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TO MY SISTERS

TO MY SISTERS. Ngozi Osuagwu, MD, FACOG, RYT ngoziosuagwu@letterstomysisters.com Doctors Obstetric and Gynecology, Inc. Columbus, Ohio 43228 Telephone: 614/544-2430. Slides used for a workshop on holistic and preventive health based on her book

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TO MY SISTERS

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  1. TO MY SISTERS Ngozi Osuagwu, MD, FACOG, RYT ngoziosuagwu@letterstomysisters.com Doctors Obstetric and Gynecology, Inc. Columbus, Ohio 43228 Telephone: 614/544-2430 Slides used for a workshop on holistic and preventive health based on her book Letters to My Sisters: Plain Truths and Straightforward Advice from a Gynecologist Available from: www.amazon.com, www.bn.com, www.bordersstores.com, www.cullbooks.com, www.letterstomysisters.com, www.karibubooks.com, www.letterstomysisters.com

  2. “A GOOD EDUCATION IS ANOTHER NAME FOR HAPPINESS.” - Ann Plato “A WOMAN’S HEALTH IS HER CAPITAL.” - Harriet Beecher Stowe

  3. PRACTICAL TIPS TO KEEPING HEALTHY • ALWAYS GET ROUTINE PHYSICALS • GET HEALTH EDUCATION AND BE VIGILANT ABOUT CHANGES IN YOUR BODY • TAKE YOUR MEDICATIONS, AS PRESCRIBED • DO NOT SMOKE OR EXPOSE YOURSELF TO SECOND-HAND SMOKE

  4. PRACTICAL TIPS TO KEEPING HEALTHY (CONT.) • DO NOT GET ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL, PRESCRIPTION OR STREET DRUGS • EAT HEALTHY AND BALANCED MEALS • EXERCISE REGULARLY • WELCOME LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP INTO YOUR LIFE

  5. LOOK IN THE MIRROR • Look at your face • Look at your neck • Look at your breasts • Look at your abdomen • Look at your vulva • Look at your extremities Dear Carolyn in the book, ‘Letters to My Sisters: Plain Truths and Straightforward Advice from a Gynecologist, written by Ngozi Osuagwu, MD herein after referred to as (“LTMS”).

  6. PREPARATION - THE BEST WAY TO ACE THE EXAMINATION • When was your last appointment? • When was the first day of your last menstrual period? • What brings you to the office today? • What chronic medical problems (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, uterine fibroids) do you have? • Have you had any surgery/ies? List the surgeries and the dates.

  7. PREPARING FOR THE APPOINTMENT (CONT.) • Are you allergic to any drugs? List the drugs and what happens when you take the drugs. • What medicines are you currently taking? This should include over the counter medicines and herbs. • When was your last pap smear? Have you had an abnormal pap smear? • Are you sexually active? How long have you been with your current partner? Are you having any problems? What are you using for birth control?

  8. PREPARING FOR THE APPOINTMENT (CONT.) • When was your last mammogram? (40 years old or older) • Have you been screened for colon cancer? (50 years old or older) • What medical problems run in your family? (Mother, Father, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles)

  9. THE INDEX CARD • List of medications with doses • Norvasc 10 mg once a day for high blood pressure • Allergies • Penicillin - difficulty breathing • Medical problems • Asthma, diabetes • Physician name and telephone number • Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu 614-544-2430

  10. ROUTINE PHYSICALS • Height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, BMI (body mass index) • BMI = weight (pounds)/height (inches) x 703 • Normal blood pressure 120/80 • If you have high blood pressure, you should own a blood pressure cuff. • Normal temperature: less than 100.4 F • Pulse: 60 to 100 beats per minutes LTMS: Dear Jaleen - page 30; Dear Patricia – page 87

  11. ROUTINE PHYSICAL (CONT.) • HEAD • Headaches, blurred vision, ringing in the ears • Vision checks regularly • Hypertension, diabetes • Dental check - cleaning every 6 months • Heart disease, premature delivery • NECK • Thyroid gland • Weight gain or loss, menstrual cycle irregularity

  12. ROUTINE PHYSICAL (CONT.) • BREASTS • Explore your body • Mammograms-start at age 40, every 1-2 years and then every year after age 50 • If you feel a lump at any age, you must have the lump evaluated (ultrasound, MRI, digital mammography)

  13. ROUTINE PHYSICAL (CONT.) • LUNGS • Asthma-must take your medications as directed • Stop smoking • HEART • Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women • Signs of a heart attack in a woman - nausea, dizziness. Remember it is not just chest pain.

