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Show it'll i ¥ t yvednesday, April45, 20Q9 Page-S 2atpres@statesman.usu.edu j - j — j _ 1 ByCANDICESANDNESS staff writer Had a check-up from the gynecologist lately? Female students may or may not need to depending on the status of their reproductive organs and sexual activity, said USU Wellness Center nurse practitioner Linda Roberts. Pap smears are used to detect cervical cancer and if women have been sexually active for at least two years, it's time for a pap smear, Roberts said. In a pap test, a speculum is entered into the vagina and a swab is taken from the cervix to take a sample of the cells to detect malignancy. Jessica Shaw, graduate student in education, said she has seen her gynecologist on an annual basis since she was 18, and said having an annual check-up is important for women to protect their health. "I'd be apprehensive not going to my gynecologist because I'd be living every day not knowing whether I have female health problems," she said. "I'm taking steps toward good health." Risks for cervical cancer include smoking, having multiple sex partners, becoming sexually active at a young age and practicing sex without a condom, Roberts said. One way to combat cervical cancer is the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is a preventative to cervical cancer and genital warts in women and Roberts said she recommends getting vaccinated before becoming sexually active. Because the HPV virus is transmitted solely by skin to skin contact, it's important to get vaccinated. Roberts said other STDs such as gonorrhea and syphilis are bacteria diseases, which simply need to be treated with antibiotics. There is not a government approved HPV vaccine for men, but should be approved in the near future, Roberts said. The vaccine consists of three shots in a sixmonth period. Urinary tract infections, commonly known as UTIs, are another health risk that commonly effects women because 1 At a they are more susceptible to women than to keep the body strong with the physical and endometriosis, according to articlemen, Roberts said. UTIs can be treated demands of their sport, Roberts said. click.com. with antibiotics and are not a STD, which Irregular menstruation, missing periods To prevent anemia and to stablize iron many people believe it is, she said. Sexually and very painful heavy periods indicate levels, Roberts said eating foods high in active people are more prone to receiving a hormonal imbalance. Roberts said she iron or taking a multi-vitamin with iron them because of the mechanics of sexual advises women to have it evaluated because are great ways to be iron sufficient. intercourse in skin-to-skin contact, Roberts it could be a risk for more serious things. Anemic symptoms include fatigue and said. "Hormones are out of balance when dizziness, which are the two most experiRoberts said she makes her visits as (your cycle is abnormal or absent) enced symptoms, Roberts said. comfortable as possible for female and our job is to put hormones Loss of a monthly period is normal durpatients, so they can feel able to back into balance," she said. ing high-stress times, such as a freshman's ask or say anything concerning Having hormones out of first couple of weeks of school or a period their sexual health issues. balance can result in numerof rigorous, heavy training for a collegiate Roberts said she advises stuous symptoms and discomfort athlete, she said. dents to practice safe sex and to get including depression, fatigue, "(Having your period irregularly) isn't out of unhealthy relationships anxiety, headaches, abnormal under high stressful times; howwhich can leave women in an decrease in libido or ever, if it's ongoing, it needs to be evaluenduring state of stress and weight gain, Roberts ated," she said. unhappiness. said. Roberts said the most important thing For young adult Hormonal imbalfor women to do is just to pay attention to women, breast examinaance may manifest their body and be aware of any abnormal tions are important L. v ^ ^ B h through more functions. so that lumps or any severe symptoms, "Just come in and don't worry about it abnormalities can be like osteoporosis, and we'll consult with you," she said. "We detected before they urinary infecare a convenient health clinic for students. form into breast tions, uterine' It's what we are here for." cancer. fibroids, flbro-candice.sandness@aggiemailMsu.edu Roberts said cystic breasts 25 percent of the cause of breast cancer is because of a genetic line-up and the other 75 percent is BREAST CANCER unknown. "We simply don't know the cause of it," she said. "There may be correlations between smoking and breast cancer or high-fat diets and breast cancer, but there is no absolute known cause of breast cancer." Roberts said women should periodically examine themselves for breast cancer at their homes. Roberts said a lump will feel something like a very small grape and if there is anything unusual about a woman's body, she should come in and have it checked by her physician. For female student athletes and for women with heavy menstruation, anemia can be a concern because an abundant L I N D A ROBERTS, nurse practitioner at the USU Student Health and Wellness Center said it is important for women to actively check for breast cancer. CAMERON PETERSON photo amount of iron is lost because of blood loss. Athletes need more iron supplements Just say 'no' to soda pop By KARLIE BRAND features senior writer Americas favorite drinks such as Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew and others get quite the bad rap these days. Nutritionists, researchers, moms and school principals are accusing the drinks of causing diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity and other serious diseases. But what adverse health effects can really be attributed to the sugary drinks children, teens and adults crave? Janet B. Anderson, USU nutrition and food science professor and registered dietitian, said although there are theories stating soda may directly contribute to serious diseases, the real probadults aren't getting the nutrients lem with soda is that it acts as a they need to develop bone mass replacement for more nutritious and density to protect against drinks. osteoporosis. She said many "It's really a replacement prob- people don't understand that men lem," Anderson said. "What we're and women continue to develop finding in research is that people bone mass into their 20s, but the who drink large amounts of soda, growth stops between the ages of especially teens, are primarily 20-30. Bone mass stays stagnant at risk because they are replacor decreases slightly until menoing nutrient dense drinks (milk, pause in women or 50-60 range in water, real fruit juices) with soda." men. Anderson said women begin According to Center for losing bone mass and density Science in the Public Interest, rapidly due to hormonal changes companies produce enough soda in menopause, and that is often pop annually to provide 52.4 when women develop osteoporogallons to every man, woman sis. and child in America. The "The concept we try to teach same source states the average is that college students are still American gets 7 percent of their developing bone," Anderson said. calories from soda and the aver"It's important (especially for age teenager gets 13 percent of women) to develop as much bone their daily caloric intake from the as they can... because at menosugary stuff. Between 56 percent pause women lose bone really and 85 percent of children in I3SI. - 'v>* **#J '"4?* school have at least one can of Anderson said if women's soda every day. bones are weak before menopause Anderson said that byreplac^ "they will likely develop osteoporoing milk with soda, teens and sis and have problems with brittle young spines, wrists and hips. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, a survey indicated that "teenage girls in the United States are less likely than teenage boys to get enough calcium. In fact, fewer than 10 percent of girls age 9-17 are actually getting the calcium they need each day." Sof not only are girls more susceptible to osteoporosis by nature, most are extremely calcium deficient. Anderson said the other main problem with soda is the high amount of empty calories with little nutritional value. Insfead L •iiillliii 1 REPLACING NUTRITIOUS MEALS W I T H SODA POP can wreak havoc In the future, said to Janet B. Anderson, registered dietitian and USU professor. PATRICK ODEN photo illustration of snacking on fruits or vegetables, people are drinking 150 empty calories from a 12 oz. can of soda that offers no nutrients, causing them to feel hungry again soon. Moderation is key in determining how much soda a person should limit themselves to, but Anderson said "moderation" varies person to person. "It depends on the individual," she said. "If a person struggles with weight we really need to get them off soda or get them on diet soda." Anderson said choosing diet soda or using half regular soda and half diet soda is a good solution to cutting the high calories in drinks. -karlie.branri@aggiemail.usu.edu |