Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource - Tip of the Month - December 2002

Thursday, December 12, 2002

Annual Checkups Aren't What They Used to Be

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Remember the annual checkup with a battery of tests? For most people, it's history.

Instead, time with your doctor is probably better spent assessing your individual health risks and providing preventive services, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. That's because the leading causes of most diseases are linked to a handful of individual risk factors — smoking, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, alcohol consumption, drug abuse and lack of attention to safety precautions.

When you see a healthcare professional for a periodic visit, here are some questions to ask:

• Is my health better, the same or worse compared to my last visit?
• What are my risks for certain illnesses such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease?
• What screening tests should I have?
• What are the best ways I can maintain my health?
• Do I need to update any immunizations such as tetanus? What about flu or pneumonia shots?

Something's Fishy in Link Between Coronary Artery Disease and Diet

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Women who eat fish can significantly reduce their risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. While researchers have known that eating fish can help prevent CAD in men, a new study provides insights about the connection for women.

Women who ate fish five or more times a week reduced their risk of CAD by 34 percent compared with women who ate fish less than once a month. Even women who ate fish as infrequently as once a month showed a 21 percent reduction in risk of CAD.

Researchers speculate the omega-3 fatty acids — which are high in salmon, tuna, sardines, bluefish and mackerel — may reduce triglycerides, make blood less likely to form clots and may help stop irregular heart beats.

The study, published in the April 10, 2002, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association followed 84,688 women over 16 years.

Forgetfulness Doesn't Mean You're Losing Your Memory

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - You forget names and misplace the car keys. Could you be losing your memory?

Probably not, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. For the majority of healthy women, there's very little change in thinking or memory before age 75. Even then, changes are minimal. Forgetfulness that women often report at midlife could be due to stress, depression, increased responsibilities, or just being out of practice at memorizing.

Experts suggest these ways to reduce mental decline:

• Maintain social contacts. Studies suggest that people with active lives are better protected against mental decline.
• Stay physically active. A recent study showed that older women who started a walking program showed lower levels of cognitive decline than sedentary women when tested six to eight years later.
• Challenge your mind. Take classes, learn a new skill or play chess.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Stop smoking. Nicotine has a negative effect on cognition in some older adults.
• Manage stress. Cortisol, the hormone produced by your body in times of high stress, can interfere with your ability to remember words, phone numbers and other details.
• Get periodic health exams. Medical conditions such as coronary artery disease and diabetes may lead to dementia.

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 1-800-291-1128.

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