Routine Health Care Monitoring “Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.” —Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Prize–winning physician and humanitarian

WHAT IT IS Blood pressure reading Cholesterol profile Influenza immunization Pneumonia vaccine Prostate cancer educationand screening Breast and cervical cancer screenings Colorectal cancer screening Hepatitis C risk screening Tobacco, alcohol and depression screenings Routine eye examinations WHY YOU NEED IT High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it has no symptoms Low HDL (good) cholesterol and high triglycerides and LDL (bad) and total cholesterol can increase heart disease risk To prevent complications from the flu To prevent serious respiratory illness For early detection of cancer For early detection of precancerous tissue growth and cancer For early detection of precancerous tissue growth Exposure to the hepatitis C virus can harm your liver Smoking may lead to serious illness; alcohol abuse and depression can spiral out of control To check for glaucoma, cataracts and other eye diseases VA RECOMMENDS Every year after age 18 Every year Every year for ages 50 and older; sooner if a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease is present Every 5 to 10 years for ages 65 and older Prostate cancer education every year; prostate cancer screening for men over age 50, if appropriate Follow American Cancer Society guidelines: optional monthly breast self-exam starting at age 20 and mammogram and clinical breast exam every year starting at age 40; cervical cancer screening every year for women over age 21, or earlier if sexually active Begin screening at age 50 For all veterans, especially those exposed to the virus via sexual contact, tattoos or piercing, blood transfusions before 1992 and the sharing of personal items Every year; your VA primary care staff will identify and treat any psychological issues and help with controlling substance abuse problems and quitting smoking Every 2 years for ages 40 and older VITAL STATISTICS ____/____ mm Hg ______ mg/dL (total) ______ mg/dL (HDL) ______ mg/dL (LDL) ______ mg/dL (triglycerides) I got my flu shot: ___/___/____ I got my pneumonia vaccine: ___/___/____ I received information on prostate cancer: ___/___/____ I got my prostate cancer screening: ___/___/____ I got my mammogram: ___/___/____ I got my Pap test: ___/___/____ I got my colorectal cancer screening: ___/___/____ I got my hepatitis C screening: ___/___/____ I quit smoking: ___/___/____ I got my eye examination: ___/___/____

To print, download the full "Veterans Wellness 2008 Calendar " in Acrobat PDF Format Fall 2007 Wishing You a Safe and Happy Holiday! January | February | March | April | May | June July | August | September | October | November | December Monitor Healthcare | Websites | Recipes

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