The Illinois Department
of Public Health, Office of Women's Health, has designed this health quiz for
you. While completing the quiz, write down any questions that cause you come
concern or that you do not understand and discuss them with your health care
provider. The last section of this booklet includes suggestions for talking to
your health care provider that may be helpful to review before your next
appointment. You also can call the toll-free Women's Health-Line at
1-888-522-1282 for suggestions about any women's health issue.
Heart
Disease
Q) What is the
leading cause of death in women?
- breast
cancer
- heart
disease
- accidents
A) b. heart
disease
Of the nearly 500,000 heart attack deaths that occur each year, more than
239,000 are in women, and more than 91,000 women die each year of stroke.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in American
women.
Q) Which of the
following risk factors for heart disease can be reduced through lifestyle
changes?
- smoking
- high blood
pressure
- obesity
- lack of
physical activity
- all of the
above
A) e. all of
the above
All of these risk factors can be reduced by lifestyle changes such as diet and
exercise. Other risk factors, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, can be
controlled with the help of your health care provider.
Q) What causes
a heart attack?
- blocked blood
flow to a part of the heart
- arteries
clogged by fat and cholesterol
- blood clots
cutting off the blood flow to the heart muscle
- all of the
above
A) d. all of
the above
All of these factors can block or reduce blood flow to the heart, cutting off
needed oxygen to the heart muscles. A heart attack occurs when the muscles are
suddenly deprived of oxygen.
Q) How do you
know for sure if you have high blood pressure?
- you have
night sweats
- you have your
blood pressure measured
- you have
frequent headaches
A) b.you have
your blood pressure measured
Most people with high blood pressure have no specific warning signs. The only
way to know is to have your pressure checked. People who are overweight are
more likely to have high blood pressure.
Q) True or
False? Having your heart "skip a beat" is a sign of heart
disease.
A)
False.
Many people with normal heart sometimes feel their hearts skipping a beat or
beating faster or slower than normal. However, these events should be discussed
with your health care provider.
Breast
Cancer
Q) What
is the best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest form?
- annual
breast exam by a health care provider
- doing
a breast self-exam every month
-
screening mammogram
A) c. screening
mammogram
Mammograms
are the single best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest form-often
before a lump can be felt. However, mammograms are not perfect and some breast
cancers can be missed, especially if the breast tissue is very dense. Besides
having a mammogram every year stating at age 40, women also should have an
annual clinical breast exam done by their health care provider and do monthly
breast self exams beginning at age 20. All unusual lumps or changes, even if a
mammogram is negative, should be studied further.
Q) What
breast changes should be brought to the attention of a health care provider?
- a lump or
thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
- a change in the
size or shape of the breast
- puckering,
dimpling or redness of the breast
- all of the
above
A) d.all of the
above
A change you
see or feel in your breast does not automatically mean you have cancer. There
are many breast changes that are normal or non-cancerous conditions. However,
all changes should be reported to your health care provider.
Q) True
or False? Breast cancer only occurs in older women.
A)
False.
Though the chances of getting breast cancer increases as you get older,
approximately 20 percent of new cases are diagnosed each year in women under
the age of 50.
Q) Which of the
following factors increase your risk of getting breast cancer?
- never having
had a child
- a major
injury or bruise to the breast
- being
overweight
- having a
close (first-degree) relative with breast cancer (mother, sister,
daughter)
A) a, c and d.
Never having a child or having your first child after the age of 30, obesity,
and a strong family history all increase one's risk. An injury to the breast or
fondling of the breast does not increase risk. Almost 75 percent of breast
cancer cases occur in women without any risk factors so everyone should be
checked every year.
Q)True or
False? Breast cancer is always fatal.
A)
False.
If detected early, women diagnosed with breast cancer have a survival rate of
more than 93 percent. More than 1.6 million women live with breast cancer
today. Early detection also gives women more treatment options, including the
possibility of saving the breast.
Osteoporosis
Q) Which of the
following risk factors increase your risk for osteoporosis?
- smoking
- small body
frame/ slender build
- diet low in
calcium
- inactive
lifestyle
- all of the
above
A) e.all of the
above
In addition to these, other risk factors include excessive alcohol drinking,
increasing age, surgical or early menopause, family history and medications
used to treat conditions like asthma, arthritis and hypothyroidism.
