Seven essential health screenings for women

By Courtney Kozek, PA-C Maple Health DPC

Your time. It’s limited and you can’t buy more of it. As a woman who may be balancing a career while raising children, what gives? Often, our health.

Putting off essential screenings is a real health risk.

We are so accustomed to long waits for appointments and brief interactions with our doctors, it might be surprising to know that you can access convenient, personalized care with a woman who understands your needs.

At Maple Health Direct Primary Care (DPC), you can have 24/7 access to a healthcare practitioner. Same- and next-day appointments with our healthcare providers (average about 45 minutes) are available. Home visits are also available.

We recommend these seven health screenings:

1. Blood pressure – Hypertension is a key risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in women.
2. Blood sugar – Adults without diabetes risk factors should be screened starting at age 35.
3. Lipid panel – Your total cholesterol level should be measured at least every five years if you are 20 to 65 years old, and annually after that.
4. Pap smear – Women of average risk should be screened at 21 and every three years after. After 30, you can choose an HPV test every five years.
5. Mammogram – Breast cancer screening starts at age 40 annually. Perform a self-exam every month.
6. Bone density – Women with average risk should get a bone density test beginning at age 65.
7. Mental well-being - Talk to your practitioner about how you are feeling. About one in 10 women suffers from depression and one in eight experiences post-partum depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Courtney Kozek, PA-C, is welcoming new patients at Maple Health DPC, located at 7259 Center Street in Mentor. Learn more by calling 440-655-8017 or visiting MapleHealthDPC.com.