Devi Maa is a symbolic representation of the ‘shakti’ that manifested the divine ‘maya’ of our existence. This powerful energy lays inert in each of us, as ‘kundalini’ but everyday we experience a glimpse of its beauty, its divine expression, in the movements of our dutiful mothers, wives, sisters, as they devotedly care for all of us. However, have we ever considered, what is our duty to them and their duty to themselves?
Society has seen a significant fall in the number of men who suffer from heart disease in recent years, no doubt due to the joint effort with the women in their lives. Tragically, the same cannot be said of women. Did you know that heart disease is now the #1 killer of women today! It claims 1 in 3 women who have heart disease every year! Notably, its contributing factors such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol are all controllable.
Many of our women become diagnosed with cancers, which could have been picked up and prevented earlier if they were screened or conditions which could have been averted by seeking proper medical advice. The following are guidelines recommended by several prominent international medical societies. They serve as a means by which we can address and avert the conditions mentioned above for the women in our lives and ourselves.
Women under 40 years should receive a full routine physical every 2-3 years, then yearly once over 40. It should include assessments for:
o Blood pressure (<140/90)
o Fasting blood sugar (<110mg/dL)
o Lipids (Total Cholesterol <200mg/dL & HDL > 60mg/dL)
o Urine tests
o Waist circumference (<80cm)
These are also cardiovascular screening tests and should start at age 20.
Follow-up frequency will depend on your risk level assessed at your 1st visit.
Cervical Exam
o Pap smear every 3 years from 20-30 years
o Pap smear and HPV test every 5 years from 30-65 years
o Over 65 no further tests once all prior were normal, unless new symptoms arise
o HPV vaccine once under 26years regardless of sexual activity
Breast Exam
- From age 20 – regular breast self exams
- 20-30 years – clinical breast exams every 3 years
- Over 40 years – clinical breast exams yearly
- From age 40 mammograms yearly (until 70)
- Under age 40 ultrasounds are preferable to mammograms
Some women with a strong family history or genetic predisposition to breast cancer may also require MRI screen. Speak to your doctor about this.
Also recommended are:
o Bone mineral density screen every 2 years once over 65 years
o Routine colonoscopy every 10 years once over 50
We must start at the gross level to reach the subtle… healthy body, healthy mind. The shastras have expounded vastly on the divine role of good, pious women in society. They are the mothers who guide the path of our future leaders; in truth, they are our warriors of ‘dharma’, arming us from childhood with the tools required to live strong spiritual lives. As it is said, “The first manifestation of God is the hand that rocks the cradle.”
Take it upon yourself today to ensure that the women in your life are having their health monitored in the way it ought to be. Swami Vivekananda once said, “The best meter to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women.” Their health is now in your hands. Make the right choices today!
By: Dr. Deepavali Rambalack
