Nash County Health Department - Women's Health Watch

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Women's Health Watch

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Women's Health Watch Brochure en español

Leading causes of death for women today include heart disease, stroke and a variety of cancers. These and many other major causes of illness and death occur, in part, due to unhealthy habits.

Women who:

eat too many foods high in cholesterol, fat or salt
are overweight
smoke
do not exercise

are more likely to develop these diseases. Women who have close relatives with any of these diseases are also more likely to get them and should especially try to change unhealthy habits.

The Nash County Health Department offers Women's Health Watch, an annual screening clinic to help women in Nash County learn about their chances for developing heart disease, stroke and several kinds of cancers.

During Women's Health Watch, a woman may receive screening for:

anemia
breast cancer
cervical and rectal cancer
diabetes
high cholesterol levels
high blood pressure
obesity
sexually transmitted diseases and vaginitis
and a few other health problems.

Clinic staff will discuss test results with you, they will help you plan for changing health habits that are harming your body and they will refer you to other professionals who can treat any health problems already present.

During this clinic, you may also receive a height/weight evaluation and any immunizations you need. Tetanus is a growing problem in our State but it is preventable if people get a tetanus vaccination every 10 years.

Any woman who is 21 or older and who does not need prescription birth control can make an appointment for Women's Health Watch by simply calling the health department. Women of all ages need to have regular checkups to pick up health problems early, when they are most treatable.

The Nash County Health Department participates in North Carolina's Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. Because of this program, women who qualify can receive free mammograms and other tests to diagnose breast and cervical cancer. In order to qualify, a woman must meet income guidelines and receive a clinical breast exam and pap smear. When you visit Women's Health Watch, ask about this program! All Women over the age of 40 should have a mammogram every other year and women over the age of 50 should have one every year!