Information you need to take good care of you

Reminder

for Women:

SEE INSIDE for

Preventive Care

Guidelines

and

Wallet Card

20.30.318.1-FL (3/06)

Information

You Need

To Take Good

Care of You

Recommended Preventive

Care Guidelines for Women

Ages 40+/Resources for

More Information 3 – 4

Wallet Card 5 – 6

Important Health

Information and Take

Good Care of You Steps 7 – 12

Mammogram 7

Cervical Cancer 8

Colon Cancer 9

Lung Cancer

and Tobacco Smoke 9

Know Your Risk of

Heart Disease and Stroke 10

Diabetes 11

Menopause 12

Aetna is the brand name used for

products and services provided by one

or more of the Aetna group of

subsidiary companies. The Aetna

companies that offer, underwrite or

administer benefits coverage include

Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health of

California Inc., Aetna Health of the

Carolinas Inc., Aetna Health of Illinois

Inc., Aetna Life Insurance Company.

Table of Contents

Women Ages 40+

Take Good Care Tip:

Schedule your

regular mammogram

and Pap smear.

Schedule and Keep Your Appointments

One of the most important things you can do is to schedule

and keep your appointments for preventive care, such as

your mammogram and Pap smear

. These tests can help find

medical conditions early, when they are most treatable.

In Florida, you do not need a referral if you choose to visit a

participating radiology center for your screening mammogram,

but you may need a doctor’

s order written on a prescription pad.

If you choose to have your mammogram performed at a participating

hospital, you will need a referral from your primary care physician

or gynecologist.

Enclosed for You To Use:

■

Tear-out preventive care guidelines for women in your age group

■

Handy wallet card you can use to schedule and track this

important information

We think these tools will be helpful for you to keep up to date with

your preventive screenings. It’s just another way we’re helping you take

good care of you.

Please talk to your doctor if you have any questions about

this information.

*If you have health problems, speak to your doctor about additional recommendations and screening tests.

Preventive Guidelines adapted from the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

(

http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/prevenix.htm) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on

omen’

s Health, Recommended Scr

eenings and Immunizations for Women at Average Risk for Most

Diseases (

http://www.4woman.gov/screeningcharts/general.htm). Cancer screening recommendations

adapted from the recommendations of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cancer Topics

(

http://www

.cancer

.gov

)

, the American Cancer Society

, Inc., Cancer Detection Guidelines

(

http://www.cancer.org) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Primary and

Preventive Care: Periodic Assessments (

http://www.acog.org). Immunization recommendations were

adapted from the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available at:

http://www

.cdc.gov/nip/ACIP/default.htm

. Accessed November 8, 2005.

RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE CARE

FOR WOMEN AGES 40+*

NAME OF TEST HOW OFTEN FOR MOST WOMEN?

Blood Pressure Periodically.

Blood Sugar Test Starting at age 45, and then every 3 years.

Bone Mineral Density Test Starting at age 65, routinely (earlier if risk factors).

Height/Weight and

Body Mass Index (BMI) Periodically.

Cholesterol Test Starting at age 45, and then every 5 years.

Colorectal Starting at age 50, yearly stool blood test (FOBT), OR

Cancer Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, OR yearly stool blood

test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, OR double

contrast barium enema every 5 years, OR colonoscopy

every 10 years. Discuss testing with your doctor.

Mammogram Every 1 – 2 years.

Pap Smear Every 2 – 3 years after 3 consecutive normal results

OR HPV DNA test plus a Pap smear every 3 years if

results of both tests are negative. Women 70 years

and older may stop screening. Talk to your doctor

about the method of screening that is right for you.

Gynecologic Exam Annually to assess risk factors and make screening

recommendations.

Breast Exam Every year by a health care provider. Speak to your doctor

about breast self-exam; report any breast change promptly.

Sexually Transmitted Discuss testing with your doctor if you have multiple

Diseases (STDs) sexual partners, a partner with multiple sexual partners,

sexual contact with a person with an STD or a person

with a history of an STD.

Skin (Mole) Exam Monthly mole self-exam, and every year by a

health care professional.

Influenza Vaccine Annually starting at age 50.

Pneumococcal Vaccine 1 dose — age 65 and older.

Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine Every 10 years.

Alcohol Misuse Screening Routinely.

and Behavioral Health

Counseling Intervention

Depression Screening Routinely.

Talk to your health care professional about your personal

preventive care schedule.

TEAR OFF AT PERFORATION

Aetna Navigator

™

Website

Your secure Aetna member website,

www.aetnanavigator.com, gives you

benefits and expert health information.

See who is covered under your plan,

review claim status, find health care

professionals, and research health topics

through Aetna InteliHealth

and

Healthwise

Knowledgebase

(Health A – Z). You can also send a secure

e-mail to Aetna Member Services for

benefits-related questions. If you don’t

have Internet access, call the Member

Services toll-free number on your ID card.

