As Women’s Health Month comes to a close, Piedmont wants to continue the conversation by highlighting the importance of regular screenings to stay on top of your long-term health. Screenings are important in identifying if you’re at risk or have any conditions that you may not know about and to help increase your chance of better health outcomes.  

“We know screenings prevent mortality for that specific condition that we're screening for,” said family medicine physician Amber Zafar, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians at Northside. “We have a lot of studies that have been conducted through the years demonstrating that.” 

Along with small steps you take every day, five important things you can do to make sure you’re staying on the path to wellness are annual physicals, mammograms, heart screenings, colorectal screenings and cervical cancer screenings. 

Annual physicals

Even if you feel fine, visit your primary care provider annually to let them assess your overall health. You may get recommendations for further testing or vaccinations based on your personal history to lower health risks. 

During annual physicals, your doctor may request lab work using blood or urine samples to check cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney function, liver function, potassium, sodium and iron levels as many conditions, such as diabetes, cancers or other diseases, can be detected through these tests. 

Mammogram

Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women. However, early mammogram exams have been found to increase the life expectancy of women if breast cancer is detected early.

Mammograms are recommended every two years for women ages 40 through 74. During these screenings, doctors will look for irregularities in your breast tissue. Irregularities are not always cancerous, but they may indicate you need further testing.

“Since the 1980s, by encouraging mammograms, we have seen a reduction in mortality in breast cancer, so, as providers and doctors, we encourage that,” Dr. Zafar says. “The more women that participate, we can make even more of a difference.” 

Heart screenings

Heart disease is the No. 1 leading cause of death in women in the U.S. with approximately 1 in every 5 female deaths in 2021, per the CDC– physicians recommend heart and blood pressure screenings every year for women age 40 and older. 

“It's the number one killer for women over 50, so the time to pay attention to heart disease is prior to that so that you can temper the risk factors,” Dr. Zafar says. “It is vital to identify and control your risk factors before you hit your 50s.” 

Piedmont has designed a heart disease risk assessment and screening especially for women, because women have specific factors that contribute to, and affect, their heart health. This testing includes checking your cholesterol and blood pressure and talking with a provider about your risk factors for heart disease— 90% of women have at least one risk factor.

Colorectal screening

The American Cancer Society recommends people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. At your annual physical, you and your provider can discuss which screening option is best for you and when to schedule your screening based on personal risk factors. 

Cervical cancer

A Pap smear every three years is recommended for women ages 21 to 65 to screen for cervical cancer. If results from a pap smear are abnormal, your doctor may recommend more frequent screenings.

Additional screenings for various diseases or conditions may be recommended by physicians for women based on certain risk factors, such as family history and lifestyle choices. Having a primary care provider can help you determine what’s best for your long-term health. 

“Choose a primary care provider that you feel like you can trust and can have a good relationship with, and get an individualized plan for you that keeps you healthy,” Dr. Zafar says.

Visit doctors.piedmont.org to find a Piedmont primary care provider near you.