Purpose, People and Passion: UK HealthCare

PURPOSE, PEOPLE AND PASSION

UK HEALTHCARE IS DEDICATED TO HELPING WOMEN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES

With plates that are brimming, women often have a long list of priorities – kids, careers, caregiving for older relatives, community responsibilities – that they put ahead of their own health and wellness.

UK HealthCare, the health system at the University of Kentucky, is dedicated to ensuring women of all ages learn to care for themselves throughout their lifespans. Through education and women-centric programs such as the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute’s Women’s Heart Health Program – which features female physicians, nurses and staff and high-tech interventions – and the UK Midwife Clinic, UK HealthCare strives to help women establish and maintain lifelong health.

The UK Well Woman Clinic at Women’s Health Primary Care, part of the Center for the Advancement of Women’s Health, provides comprehensive primary care services for women during all stages of life, by providing all age-appropriate exams and diagnostic testing in one convenient, half-day appointment. The clinic also encourages women to participate in the Women’s Health & You (WHY) research initiative, which helps advance knowledge and improve care of women.

The Active Women’s Health Initiative, started by Dr. Mary Lloyd Ireland, focuses on encouraging girls to begin creating a healthy lifestyle and keep at it as they grow up.

No. 1 cause of death for women isn’t what you think

Many women believe their major health concern is breast cancer, but the truth is heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. And Kentucky women are at a much higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease than women in other states. Women need to know their risk factors for heart disease, such as having diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle and using tobacco.

Most of the population has attributable risk, said Dr. Gretchen Wells, medical director of the Women’s Heart Health Program. “Within the population, over 90 percent of the cardiac disease could be reduced or eliminated by controlling those risk factors.”

It’s relatively easy to start on the road to cardiac health. Women are encouraged to: » Eat healthier (including plenty of fruits and vegetables). » Increase their intake of fiber (this supports digestive health). » Choose lean protein sources such as beans, nuts, chicken breast and seafood (to support and maintain

bone, muscle and skin health). » Avoid added sugar, salt, saturated fat and trans fats. As a bonus, studies show when women eat healthy, everyone in their household is more likely to consume a healthy diet.

Also, women should be active for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, whether that includes brisk walking, jogging, biking, swimming or other forms of exercise. Physical activity lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, aids with weight loss, improves sleep and can reduce depression, another major issue impacting women’s health.

Perhaps the most important action women can take – not only for their heart and their overall health – is to quit smoking. According to the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute, within a year of quitting, your risk of heart attack declines by 50 percent. If you need help quitting, ask your primary care provider for information about smoking cessation programs.

Get screened

Cancer screening is another important way for women to stay on top of their health, said Valeria Moore, BSN, RN, Gynecologic Oncology practice manager at the UK Markey Cancer Center.

“We offer women education about the importance of timely screening,” she said. “A lot of women don’t realize what kind of screening they need at what age. It’s important to talk to your primary care physician to see what screenings you should be getting.”

The UK Markey Cancer Center Ovarian Cancer Screening Program, which began in 1987, provides free annual sonographic ovarian screenings to women across Kentucky with the goal of detecting cancer early.

“More than 48,000 women have received a free ovarian cancer screening through our program,” Moore said. “We love serving women and making a difference in their lives and in their treatment.”

Making childbirth beautiful

Pregnant women find support before and during labor and after giving birth at the UK Midwife Clinic. They are empowered to create a meaningful, beautiful birthing experience for themselves. “Women are becoming very educated about what their options are for gynecological care and also prenatal care and birth,” said Dolores (Dee) Polito, APRN, CNM, MSN, director and chief midwife at the clinic. “Women who are healthy and want to have more decision-making ability about their birth experience often choose a midwife.”

But midwives aren’t only on the scene during labor and delivery. “Midwives are experts in women’s health,” Polito said. “It’s much more than pregnancy that we tend to. We are primary care providers for women. We take care of women’s needs all throughout the reproductive life span.” Here are some more tips for women who want to take charge of their health:

Have a bone mineral density test to detect osteoporosis.

Use sunscreen and avoid indoor tanning.

Learn your family health history.

Talk to your doctor about managing the symptoms of menopause.

Schedule a colonoscopy to catch potential colorectal problems early.

Be vigilant about maintaining your mental health.

Get enough sleep – at least eight hours per night.

Make movement and physical activity a priority.

Establish care with a great primary care provider.

Whatever you need to keep yourself healthy and active, you’ll find just the right information and support at UK HealthCare. Visit www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu to learn more.

For more information about UK Women’s Health Primary Care, visit www.ukhealthcare.uky. edu/services/primary-care/ womens-health.