Dr. Lori Gore-Green | Women's Health Professional

Dr. Lori Gore-Green's Portfolio of Experience as a Women's Health Professional

Importance of Cervical Cancer Awareness

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Invasive cervical cancer holds the eighth position in most occurring cancer in the United States, with more than 13,800 women diagnosed with it, where 4000 die from the disease annually. January is cervical cancer awareness month. With the help of renowned gynecologists and obstetricians, American Cancer Society, focuses in increasing public awareness and sensitization, offer the best treatment options and resources with updated information regarding cervical cancer.

Most Appropriate Time to Get Tested For Cervical Cancer

January is not only the most appropriate time to book an appointment with a gynecologist or obstetrician for a cervical screening test, but any time of the year is suitable. However, different age groups have different testing options. At 21-29 years, it’s most recommendable to go for a Pap test and wait for three years to get another test. Between 30 to 60 years, a doctor can recommend three different screening options such as HPV test only, Pap test only, or a combination of Pap and HPV test. For women above 65 years, a gynecologist can recommend not to be screened anymore, if the previous year’s results were normal or the cervix was removed through a hysterectomy.

Fundamental Vital Aspects to Understand Before Booking Cervical Screening

1. Be optimistic about the screening and Speak Up if you feel Pain.
Many women believe cervical cancer screening is painful; thus, they feel uncomfortable about the process. Therefore, it’s recommendable to be at ease while the speculum is being inserted, and in case of some pain, inform the gynecologist immediately.

2. Go for Regular Screening Even if you have Been Vaccinated.
In most instances, 10 percent to 30 percent of cervical cancer cases are caused by Human Papilloma Virus subtypes, which cannot be prevented through vaccination. So, it’s good to go for an HPV test after every five years and a Pap test every three years.

3. If you are on your Period, Don’t go for screening.
It’s always recommendable to book an appointment with doctor 14 days before your period starts. If screening is carried out at this time accuracy of the results might be affected owing to blood cells shed during your periods.

How to Prevent Cervical Cancer

The most crucial ways to prevent cervical cancer is through regular screening and HPV vaccination if eligible. To reduce exposure to HPV, it’s recommendable to avoid sex with people who have multiple sex partners, use condom protection and reduce smoking since it lowers the risk of cervical pre-cancer.

The Benefits of Walking in Older Women

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The human body is designed to walk, and this most basic human activity can significantly impact your health throughout life. Scientific research supports the benefits of walking in several ways, so it should be on the list as part of every older woman’s health regime to maintain suitable physical, emotional and mental health.

Walking Helps To Maintain Healthy Weight

A daily walk can help you maintain a healthy weight, so you can avoid many of the health problems related to carrying those extra pounds.

Walking Helps to Strengthen Bones

The action and pressure of walking help strengthen bones, reducing the risk for osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, which are common problems in the older population.

Walking Can Lower Blood Pressure

A good walk can also help to relax blood vessels, which will lower your blood pressure in some individuals.

Walking Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Colon Cancer

Walking helps to keep blood vessels flexible to carry blood and nutrients throughout the body. This improved circulation can help you to avoid cardiovascular disease and other health problems.

Walking Keeps Joints Flexible

Your walking exercise helps to keep your joints supple and healthy. Walking strengthens the muscles that support joints to experience less pressure that can cause damage to the internal joint structures.

Walking Improves Balance and Coordination

Walking requires coordinated movement and balance as you shift your weight. These are essential skills that will help you to avoid dangerous falls that often occur in older individuals.

Walking Improves Your Energy Level

A body in motion tends to remain in action, and you will find a good, daily walk gives you more energy for other tasks throughout the day.

Walking Improves Your Mood

The action of walking gets you outdoors, moving around, seeing what’s going on in the neighborhood, and encountering neighbors and acquaintances along the way, which helps to stimulate the production of “feel-good” brain chemicals that keep you in a better mood.

Health experts recommend at least 30 minutes of walking per day to enjoy this natural exercise’s benefits. Whether you choose to break up your walking workout into smaller periods or extend it out, you will feel better, look better, and enjoy life more.

What You Need to Know About Ovarian Cysts

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During the time that you are menstruating, there’s a possibility you may develop an ovarian cyst and not even realize it. But before you start to worry, realize that ovarian cysts are usually harmless. In some cases, however, ovarian cysts can cause pelvic pain and lead to more serious complications. To be more knowledgable on the matter here’s everything you need to know about this common cyst.

Ovarian cysts form relatively easily.

Under normal circumstances, one of your ovaries will wrap an egg in a follicle and release the egg into the fallopian tube every month. The follicle will typically dissipate and absorb into the body. In the case that the follicle does not release the egg, it can become bigger and develop further into a follicle cyst. Another type of cyst, a , can form after the follicle combusts and releases the egg. Theses cysts, however, can bleed and cause women pain in the pelvic area. These types of cysts are relatively small (1 to 2 millimeters) and will typically resolve itself in a few weeks.

A dermoid cyst can be more serious, but they are not common.

A starts to form when the cells in an ovary start to divide but haven’t been fertilized. This type of cyst isn’t as common a the cysts mentioned above, but they can grow relatively large, up to four inches. Due to how big these cysts can get, they often have to be surgically removed.

Normal ovarian cysts often do not display any symptoms.

