Women’s Wellness

Your annual wellness exam usually includes bloodwork and similar tests to evaluate your health.

Defining the difference between health and wellness varies among philosophies, professions, and individuals. Most define health as being free from disease, while wellness is a balance in various areas of life including physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing.

Health and wellness benefits refer to services and programs that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These can include routine medical care, preventive screenings, mental health support, nutrition counseling, fitness programs, and other resources designed to maintain or improve overall health.

Wellness strategies are proactive steps individuals take to support their health. Common strategies include regular exercise, balanced nutrition, stress management techniques, adequate sleep, preventive healthcare visits, and avoiding harmful behaviors like smoking or excessive alcohol use.

Routine wellness blood tests include a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel which measures key indicators in your blood chemistry like cholesterol, glucose, electrolytes and fluid balance including sodium, calcium, and more.

A wellness doctor takes the time to get to know each patient to provide the most effective care possible. A wellness doctor will use natural health solutions whenever possible.

A wellness visit is a preventive health appointment focused on maintaining well-being and detecting potential health concerns early. It typically includes a review of personal and family medical history, vital signs (like blood pressure and weight), screenings for chronic conditions, discussions about lifestyle and mental health, and age-appropriate preventive care recommendations.

A women’s wellness exam typically includes a full health assessment, breast and pelvic exams, Pap smear (when recommended), evaluation of reproductive health, and screenings for issues like osteoporosis or heart disease. It’s also a time to discuss menstrual health, contraception, menopause symptoms, and lifestyle factors.

A Medicare wellness exam is an annual visit covered by Medicare, focused on preventive care rather than diagnosing new problems. It includes reviewing medical history, updating medications, assessing risk factors, creating a personalized prevention plan, and offering screenings like mammograms or bone density scans if needed.

A wellness exam emphasizes preventive care such as screenings, counseling, and risk assessment, while an annual physical may include a more extensive physical examination and diagnostic testing to address specific health concerns. Wellness exams are often covered at no cost by insurance under preventive care benefits.

By the age of 60, a woman should have already had the following tests performed. If you are over the age of 60 and have not undergone these tests, please reach out to discuss with your provider. n•tMammogram (can be performed as early as 40 years old)n•tColonoscopy or other colon cancer screening (starting at age 45)n•tBone density scan (DEXA) for osteoporosisn•tBlood pressure and cholesterol checksn•tDiabetes screeningn•tThyroid function testn•tPap smear and HPV test (based on individual history)n•tVision and hearing testsn•tImmunizations (e.g., shingles, flu, pneumonia, and tetanus)

The annual tests a woman should have vary depending on age.nnIn her twenties, a woman should have a pelvic exam, breast cancer screening, and physical. She should have a Pap smear every two years until age 29 provided results are normal. At age 30-70 Pap smears can be performed every 3 years.nnIn her 40s, a woman should also have a skin check as well as a yearly mammogram. However, mammograms may be recommended earlier or more frequently if she has a family history.nnA baseline colonoscopy should be performed at age 50 unless the patient has a family history of colon cancer. This should then be repeated every 5-10 years.nnWithin 2-3 years of menopause (typically in the patients early 50s), bone density tests should be performed.nnAfter about age 65, women should also have their hearing tested regularly.