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women’s health
Ladies:
Go Red for
your heart
W
ondering what to wear
today?
Open up your closet
and look for something red—a
scarf, a hat, a dress. It’s a way to
remind yourself to take care of your
heart.
It’s also a way to take part in
Go Red for Women, or Go Red for
short. is is a national e ort to
help women of all ages stay safe
from heart disease—their No. 1
killer.
Check it out.
You can learn
more about Go Red by visiting
www.GoRedforWomen.org.
ere you can also:
Take a heart checkup. If you
don’t already have heart disease,
you can nd out how likely you are
to get it. You’ll also get a personal
plan to protect your heart.
Sign up for a free Go Red pin.
Wearing it shows you support the
ght against heart disease.
Get heart smart. You’ll discover
how to eat better, move more,
stress less and protect your heart.
Share the love.
Spread the
word about Go Red to the women
in your life. Invite them to join you
in making small, heart-healthy
changes. You can take walks
together or serve veggies for party
snacks instead of chips or cookies.
Go Red means making healthy fun.
Source: American Heart Association
MAMMOGRAMS
Get the whole picture
M
ammograms: ey’re what’s
best for your breasts.
e x-ray takes only a
few minutes. You most likely won’t
need to do it again for a year or two.
And it is the best way to spot
signs of breast cancer early—even a
few years before a lump can be felt
by hand.
When to start.
Ask your
provider how often you should have
this test. In general, women 40 and
older should have one every year.
But you may need to start earlier.
Or you might need to be tested
more often.
Has anyone in your family had
breast cancer? If so, that’s one
reason you might have the test
before age 40.
If you have concerns, ask your
provider how often you should be
tested.
A date to keep.
ere’s a good
reason to be tested regularly.
Providers don’t just look at your
current x-ray. ey look for changes
from earlier images.
at’s how to get the best picture
of your breast health.
At your next checkup.
Talk
with your provider. He or she is
your best guide. Be sure to tell him
or her about your family’s medical
history. Also, talk about any breast
changes you’ve noticed.
Sources: American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Office on
Women’s Health
Spread the word
Any time is a good time to be
aware of breast cancer.
Let the women in your
life know this. You can do
two things to beat breast
cancer.
1.
At age 40, talk with your
health care provider about
your risk for the disease.
2.
From ages 50 to 74, have a
mammogram every two years.
This test can spot breast cancer
in its early stages.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
TAKE ACTION.
Do you have
questions about what women’s
services we cover? Call Member
Services at
800-391-2000
.
KFHC office address: 5701 Truxtun Ave., No. 201, Bakersfield, CA 93309
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family
health