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Healthy Woman - Women's Healthcare Guidelines

Women’s Healthcare Guidelines

The National Women’s Health Information Center offers the following 10 things you can do to help live longer, live better, and live happier:

Be Informed. Learn about health promotion and disease prevention and ask your physician for specific information regarding your needs.
Be Good To Your Bones. For healthy bones, be sure to replenish your stock of calcium every day with plenty of foods such as milk and dairy products, tofu, leafy, green vegetables, canned salmon or sardines, and calcium-fortified juices or breads. Speak with your physician about calcium supplements.
Avoid Illegal Drugs and Alcohol. For women, the definition of moderate drinking stops at one glass. And, where illicit drugs are concerned, there is no such thing as "moderate" use.
Take Medicine Wisely. Read the labels, follow the instructions carefully, and remind your physician or pharmacist about any other medicines or supplements you might be taking that could interact with your medication. If you have any questions about possible side effects, call your physician or pharmacist.
Play It Safe. Avoid injuries. Buckle up. Wear a bike helmet. Use smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Wear sunscreen and UV protected sunglasses. Use street smarts and common sense. Practice safe sex.
Get Checked. Get regular checkups, preventive examinations, and immunizations. Do not forget self-examinations, too.
Do Not Smoke. Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in our country.
Eat Smart. It is the secret to good health. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Enjoy a variety of foods, balance foods from each food group, and exercise moderation.
Get Moving. The other secret to good health: just 30 minutes of physical activity, accumulated over the course of each day, can radically improve the way you look and feel, both physically and mentally.
Be Happy. Take time for yourself. Get connected with family, friends, and community. Do things you enjoy!

Routine activities for women to ensure good health:

These charts provide general healthcare guidelines for women, but are not meant to replace any advice and guidance given by your physician. Please use them as a reminder to take care of your personal healthcare needs, and also as a list of topics you may want to discuss with your physician.

Each Day	Each Month	Each Year	Other
Exercise 30 minutes (most days of the week).	Perform a breast self-examination.	Have a dental checkup once or twice a year. Have vision and hearing checked annually.	After age 20: every 5 years have a full lipid profile test for cholesterol and triglycerides.
Protect yourself from the sun — use sunscreen and dress appropriately.	Perform an oral cavity self-examination — gums, teeth, lips, tongue.	Have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked.	Every 3 years after age 30: have a physical examination by your physician.
Watch your fat intake — no more than 25 to 35 percent of your calorie intake. Most fats should come from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.	Perform a full-body self examination for unusual moles or other skin conditions. Have your physician examine moles annually, or immediately for suspicious growths.	Have a pelvic examination and Pap test every 1 to 3 years.	Every 2 years after age 40: have a physical examination by your physician.
Eat sources of protein such as lean meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts.	Be aware of your weight — check your BMI (body mass index).	After age 40: have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.	After age 50: have a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or as recommended by your physician.
Eat 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables daily. At least half of all of the grains eaten should be whole grains. Consume 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk products per day.		After age 50 : have a physical examination by your physician.	After age 50: have a colonoscopy every 10 years, or as recommended by your physician.
Be aware of your alcohol intake.		After age 50: have a DRE (digital rectal examination).	After age 50 : have a double contrast barium enema every 5 to 10 years, or as recommended by your physician.
Be aware of your stress level.		After age 50: have a fecal occult blood test.	Get a tetanus/diphtheria (td) booster every 10 years
		Beginning at age 55, get a flu shot.	After age 65 : get the pneumococcal vaccine; also recommended for those younger than 65 who have medical problems such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disorders, sickle cell anemia, and other chronic conditions, or for those who work or live in high-risk areas.

Women’s Health Services at
Rush University Medical Center in Chicago

Rush University Medical Center offers comprehensive health care services for women of all ages.

At Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, medical science blends with a sincere commitment to provide women with the absolute finest, most compassionate care. Specialists and subspecialists work together to address the special needs of women, from common to complex to the everyday needs of women and their families.

We offer direct access to the latest innovations and options — from prenatal care for high risk pregnancies, to diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of abdominal and pelvic disorders, to leading-edge research.

For more information about health services and medical care for women at Rush visit the Women’s Health Services home page.

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Just phone (888) 352-RUSH or (888) 352-7874 for help finding the Rush doctor who’s right for you.



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