Q) What is the
most common symptom associated with the onset of osteoporosis?
- loss of
weight
- loss of
height
- loss of
physical strength
A) b. loss of
height
Loss in height is the most common physical characteristic. The bones in the
back (vertebrae) fracture and collapse as a result of the bone thinning
associated with aging and, as the spine shortens, a person's overall height can
be dramatically reduced.
Q) True or
False? Once you have osteoporosis, there is nothing you can do but avoid
injury.
A)
False.
There are several new drugs on the market that either inhibit further bone loss
or help to increase bone density. If you have osteoporosis, talk to your health
care provider about these new therapies.
Q) What are the
best sources of calcium in the diet?
- milk and milk
products
- dark yellow
vegetables
- sardines and
salmon with bones
- whole grains
and oats
A) a. and
c.
Milk and milk products, like yogurt and cheese, and canned salmon and sardines
with bones provide higher levels of calcium than other foods. Dark green
vegetables, like beet and turnip greens, also provide some calcium as do
certain kinds of tofu.
Q) True or
False? Physical exercise can help reduce the risk of getting
osteoporosis.
A)
True.
Weight-bearing exercises and exercises using resistance have been shown to
increase muscle strength and maintain bone density.
Menopause
Q) What is
menopause?
- the time when
your periods stop permanently
- a normal
aging process
- reduction in
ovarian activity, including estrogen production
A) All of the
above.
Although some women can start much earlier or many years later, the average age
of menopause is 51.5 years. Current smokers and undernourished women tend
to experience an earlier menopause.
Q) True or
False? Perimenopause is the period immediately before menopause and
extending to five years after menopause.
A)
True.
During this time, many women will experience irregular menstruation, including
skipped periods, light periods and very heavy periods.
Q) What are the
symptoms of menopause?
- hot
flashes
- mood swings,
short term memory loss
- urinary
problems, such as leaking when you cough or sneeze
- vaginal
dryness, painful sex
A) All of the
above.
Not all women experience all of these symptoms but these symptoms generally
cause women to seek out medical advice.
Q) What are the
most serious health concerns associated with menopause?
- osteoporosis
(thinning, brittle bones)
- increased
risk for heart disease
- hot
flashes
A) a. and
b.
While hot flashes are one of the more common and visible symptoms of menopause,
they are not life-threatening. Osteoporosis and heart disease are serious
health problems and women should discuss with their health care provider what
they can do to decrease the risk of these conditions.
Q) What can
women do to reduce the symptoms and health problems associated with
menopause?
- maintain a
well-balanced diet
- participate
in a good exercise program
- take hormone
replacement therapy
A) All of the
above.
Hormone replacement therapy can reduce some of the discomforts of menopause
like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Studies have shown that hormone
replacement therapy may also reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart
disease. However, some women cannot take hormones because of other health
conditions. Each woman should discuss the benefits and risks of hormone
therapy with her health care provider and also assess her personal risk for
these conditions. Modifying your diet to include more calcium-rich foods
and less fat can also help reduce the more serious health concerns associated
with menopause. Weight-bearing and aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging,
weight lifting and dancing at least three times a week for 20-30 minutes at a
time can help reduce both the short-term and long-term effects of
menopause.
Mental Health
Q) What is
clinical depression?
- a personality
weakness
- a normal part
of aging
- a treatable
medical illness
- an
irreversible disease
A)
c.
Clinical depression is a medical illness. The large majority of cases,
including the most serious, are highly responsive to treatment, yet only
one-third of people with clinical depression seek treatment. More than 80
percent of people with depression can be successfully treated.
Q) What are the
symptoms of clinical depression?
- persistent
sadness, anxiety or nervousness
- sleeping too
little or too much
- reduced
appetite and/or weight loss or increased gain
- loss of
interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
- feeling
guilty, hopeless, worthless
A) All of the
above.
In addition to these symptoms, other signs of possible clinical depression are
irritability, persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment,
difficulty in concentrating, loss of energy and thoughts of suicide. If
you experience at least five of these symptoms for two weeks or more, you
should seek the advice of a health care provider.
Q) True or
False? Men are twice as likely as women to experience clinical
depression?
A)
False.
Studies have shown that women are twice as likely as men to experience clinical
depression. One in seven women will be affected during her lifetime, but
nearly two-thirds will not get the help they need.
