women’s health heartland alliance refugee health programs

Women’s Health

Heartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Women’s Health

Women’s bodies are different need special care to be healthy

Sometimes a woman might feel healthy, but actually have problems


It’s very important for a woman to get a check up at the doctor once every year

This way the doctor will be able to find problems early when they are not very difficult to fix


Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a very serious cancer that causes many women die

In the beginning, a woman might not feel like she has it

A doctor will do several tests to check for breast cancer


One test is called a MAMMOGRAM

A woman’s breast is pressed gentry by the mammogram machine

An X-Ray picture is taken of the breast to check for cancer lumps inside

If the doctor sees a problem, she will do more tests to make sure


All women over the age of 50 should get a mammogram

once every two years


Cervical Cancer

A very serious cancer of the women’s reproductive system


A doctor will check for cervical cancer and other problems by doing

a Pelvic Exam


During a pelvic exam, a doctor will ask you to undress and put your feet

up in stirrups. Then she will press your organs to check for problems


A doctor will also do a Pap Smear

The doctor will open up the vagina and brush the cervix with a special swab


A Pelvic Exam Doesn’t Hurt!

It might feel uncomfortable, but you should tell your doctor if you feel any pain


All women should get a Pap smear once a year if they are older than 21 or three years

after they start having sex


“Gardasil”

There is a vaccine that can help prevent cervical cancer


A woman has to get the vaccine shot 3 times

She has to go back to the doctor 2 months after her first shot and 4 months after the

second shotHeartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

It’s very important that all women and girls age 11-26 get this vaccine!


Menopause is a health concern of older women

MENOPAUSE

Menopause happens when the woman’s

monthly bleeding ends


Menopause is a natural part of aging that happens to all women

However, because their bodies are changing, some women don’t feel

well during menopauseHeartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Hot Flashes

Dressing in light layers, using a fan, getting regular exercise, not eating spicy foods, and

managing stress may help

Short period of time when it feels very

hot and you start to sweat


Sexual ProblemsDuring menopause, sex might become painful, less pleasant or uncomfortable

Using a water-soluble lubricant can help. It’s important to check with your doctor that the problem isn’t caused

by and STI or an infectionHeartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Other Problems

• Feeling sad or angry

• Gaining weight

• Having trouble sleeping


Staying ActiveThe best thing to do to feel better is to get

regular exercise

Exercise can prevent weight gain and make you feel happier


Eating Healthy Food

Eating a balanced diet of whole grains, lots of fruit and vegetables, and lean protein will help women

feel healthierHeartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

http://photobucket.com/images/healthy%20food

CalciumAs women get older their bones lose calcium and get

weaker and more breakable

Its very important for women to eat lots of calcium-rich food like milk, yogurt, broccoli, oranges and

leafy greensHeartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Talk to your doctor if you feel very bad

There are medicines that can help manage the symptoms of menopause


Remember, you are responsible for your health!

It’s very important to share

information about health with

friends and family members so that everyone can be

healthy!


Evaluation!

Write down the letter of the answer that you think is right. If you don’t know, write

“?”

#1How often should a woman go see a doctor?

A.

Only when she feels sick

B.

Once a year for a regular check-up

C.

When someone in her family is

sickHeartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

#2What can a woman do to help prevent cervical

cancer?

A. Wash her hands

often

B. Get a vaccine

C. Eat food with a lot

of calcium


#3Who should get the cervical cancer vaccine?

A. All girls under 11

years old

B. All women over

65 years old

C. All women and girls age 11-26


#4 What is a mammogram?

A.

A test to check for breast cancer

B.

A serious disease that women get

C.

A treatment for a disease


#5What kinds of food have calcium, which is

important for strong, healthy bones?

B.

Beef, chicken and fish

A.

Whole grain bread, cereal,

and pasta

C.

Milk, yogurt, broccoli and leafy

greens

#6What is the best thing to do to improve the

symptoms of menopause?

A. Get regular

exercise

B. Take lots of

medicine

C. Drink a lot of

coffee and teaHeartland Alliance Refugee Health Programs

Thank You!Created by

Alina Fomovska and Jennifer Bello, MD

Special Thanks ToJudith Weinstein

Uma Devi Mishra

Ernest Pyaohn

Sarah Eichberger


References

• Hesperian Where Women Have No Doctors http://www.hesperian.org/publications_download_wwhnd.php

• Healthy Roads Media http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/• New Americans Health Information Portal

http://palantir.lib.uic.edu/nahip/• USCRI http://refugees.org/• WedMD http://www.webmd.com/• Peer Health Exchange http://peerhealthexchange.org/• Medline Plus http://medlineplus.gov/• Minnesota International Health Volunteers

http://www.mihv.nonprofitoffice.com/

http://www.hesperian.org/publications_download_wwhnd.php

http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/

http://palantir.lib.uic.edu/nahip/

http://refugees.org/

http://www.webmd.com/

http://medlineplus.gov/

http://www.mihv.nonprofitoffice.com/

women’s health heartland alliance refugee health programs

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