  14. ROUTINE PHYSICAL (CONT.) • ABDOMEN • Colorectal screening - start at age 50, unless you have a family history, then it may be earlier • Pain - know when it started, is it sharp or dull? Is it related to your menstrual cycle? Does anything make it better? • Change in bowel movement, change in appetite, burning on urination, blood in stool

  15. ROUTINE PHYSICAL (CONT.) • PELVIC EXAM • Pap smear • Screening test for cervical cancer • Start at age 21 or earlier if sexually active • Yearly until age 30, then it depends on your physician • Offer human papillomavirus (HPV) testing after age 30, if low risk • Vaginal discharge • Test for gonorrhea and chlamydia • Vaginitis - bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, yeast LTMS: Chelsea – page 95

  16. LABORATORY TESTING • HIV - know your status • Lipid profile - fasting (cholesterol) • Fasting glucose or 2 hour glucose challenge test-screening for diabetes • Thyroid screening-family history • Herpes simplex virus testing - HSV I and HSV II LTMS: Dear Yvonne, page 101; Dear Nancy, page 57

  17. IMMUNIZATION • Influenza vaccine (flu vaccine) • Pneumococcal vaccine • Meningococcal vaccine • Varicella vaccine (Chickenpox) • Rubella vaccine (check status before pregnancy) • HPV vaccine (GARDASIL) (ages 9 to 26 years)

  18. AFTER THE VISIT • Have a clear understanding of what was done during your visit • Know when to expect your results • If medication/s were prescribed - have a clear understanding of why it was prescribed & how to take the medication/s • Do not accept that no news is good news

  19. GET EDUCATED AND BE VIGILANT ABOUT ANY CHANGES • If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition, get as much information as possible - ask your doctor for information, use the internet • Do not ignore changes in your body. Make a note of the changes observed and do not procrastinate in having it checked by a medical professional. LTMS: Web Resources, page 123

  20. TAKE YOUR MEDICATION/S AS PRESCRIBED • High blood pressure • Diabetes • Asthma • Birth control pills, patch and ring • Hormone replacement therapy • Infections-urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted diseases LTMS: Dear Paula, page 50; Dear Hawa, page 98

  21. DO NOT SMOKE OR EXPOSE YOURSELF TO SECOND HAND SMOKE DO NOT GET ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL, PRESRIPTION OR STREET DRUGS

  22. EAT HEALTHY AND BALANCED MEALS • Be mindful of what you eat • Understand how to read food labels (www.mypyramid.gov) • Pack your lunch – You have greater control • Change the attitude towards food in your work place • Salt, sugar, frying and overcooking – a no no • You are what you eat

  23. EXERCISE REGULARLY • Find something fun which you enjoy -walking, running, dancing, swimming • 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week • Osteoporosis - weight bearing exercises • Involve family and friends • Time - investment in your future • Slow and steady wins the race • Vary exercises to prevent boredom

  24. WELCOME LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP • Family • Sorority • Professional and Civic Organizations • Churches • Workplace • Community

  25. TRUE OR FALSE T F No news is good news T F Doctors can read your mind T F Every time you have a pelvic exam, you have a pap smear T F If you don’t have health insurance, you cannot see a physician T F The doctor is solely responsible for your health

  26. TRUE AND FALSE (Cont.) T F Prenatal care starts when you are pregnant T F If you have uterine fibroids, you must have a hysterectomy T F You are supposed to douche after your menstrual cycle and after sex T F You cannot get a sexually transmitted infection if you use condoms

  27. TRUE AND FALSE (Cont.) T F All hot flushes are due to menopause T F You can look at someone and know that they are HIV positive T F Depression is not an illness, it is a weakness. T F The leading cause of death in African-American women is breast cancer

  28. SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT • First appointment in the morning • First appointment after lunch • The last appointment of the day • Appointments during the holidays • Appointments when the weather is bad • Be honest about why you are coming to the visit. • Cancellation charge

  29. INSURANCE • Bring your insurance card • Know the difference between co-payment and deductible • Bring your co-payment at the time of your visit • Spend time reading you insurance book to know your benefits (dietician, contraceptive benefits, second opinion) • You can still get your routine screening even if you do not have insurance

  30. WHAT CHANGES WILL I MAKE TODAY?

  31. “WE ARE EACH RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN LIFE – NO OTHER PERSON IS OR EVER CAN BE.” - Oprah Winfrey

  32. KEEPING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE • How do ensure that we apply a few of the suggestions we discussed today? This aspect of the workshop is aimed at ensuring that we keep in touch with our sisters and hold ourselves accountable to them for the changes we have elected to make to improve ourselves.

  33. MY CONTACT INFORMATION Ngozi Osuagwu, MD, FACOG 5131 Beacon Hill Road, Ste 220B Columbus, Ohio 43228 Telephone: 614-544-2430 or 614-939-0595 nosuagwu@ohiohealth.comngoziosuagwu@letterstomysisters.com

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