Q) True or
False? Psychiatrists are the only health professionals who can properly
diagnose and treat mental illnesses.
A)
False.
There is a whole range of professionals who can treat mental illnesses,
including social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and
pastoral counselors. Treatment may include medication, psychotherapy or
both. However, only medical doctors, including psychiatrists, can
prescribe medication.
Q) True or
False? People suffering some mental illnesses may suffer from substance
abuse.
A)
True.
persons with mental illnesses, specifically people with undiagnosed conditions,
may abuse drugs or alcohol in order to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms
associated with their illnesses. Individuals should undergo a thorough
examination by a trained professional to properly diagnose the causes for the
substance abuse so that treatments can be developed to help both
problems.
Domestic
Violence
Q) What is the
most frequent cause of injury to women?
- automobile
crashes
- partner
abuse
- muggings
- rape
A)
b.
More women sustain injuries from physical abuse by a husband or boyfriend than
from car crashes, muggings and rapes combined. More than 4,000 women a
year are killed by a current or former partner as a result of domestic
violence.
Q) True or
False? Domestic violence only happens in low-income and minority
households.
A)
False.
Domestic violence occurs among all sectors of society, regardless of race,
religious or economic status. However, low-income women are more likely
to seek assistance from public agencies and, therefore, are more likely to be
counted in domestic violence statistics. Women who seek private help
often are not included in these reports.
Q) True or
False? Because everyone loses their temper at some time, most domestic
violence is a single episode.
A)
False.
Domestic
violence usually increases over time. Statistics show that once a woman
is victimized, her chances of being injured again are high.
Q) Why would a
woman stay with an abusive partner?
- fear--she is
at greatest risk of violence when she attempts to leave
- she has
nowhere to go and little or no resources to help
- due to
cultural or religious beliefs, she may feel that it is her duty to keep the
marriage together at all costs
- she wants to
keep the family together for the children's sake
A) All of the
above.
Many women want the violence to end but not the relationship. They may go
through many steps or stages as they try to create a violence-free life for
themselves and their children.
Q) True or
False? Children who witness physical abuse in the home are more likely
to have health and behavioral problems.
A)
True.
Children often directly witness the physical or mental abuse going on in the
home or they indirectly witness it by overhearing the episodes or seeing the
resulting injuries or property damage. In addition to various adjustment
problems, children also may feel responsible for stopping the violence and
protecting their mothers, sisters and brothers. They may feel they are
to blame for the violence, or they may come to believe that violence is an
acceptable way to solve problems. Several studies have shown that boys
who witness their mothers being abused are more likely to become abusers in
their teen and adult years.
Tips On How
To Talk To Your Health Care Provider
Before you go
to your health care provider--
- Make a list of your
questions.
- Ask a family member or
friend to come with you.
If you have
medical tests done--
- Ask how and when you
will receive your results.
- Ask who will be
available to answer any questions and when is the best time to call.
If your health
care provider advises you to change your diet or lifestyle--
- Ask how these changes
will help you and what will happen if you do not make these changes.
- Ask them to be
specific about the changes. For example, if they recommend more exercise,
ask what type of exercises and how often you should do them.
- If they suggest you
lose weight, ask how much weight.
- Ask if there are
support groups or programs that you should join.
If your health
care provider prescribes medicine--
- Bring a list of all
medicines you take and share it with your health care provider.
- Ask why the medicine
should be taken.
- Ask how you should
take your medicine:
With food or without food?
Time of day?
How much and how often?
Can you take it with other medicine?
- Ask about
side-effects. What should you do if you have side-effects?
- How long should you
take the medicine?
If you are
treated for a condition--
- Ask how your progress
will be monitored:
For example, if you take drugs to lower your blood pressure, ask
if you should buy a home blood pressure kit to monitor yourself.
- Ask if you should make
a chart of your progress and when you should report changes to your health care
provider.
- Ask when you should
see progress and if you do not, who you should call.
- Ask when you should
return to your health care provider to be checked.
Resources
American Heart
Association
American Medical Women's Association
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Illinois Department of Public Health
Mental Health Association of Illinois
National Osteoporosis Foundation
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
Questions about women's health can be
directed to
Women's Health Line
888-522-1282
TTY (hearing impaired use only)800-547-0466
|