Preventive Care
Staying healthy involves more than going to the doctor when you are sick. Many health problems can be prevented. This section contains ideas for maintaining good health and for finding problems before they become serious. We suggest that you use this information to guide you in talking to your health care provider.
Weight: If you eat more calories than you burn, the extra calories are stored as fat. Too much stored fat results in being overweight. By eating a responsible diet and exercising regularly, try to stay close to your ideal body weight.
Diet: The American Heart Association encourages most Americans to decrease their intake of foods high in cholesterol and fat and to increase consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Positive changes in your diet may help to decrease heart disease and some types of cancer.
Smoking: Don’t start smoking, or consider stopping if you do. Smoking causes many types of cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
Alcohol: Alcohol acts as a depressant, which can impair thinking and normal body responses. Alcohol-related liver disease, heart disease, cancer and pancreatitis are commonly associated with alcohol use. Seek help if your alcohol use is a concern to you, your family, or your friends.
Exercise: Regular aerobic exercise (walking, running, biking, swimming, etc.) can help prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and decrease stress. Exercising 30-60 minutes three to five times every week is recommended. Consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program if you are over 40 or have cardiac, respiratory or orthopedic disease.
Vaccinations for Adults: You're never too old to get immunized! (PDF)
When do Children and Teens Need Vacinations? (PDF)
Getting immunized is a lifelong, life-protecting job. Don't leave your healthcare provider's offec without making sure you've had all the vaccinations you need.
Health Promotion, Missoula City/County Health Dept
Varied community programs to support healthy lifestyle choices, including vehicle occupant protection (258-3880), child safety seat inspection clinics (258-3880), tobacco use prevention (258-3685), increasing physical activity (258-3889) and suicide prevention (258-3881).
2009 H1N1 Flu
2009 H1N1 flu (sometimes called “swine flu”) is a new influenza virus that is spreading worldwide among people. Because this virus is very different from current seasonal influenza viruses, many people will not have protective immunity against it and the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against it either.
Both 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal influenza are thought to spread mostly from person to person through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with influenza. People also may get sick by touching something with flu viruses on it, and then touching their mouth or nose.
People infected with 2009 H1N1 flu may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to about 7 days after getting sick. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems.
2009 H1N1 flu illness has ranged from mild to severe. Most healthy people who have been sick with 2009 H1N1 have recovered without needing medical treatment, however, hospitalizations and deaths from 2009 H1N1 have occurred. Most people who have been hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 have had a medical condition that places them at higher risk of serious flu-related complications. However, some people who have become very ill have been previously healthy. Severe infections have been reported among people of all ages. While few people over the age of 65 have been infected with this new virus, if people in this age group become ill, they are at higher risk of developing flu-related complications.
If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms this flu season you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to seek medical care. Most people have been able to recover at home from 2009 H1N1 without needing medical care and the same is true of seasonal flu.
For more information visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or
www.flu.gov or call 800-CDC-INFO
IMMUNIZATIONS
CDC Hotline, 1-800-232-2522 #2
For information on immunization, HIV, STDs, health outbreaks and autism.
Missoula City/County Health Department Immunization Clinic
301 W. Alder St.,258-4745
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Wed 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m
Provides childhood immunizations. The minimal administration fee is charged on an income-based sliding scale and can be waived if payment is a concern.
Partnership Health Center
323 W. Alder St. ..258-4789
Hours: Immunizations are offered
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Partnership Health Center offers immunizations for school children and adults, as well as seasonal flu shots. Call to make an appointment. Cost may be discounted based on family size and income.
EYECARE
Any change in vision or in the eye’s physical appearance can indicate potential eye problems. Prevent Blindness America suggests seeing an eye doctor for a complete eye exam if you experience difficulty focusing, trouble adjusting to different amounts of light, change in the color of the iris, recurrent pain in or around the eyes, double vision, irritated eyelids, dark spot at the center of your vision, distorted or wavy lines and edges, excessive tearing, itching or burning dry eyes, or seeing spots. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, regular eye exams are recommended.
HEARING LOSS
Gradual hearing loss is a common condition brought on by aging. Heredity and frequent exposure to loud noises can also lead to loss of hearing. If you find that the speech of others seems muffled, have trouble understanding words when background noise is going on, find yourself asking others to speak up, or turning up the radio or tv volume, you may be suffering from hearing loss. Hearing evaluations are offered by doctors specializing in hearing disorders, audiologists, and licensed hearing aid specialists.
EARLY DETECTION FOR CANCER
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
Missoula City-County Health Department, 258-3684
HPV (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS) VACCINE
Genital human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States. There are approximately 40 types of HPV. Most HPV infections don’t cause any symptoms, and go away on their own. But HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, genital warts, and warts in the upper respiratory tract. HPV vaccine is an inactivated (not live) vaccine which protects against four major types of HPV, including two types that cause about 70% of cervical cancer and two types that cause about 90% of genital warts.
HPV is routinely recommended for girls 11-12 years of age. It is important for girls to to get vaccinated before their first sexual contact. For these girls, the vaccine can prevent almost 100% of disease caused by the four types of HPV targeted by the vaccine. The vaccine is also recommended for girls and women 13-26 years of age who did not receive it when they were younger.
