Women’s health is a focus at Monterey Park Hospital. To help patients,
families, and friends better understand some of the major issues in women’s
health today, we outline general screening guidelines for common health
issues among women today.
Breast Cancer: In addition to the regular breast screenings recommended below, we suggest
that all women familiarize themselves with the shape and feel of their
breasts. Knowing how your breasts typically look and feel can help you
more easily identify any changes or abnormalities that could arise.
- As early as the age of 20, and every year following, women should conduct
a breast self-examination (BSE) on their own.
- Women in their 20s and 30s should undergo a clinical breast exam (CBE)
every 3 years; women in their 40s should have a CBE performed every year.
- Beginning at the age of 40, we recommend that all women undergo yearly
mammogram screenings for breast cancer.
Heart Disease: Managing the risk factors associated with coronary heart disease is key
to preventing cardiovascular disease altogether. For this reason, we recommend
regular cardiovascular screenings that help identify risk factors in the
early stages when they can still be treated.
- While the frequency of your screenings will depend on your level of risk,
generally speaking we recommend patients begin cardiovascular screening
tests at around the age of 20.
- Monitoring your body weight and testing your body mass index (BMI) during
routine visits to the doctor can serve as a great preventative measure
to heart disease.
- Beginning at the age of 20, women should have a fasting lipoprotein profile
taken once every 4 to 6 years to measure cholesterol levels.
- Measuring for high blood pressure is another critical screening method
for cardiovascular disease. Beginning in their 20s, individuals should
have their blood pressure tested at least once every 2 years.
- Women 45 years of age and older should also have their blood glucose levels
checked at least once every 3 years. Monitoring these levels can help
prevent pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance.
Colorectal Cancer: The key to preventing colorectal cancer in women is regular screenings
beginning at the age of 50. If you’ve been identified as a high-risk
patient for colorectal cancer, we recommend regular screenings beginning
before age 50. Typical screenings include:
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy – this screening should be done once every
5 years to examine the interior walls of the rectum, as well as part of
- High-Sensitivity Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) – this screening
should be performed once a year because it checks for hidden traces of
blood in no fewer than 3 consecutive stool samples.
- Colonoscopy – this screening looks at the interior walls of the rectum
as well as the entire colon and should be conducted at least once every 10 years.
We encourage you to make your doctor’s visits as regular as possible
in order to main your health. When was your last check up or screening?
Call us today at (626) 570-9000 or use our
online contact us form
if you have questions.
This article contains general information about medical conditions and
treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as
such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis
of a physician.
If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should
consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.