354 MDG providers gather for women's health awareness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cassandra Whitman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Women's health is a topic mainly connected with breast cancer, but there are many more health concerns women should be aware of.

Osteoporosis, depression, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune diseases are among the most common concerns associated with women, but there are several others women don't always think of so health experts from the 354th Medical Group sat down at the base fitness center Oct. 16 to discuss these concerns and more.

Capt. Abigail Rose, a mental health provider, Capt. Eva Grant, a family medical physician, 1st Lt. Kelly Wheeler, a disease manager, and Ashley Bloechle, a family advocacy nurse, all with the 354th MDG, spoke on the top five health concerns as well as other important topics.

Of the concerns listed above, depression is the most common in Alaska. One in 10 women will experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), as compared to Florida, where only one in 70 women will experience SAD, explained Rose. This is due in part to isolation, the weather and darkness during winter. Staying social is a good way to combat SAD; exercise and healthy eating are also effective ways to help prevent SAD. Wheeler recommended frozen fruit and vegetables in conjunction with fresh produce to help ensure women get the daily nutrients the body needs while still maintaining a budget.

Another topic of concern in Alaska is vitamin D deficiency. The months of darkness and time spent indoors both contribute to problem. Symptoms include feeling tired and being unmotivated. In this case, Grant recommended contacting a health care provider to get lab work done. This is an efficient way to tell if there is a lack of vitamin D, and the proper dosage of vitamin D supplement can be prescribed.

Following the topic of vitamin D, the experts discussed specific aspects of annual exams pertaining to women.

Many women have concerns or fears when it comes to getting a pap smear. The recommended age to start getting pap smears is 21 years old. Grant had some helpful tips to ease concerns women may have.

First, "it helps to be comfortable with your doctor," she said.

Women may request a female doctor if their primary doctor is a male and it makes them feel more comfortable. Grant said to ask questions if something doesn't seem right or if clarification on any part of the procedure is needed. If the appointment starts out and the patient isn't comfortable, she may decline to have the appointment at that time and reschedule.

Grant made it a point to discuss self-treatment of urinary tract and yeast infections. She explained that it is OK to self-treat yeast infections with over the counter medications, but if a UTI is suspected, an appointment should be made with a doctor. Over the counter medication will not treat a UTI and if left untreated, it may cause serious illness or kidney problems.

Drinking cranberry juice is a good preventative measure for UTIs, but it is not a treatment, Rose said. It will help with symptoms, but will not cure the UTI. Coconut water is also a good preventative beverage to drink.

The session closed out with an emphasis on contacting health care providers with questions or concerns regarding their health, and the MiCare system is an excellent forum to use for questions that come up outside of scheduled appointments.