Aetna Women’s Health Online

Our expanding online focus areas include

heart health, breast health, migraine,

reproductive health and menopause,

women and depression, osteoporosis,

and children’s health. Our Women’s Health

site also offers age-specific preventive care

guidelines, interactive tools and important

information for ethnic and racial

populations who are at high risk for

developing heart disease. Visit Aetna’s

omen’s Health Online at

http://womenshealth.aetna.com.

Patient Safety

The Leapfrog Group works to keep

the public safe from medical mistakes.

Select “Hospital Survey Results” at

www.leapfroggroup.org to see patient

safety results for your area.

Aetna Resources

Put Information

At Your Fingertips

Resources For

More Information

Want to learn more about staying

healthy and preventing disease?

Contact the organizations listed in this

section for free information. You can

reach them in writing, by telephone,

or by visiting their websites.

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention

U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services

1-800-311-3435

http://www.cdc.gov/health

Agency for Healthcare Research

and Quality

U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services

1-800-358-9295

http://www.ahrq.gov

National Cancer Institute

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services

1-800-422-6237

http://www.cancer.gov

American Cancer Society (ACS)

1-800-227-2345

http://www.cancer.org

American Heart Association

1-800-242-8721

http://www.americanheart.org

TEAR OFF A

T PERFORA

TION

Fold Here

Taking Care of Your Health

YOUR NAME

YOUR MEMBER ID NUMBER

YOUR DOCTOR’S NAME

YOUR DOCTOR’S PHONE NUMBER

o print additional copies of this car

d, go to:

www.aetna.com/products/health_check.html.

How To Use

This Wallet Card

■

Tear off the card

at the perforation.

■

Fold the card into thirds

on the dotted lines so

that your name is on the

outside and the place to

write down your screening

dates and results is on the

inside. This card should fit

easily in your wallet.

■

Talk to your doctor about

how often you should have

each screening test, and

write this information on

your card.

■

Write the date and

results on your card

each time you have a

screening test.

Use the attached wallet

card to track how often

you should receive these

important preventive care

tests. Write the dates and

results of your tests

in the spaces provided.

To print additional copies

of this card, go to:

www.aetna.com/products/

health_check.html.

TIPS FOR

HEALTHY LIVING

■

If you smoke, quit!

■

Eat a healthy diet.

■

Get to and maintain

a healthy weight.

■

Be physically active.

■

Limit your alcoholic

beverages.

■

Take all medications

as directed by your

doctor.

Helpful website:

www.aetna.com

Preventive care

recommendations

for women ages 40+

(those at average risk)

■

Blood Pressure:

Periodically.

■

Diabetes Blood Sugar

Test:

Starting at age

45, and then every

3 years.

■

Bone Mineral Density

Test:

Starting at age 65,

routinely (earlier if risk

factors).

■

Height, Weight/BMI:

Periodically.

■

Cholesterol Test:

Starting at age 45, and

then every 5 years.

■

Colorectal Screening:

Starting at age 50,

yearly stool blood test

(FOBT), OR flexible

sigmoidoscopy every

5 years, OR yearly stool

blood test plus flexible

sigmoidoscopy every

5 years, OR double

contrast barium enema

every 5 years, OR

colonoscopy every

10 years. Discuss testing

with your doctor.

■

Mammogram:

Every 1 – 2 years.

■

Pap Smear: Every 2 – 3

years after 3 consecutive

normal results OR HPV

DNA test plus a Pap smear

every 3 years if results of

both tests are negative.

Women 70 years and

older may stop screening.

Talk to your doctor about

the method of screening

that is right for you.

■

Gynecologic Exam:

Annually to assess

risk factors and

make screening

recommendations.

■

Breast Exam: Every

year by a health care

provider. Speak to your

doctor about breast

self-exam; report any

breast changes promptly.

■

STD Test: Discuss testing

with your doctor if you

have multiple sexual

partners, a partner with

multiple sexual partners,

sexual contact with a

person with an STD or a

person with a history of

an STD.

■

Skin (Mole) Exam:

Monthly mole self-exam,

and every year by a health

care professional.

■

Influenza Vaccine:

Annually starting at age 50.

■

Pneumococcal Vaccine:

1 dose — age 65

and older.

■

Tetanus-Diphtheria

Vaccine:

Every 10 years.

■

Alcohol Misuse Screening

and Behavioral Health

Counseling Intervention:

Routinely.

■

Depression Screening:

Routinely.

20.31.318.1 (3/06)

TEAR OFF AT PERFORATION

20.31.318.1 (3/06)

The chart on the previous

page shows recommended

preventive screening tests

and exams for women who

are at average risk. Some

women may require more

frequent testing due

to risk factors such as

personal or family history.

