV do not develop symptoms or health problems. In fact, in 90 percent of cases, the body’s immune system clears HPV naturally within two years. However, certain types of HPV can cause genital warts in men and women. Other HPV types can cause cancer, including cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and head and neck (tongue, tonsils and throat), as well as cervical cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccines that are highly effective in preventing infection with the two HPV types that cause most cervical cancers, with one vaccine also providing protection against most genital warts. Both vaccines are recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls and can also be given to females 13 through 26 years old who did not get any or all of the three recommended doses when they were younger. These vaccines can also be given to girls as young as nine years old. The vaccines are most effective when given before sexual activity begins. The vaccines may not fully protect everyone and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it is important to continue regular cervical cancer screenings.
Through routine screening and follow-up, cervical cancer is highly preventable and early detection through screening can significantly increase chances of survival. In 2011, a projected 590 women in Illinois will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and a projected 180 women in Illinois will lose their lives to cervical cancer.