Plan out a Healthy 2022!
As 2021 draws to an end, it’s time for us to reflect on our goals for next year. The start of a new year offers us an excellent opportunity to improve our lives and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
As you set out to define your goals for 2022, remember to focus on your health and well-being, we guarantee your future self will thank you for it!
Schedule Your Annual Exam
Routine check-ups are an essential component of preventative healthcare. Whether for genetic or lifestyle choices, many of us could be at risk for certain diseases without realizing it. These conditions can be diagnosed and treated early by having an annual physical exam to screen for abnormalities or warning signs.
Your annual physical should include:
- Pap smear
- Mamogram (breast exam)
- Blood pressure and cholesterol screenings
- Blood glucose level reading
- Osteoporosis screening
Schedule your annual physical as soon as possible so you can start the year right. Remember to speak to your gynecologist about any concerns regarding family planning, heavy menstrual bleeding, menopause management, painful intercourse, and urinary incontinence.
Make Self-Breast Examination Part of Your Routine
Perform a self-breast exam once a month when in the shower, in front of a mirror, or lying down. If you are unsure of how to do a self-examination, check out the guide provided by The National Breast Cancer Foundation here.
Close to 40% of breast cancer diagnoses come about because women felt a lump during self-examination. So please, check your breasts for lumps or abnormalities once a month.
Address Painful and Heavy Menstrual Cycles
Speak to your OB/GYN if you experience painful or heavy menstruation as these symptoms could result from fibroids – benign, non-cancerous growths in or around the womb-.
Fibroids are common, with 1 in every 3 women experiencing them at some point in their lives. Not all women who have fibroids experience symptoms, but for those who do, symptoms include:
- Heavy bleeding with blood clots
- Increased menstrual cramping
- Pain in the pelvic area or lower back
- Painful intercourse
- Pressure in the lower abdomen
- Swelling of the abdomen
At Women’s OB/GYN Center, our doctors can safely remove fibroids through the Acessa Procedure, a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical procedure that allows you to return to your daily activity quicker.
Optimize Your Activity Levels
The bottom line is that daily physical activity promotes good health. It can lower your risk of heart disease, help you lose weight and maintain your ideal weight, and improve your mental health.
Most of us spend an average of 10 hours a day sitting, and this sedentary lifestyle can lower our life expectancy and worsen depression. So, this year, make it a goal to move a little more.
If you are not a fan of gyms and exercising in general, don’t worry, physical activity can take many forms, and a little goes a long way.
A brisk 30-minute walk with your dog or during lunch every day could be all you need. But, if you love music and dancing, then dance around your home for 30 minutes instead of going for a walk.
We do recommend you add some muscle-strengthening exercises, including light weightlifting or functional routines, at least twice a week to help maintain healthy muscle and bone mass as you age.
Check Your Hormones
As we age, our bodies produce fewer hormones, and this can result in some uncomfortable side effects, including:
- Changes in mood
- Increased risk of depression and anxiety
- A decrease in our energy levels – constantly feeling fatigued-
- Trouble remembering things
- Loss of muscle mass
- Weight gain
- Trouble sleeping
- Sexual dysfunction
BioTE is the most advanced bioidentical hormone replacement therapy available. The treatment works by inserting a tiny pellet containing hormones with the same biostructure as the hormones produced by your body.
The hormones are released as your body requires them, therefore helping to maintain optimal levels for months at a time.
Improve Your Vaginal Wellness
At Women’s OB/GYN, we wish everyone a happy and healthy 2022. We look forward to helping you live your best life in the coming year.
Women’s OB-GYN Center offers you the best quality care. The clinic has two locations, one in Pasadena, Texas, and the other in Webster, Texas. Make your health a priority!