The vaccine is given as a 3-dose series:
- 1st Dose: Now
- 2nd Dose: 2 months after Dose 1
- 3rd Dose: 6 months after Dose 1
Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast, to any other component of HPV vaccine or to a previous dose of HPV vaccine should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if the person getting the vaccine has any severe allergies.
Pregnant women should not get the vaccine. The vaccine appears to be safe for both the mother and unborn baby, but it is still being studied. Any woman who learns that she was pregnant when she got the HPV vaccine is encouraged to call the HPV vaccine in pregnancy registry at 800-986-8999.
HPV vaccine does not appear to cause any serious side effects.
MAMMOGRAMS & BREAST EXAMINATIONS
A National Cancer Institute report estimates that approximately 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over their lifetime. Women have the best chance of recovery if their breast cancer is found in its earliest stages. 90% of all breast cancer can be detected early using the triad of breast health: The keys to early detection are breast self-examination (BSE), an annual breast examination by a health care provider, and mammography.
One of the most important health habits you can begin and follow throughout your life is monthly breast self-examination (BSE). Since most women discover their own breast lumps, self-examination is considered the first line of defense against breast cancer.
As a woman you hold the key to early detection with personal and professional breast examinations. A breast self-examination is a simple process that will take only a few minutes each month. A good place to examine your breasts is in the shower or bath or when lying on a firm mattress. The best time to do the exam is 7-10 days after the start of the menstrual cycle. Women who are no longer menstruating should choose a day that has significance. For example, if your birthday or anniversary were June 2, you would do your breast exam the 2nd day of each month.
When doing a self-exam you should look for:
- Nipple discharge
- Appearance of a single, firm breast lump
- Any dimpling, skin changes and or thickening of an area of the breast
- Pain in the breast or armpit
- Nipple changes - either inward or opposite direction when it was previously normal
A mammogram is a low dose x-ray of the breast. A typical mammogram consists of two or more views of each breast, which are taken to determine the possibility of irregularities within the breast. They can reveal areas too small or too deep to feel which may or may not require further investigation. Each breast is compressed between two plates in order to get the best detail and image. The better the compression the clearer and more accurate the image. Although this compression may be uncomfortable, it should not be painful and will last only a few seconds.
When should I have a mammogram?
Guidelines for mammography as recommended by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society are:
- Baseline mammogram by age 40
- A yearly mammogram for women over the age of 40, or as recommended by your health care provider
Advanced Imaging at Community Medical Center
2803 South Ave. W., 327-3950
Full-field digital mammography with computer-aided detection for screening mammograms. 16-slice CT and 1.5 GE MRI with Excite Technology Available.
Broadway Imaging Center
St. Patrick Hospital & Health Sciences Center
500 West Broadway, 329-5757
Broadway Imaging Center offers full service digital screening and diagnostic mammography with computer-aided detection, breast ultrasound, ultrasound and stereotactic biopsy, MRI, CT and PET-CT. Women over age 40 are recommended to have a screening mammography each year.
The Montana Breast and Cervical Health Program
Partnership Health Center
323 W. Alder St., 258-4167
www.phc.missoula.mt.us/phc/phcweb/page11
FREE breast and cervical health screening for women ages 30-64 who either have no health insurance or whose health insurance will not pay for these exams. Must meet income guidelines. Call to see if you qualify.
St. Patrick Hospital Breast Center
St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center
500 West Broadway, 329-5656
St. Patrick Hospital Breast Center offers comprehensive breast services and breast cancer treatment in one location. Our services include full screening and diagnostic mammogram, breast ultrasound, ultrasound and stereotactic biopsy, MRI, CT and PET-CT. We have an RN who is a Certified Breast Health Navigator and a Certified Breast Care Nurse. Our physicians are board certified radiologists, board certified surgeons, board certified medical oncologists, and board certified radiation oncologists. We have physical therapy and lymphedema management, nutritional services, and social services. We offer a bi-weekly breast cancer support group.
PAP SMEAR TESTING
The Pap test is a simple procedure in which cells are taken from a woman’s cervix and vagina and examined under a microscope. The Pap test can pick up changes in cells before they turn cancerous. Annual Pap smears and pelvic examinations have made cervical cancer much less common than it once was. The American Cancer Society recommends annual pap smears for all women who are sexually active or over 18 years old.
PROSTATE CANCER TESTING
With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in the United States. The American Urological Association recommends a DRE (digital rectal exam) and a screening blood test PSA (prostate specific antigen) annually after the age of 50. Men with a family history of prostate cancer should be tested beginning at age 40.
TESTICULAR EXAMINATIONS
Cancer of the testes, the male reproductive glands, is one of the most common cancers in men 15 to 34 years of age. It accounts for 3 percent of all cancer deaths in this group. If discovered in the early stages, testicular cancer can be treated promptly and effectively. It’s important for you to take time to learn the basic facts about this type of cancer, its symptoms, treatment, and what you can do to get the help you need when it counts. Every male between 18 and 40 should learntesticular self-exam techniques and do a monthly exam.