Ovarian cysts usually don’t trigger any symptoms and will often go away on their own. A corpus luteum cyst may result in some minor bleeding, but follicle cysts won’t change your menstrual cycle.

However, there are severe symptoms of ovarian cysts, such as fever, nausea, and vomiting, which are usually the result of infection. If this is the case, see a doctor immediately.

Ovarian cysts can be found during a routine gyno visit.

Women typically find out if they have an ovarian cyst during a routine gyno visit, during a pelvic exam, or during an ultrasound. Women who are experiencing pelvic pain will usually make an appointment with their doctor anyway, and they will most likely find the root of the problem.

Surgery is only necessary in some cases.

If your ovarian cyst has not gone after three menstrual cycles, is bigger than 4 inches, or there is suspicion of a tumor, you may need to get surgery. If you are at risk for “twisting”, which is when the blood supply to the ovary gets cut off, you will also need to undergo surgery.

Medical Screenings & Tests Save the Lives of Women

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Dr. Lori Gore-GreenWomen benefit from routine medical screenings, which are necessary for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Women, as well as men, encounter gender-specific testing that acts as a tactical preventative step for ensuring they’re in tune with their personal health. There are a number of important tests and screenings women should submit themselves to, so that they stay abreast of diseases or conditions that threaten their long-term health, such as exams that screen for breast, lung, cervical, skin, colon, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.

Cervical Cancer: Health care professionals ask that women receive pelvic examinations as early as 21-year-old, or earlier if a woman is sexually active. Pap smear testing is instrumental for discovering if cancerous cells are present on and/or around the cervix, which could suggest cervical cancer. The general consensus is that women age 30 and older should receive pap smears every three years if they had no abnormal tests in the past. However, women who have abnormalities should chat with their gynecologist with regards to how frequently they should be tested for cervical testing.

Breast Cancer: Woman and men alike can develop breast cancer, but women face a greater risk of falling victim to cancer that develops from breast tissue. Approximately one-in-eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in her lifetime, according to BreastCancer.org. The sooner a woman learns she has breast cancer, the more likely she is to survive. Breast cancer that’s discovered early on is more likely to be caught, and less likely to spread to the lymph nodes. Industry professionals recommend that women self-examine, but they should also receive mammograms. Women should develop an individualized plan with their doctors regarding a mammogram screening schedule.

Skin Cancer: There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell cancer, squamous cell skin carcinoma, and melanoma, with the most serious being melanoma. These deadly forms of cancer have increased in incidence among young women. Screenings can help to identify melanoma and nonmelanoma cancer early on. Dermatologists and other healthcare professionals should be able to diagnose melanoma.

Osteoporosis: Bone density tests are administered to screen for the weakening of bones, which leads to fragility. This is also known as osteoporosis, a condition that’s frequently discovered after a fracture. Women face the additional risk of osteoporosis, particularly those going through menopause. Estrogen declines during menopause can lead to bone loss. Screening for changes through bone mineral density tests and embracing healthy living habits can help to identify issues early on. Women should begin receiving bone density tests ahead of their 65th birthday.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women get screened for a number of conditions in the interest of disease prevention, including colorectal cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes.

4 Reasons to Get Your Flu Shot Today

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Dr. Lori Gore-Green

Pregnant Women : Protect Yourself, Protect Your Newborn

The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends an annual flu vaccine for anyone 6 months of age or older. This includes pregnant women, if there are no contraindications (however, if you are pregnant, make sure to consult with your physician prior to receiving a flu shot). It’s important to note that pregnant women cannot use the FluMist live nasal flu vaccine and must receive the inactivated influenza vaccine. Even with these standards in place, in addition to the vaccine protecting pregnant women against the flu, there’s an added value of protecting their newborn infants for up to the first six months of life. This is great to keep in mind since infants are too young to receive the vaccine themselves. 

Collect Your Paycheck

If someone gave you the choice of getting compensated for your work or staying home, feeling ill and not getting paid or using up vacation days, it’s unlikely that you would choose the latter. Every year, the flu season costs millions of lost work days and billions of dollars. And even though the general public is advised to get the flu vaccine when it first becomes available (generally in mid-August), most people wait until the temperatures drop. Although the vaccine doesn’t always cover every strain of the actual virus, it will undoubtedly provide more protection than not getting vaccinated. And the 2015-2016 vaccine has even been updated with 2 new strains.

Protect Loved Ones and Those at Risk

Every year, thousands of children under five years of age are hospitalized owing to the flu. Young children and those with health problems such as asthma or diabetes are at an even higher risk, because they have a greater chance of developing complications. With this in mind, unless you or your family members are contraindicated for receiving the vaccine, you owe it to others who are at a higher risk, to get vaccinated and prevent the infection of others. 

Inexpensive and Accessible

We are lucky in that we now live in a time when the flu vaccine has never been easier to obtain. Waiting in endless lines and making  follow up appointments are a thing of the past. Now the flu vaccine is available at many pharmacies and large retailers like; Target, CVS or Walgreens. Throughout the country, the majority of pharmacists are licensed to immunize, which means that they can administer the vaccine with little waiting. Furthermore, most pharmacies and clinics accept insurance for the vaccine which translates to little or no copay for you. And even if you don’t have insurance, find out if your local health clinic or retail pharmacy offers free vaccines. If not, however, the average vaccine costs roughly thirty dollars.