Everyday Wellness: Celebrate women's health in May
Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the leading health risks for women today. Thankfully, these problems and many others can be prevented or successfully treated with early detection. That's why it's so important to get routine health screenings. Your Purdue benefits can help you get the screenings you need.
Use this guide to help you figure out when you should start getting health screenings and what kind of things you can expect. Your doctor can help determine how often you should have the screenings based on your age, family history, lifestyle choices and results.
Exams in your 20s and 30s:
* Body mass index (BMI)
* Skin and mole
* Pap test
* Pelvic
* Dental/oral health
* Blood pressure
* Breast
* Cholesterol
* Eye care
* Hearing
Exams in your 40s and 50s:
* Mammogram
* Colorectal cancer
* Blood sugar (screening for diabetes, beginning at age 45)
Exams in your 60s:
* Bone density
What can you do today to get healthy?
Eat healthy
* Eat lots of different fruits, veggies and whole grains.
* Ease up on food and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt and fat.
Be active
* Get active for at least 2 1/2 hours a week.
* Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rate and strengthen your muscles.
Protect yourself
* Wash hands with soap and water to stop the spread of germs.
* Avoid smoking and breathing in other people's smoke.
Manage stress
* Balance work, home and play.
* Get support from family and friends.
Get a checkup
* Talk to your doctor about which tests are right for you, when you should have them and how often.
* Keep your scheduled doctor's appointments, and always see your doctor sooner if you feel sick, have pain, notice changes, or have problems with your medications.
* Your doctor may recommend additional screenings for mental health or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or may recommend vaccinations.
* Talk to your doctor to determine which tests are right for you.
Source: CIGNA
How Purdue can help
* Purdue medical plan coverage
For information on your Purdue medical plan, including mammograms and pap tests provided at no cost to you, contact a LiveWell Advocate at 800-767-7141 or PurdueLiveWell@CIGNA.com. More on Purdue's medical plans also is available at www.purdue.edu/hr/Benefits/Medical/index.html.
* Preventive Care Quick Reference Guide
View CIGNA's Quick Reference Guide to Preventive Health Coverage at www.purdue.edu/hr/pdf/PreventiveCareQuickReference.pdf.
* Purdue's Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Audiology and Speech-Language clinics are open to the public. The Audiology Clinic provides a full range of diagnostic and rehabilitative services to children and adults. More information is at www.cla.purdue.edu/slhs/clinics/.
* Vision Service Plan
Visit the Vision Service Plan website at www.vsp.com to see what benefits you're eligible for, find participating providers, and learn about eye health.
* WorkLife Programs
WorkLife Programs offers a variety of classes and resources to help you eat healthy, be active and balance the demands of your life. To see what's available and register, use your career account and password to log in at the WorkLife Programs home page at www.purdue.edu/worklife, or call 49-45461.
Resources:
American Heart Association -- www.heart.org/
American Cancer Society -- www.cancer.org/
American Diabetes Association -- www.diabetes.org/
Vision Service Plan -- www.vsp.com
