News & Information - The Mercury - May 2009 Mercury

by Jerry Harben

The 10th annual National Women's Health Week is celebrated May 10-16. This observance coordinated by the Department of Health and Human Services encourages women to take simple steps for longer, healthier and happier lives.

Army leaders plan events throughout May to draw attention to topics including:

Heart health - blood pressure tested at least every two years, and cholesterol tests as determined by a doctor.

Cancer prevention - mammogram and Pap smear every one to three years, colorectal screening after age 50.

Stroke - know the signs, symptoms and preventive measures.

Diabetes - blood glucose test every three years starting at age 45.

Bone health - calcium and vitamin D, with bone density screening at least once at age 65.

Chlamydia screening - yearly until age 25 and whenever there is a change of sexual partner.

Immunizations - human papillomavirus series before age 26 for prevention of cervical cancer, influenza yearly, pneumococcal once at age 65, tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years, herpes zoster once at age 60 and meningococcal as determined by a doctor.

COL Wilma I. Larsen is chief of the medical evaluation board clinic at Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Texas, and the Army Surgeon General's consultant for women's health issues. She spoke of two advances for women's health recently implemented by the Army.

"Historically there has been a four-month deferment from deployment for new mothers. This was changed during the last year to six months," Larsen said.

"I believe that this change is probably the single biggest improvement we have made that affects female Soldiers' health and morale. It allows women to fully recover from the birth process prior to deployment, as well as allowing for additional bonding time," she added.

"Another recent change is the new Pap smear related deployment guideline. This new guideline eliminates the deployment of women who need Pap smear follow up in theater," Larsen continued.

"Travel is not only dangerous for Soldiers down range, but it takes them away from their primary missions. Deploying women who are known to need follow up down range is unreasonable. The new guideline also ensures that we do not deploy a Soldier with a Pap abnormality that we may have limited ability to treat or monitor in theater, and who then may return from deployment with a serious condition. The new guidelines conform to the [American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology] new Pap smear recommendations for frequency and treatment," she said.

Details about National Women's Health Week are on line at www.womenshealth.gov. Other important information can be found at www.armymedicine.army.mil/hc/healthtips/ht.cfm?id=12; www.hooah4health.com/prevention/whealth/default.htm and www.cdc.gov/women.

From the May 2009 Mercury, an Army Medical Department publication.