Ask your doctor how

often you need each

test or exam, and write

this information on this

card. Every time you

have a test, write the

date and results in the

space provided.

This will

help you to keep track of

when you need your next

test or exam. Be sure to

bring this card with

you to each office visit.

TEST OR EXAM HOW DATE/RESULTS DATE/RESULTS

OFTEN

Blood Pressure

Blood Sugar Test

Bone Density

Height/Weight/BMI

Cholesterol

■

LDL

■

HDL

■

Triglycerides

Colorectal Screening

Mammogram

Pap Smear

TEST OR EXAM HOW DATE/RESULTS DATE/RESULTS

OFTEN

Gyn Exam/

Breast Exam by

Health Care Provider

Breast Self-Exam (BSE) Monthly

STD Test

Skin (Mole) Exam

Influenza Vaccine Annual

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Tetanus-Diphtheria Every

Vaccine 10 years

Alcohol Misuse

Screening and

Behavioral Health

Counseling Intervention

Depression Screening

J F M A M J

J A S O N D

J F M A M J

J A S O N D

Do you know what you should be doing

to take good care of you?

Below is information about lifestyle changes and

important steps you can take to help prevent some of

the most common health issues facing women today.

Get your regular

mammogram.

The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed,

the better the chances for a cure.

Screening tests such as mammograms can

find diseases early when they are easier to

treat. All women are encouraged to

undergo regular screening for breast cancer.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU STEPS

■

Have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.

■

Have a clinical breast exam by your

physician or health care professional.

This is usually done during your periodic

health exam.

■

Speak to your doctor about breast

self exam.

■

Visit Aetna InteliHealth at

www.intelihealth.com/breastexam

for information about how to perform

breast self-examination.

■

Visit Aetna’s Women’s Health Online

at http://womenshealth.aetna.com

to learn more about Breast Health.

■

Visit the National Cancer Institute at

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/

understanding-breast-changes/allpages

for a health guide on understanding

breast changes.

National Cancer Institute. Get a Mammogram:

Do It for Yourself, Do It for Your Family. Available at:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_

2_4_3X_Can_breast_cancer_be_found_early_5.asp

American Cancer Society (ACS): Can Breast Cancer

Be Found Early? A

vailable at:

http://www

.cancer

.org/

docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_Can_breast_cancer

_be_found_early_5.asp

Accessed November 8, 2005.

Have a regular Pap smear.

Cervical cancer can often be cured,

if found and treated early.

The most important risk factor for

cervical cancer is infection with HPV

(human papillomavirus). A Pap test

can find changes caused by HPV

infection and pre-cancer early, when

it is most treatable.

American Cancer Society (ACS): ACS Cancer Detection Guidelines. A

vailable at:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_2_3X_ACS_Cancer_Detection_Guidelines_36.asp.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Primary and Preventive Care: Periodic Assessments.

Available at:

http://www.acog.org.

Accessed November 8, 2005.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU STEPS

■

Have a Pap smear every 2 – 3 years

after 3 consecutive normal results OR

HPV DNA test plus a Pap smear every

3 years if results of both tests are

negative. Women 70 years and older

may stop screening. Talk to your doctor

about the method of screening that is

right for you.

■

Get an annual gynecologic exam

to assess your risk factors and

recommended screenings.

■

Talk to your doctor about the

recommendations that are right for you.

American Cancer Society (ACS) How Is Colorectal Cancer Found? Available at:

http://www

.cancer

.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_3X_How_is_colorectal_cancer_found.asp?rnav=cri

National Cancer Institute (NCI). Lung Cancer (PDQ

): Pr

evention; Lung Cancer Prevention. Available at:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/lung/Patient/page2.

Accessed November 8, 2005.

Have regular screenings

for colon cancer.

Screening tests are used to look for disease

in people who do not have symptoms.

These tests can find colorectal cancers at

an early stage and greatly improve the

chances for successful treatment. Screening

tests can also help prevent some cancers by

allowing doctors to find and remove polyps

that might become cancer.

There are several tests used to screen

for colorectal cancer. Talk to your doctor

about the following options if you are

over age 50 or have a family history of

colorectal cancer.

■

Yearly stool blood test (FOBT).

■

Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.

■

Yearly stool blood test plus flexible

sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.

■

Double contrast barium enema

every 5 years.

■

Colonoscopy every 10 years.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU STEPS

■

Have regular colorectal cancer

screenings.

■

Exercise regularly.

■

Eat a diet low in fat and high in fruits,

vegetables and whole-grain foods.

Avoid tobacco smoke.

Studies show that smoking tobacco

products in any form is the major cause of

lung cancer. Secondhand tobacco smoke

can also cause lung cancer.

Though it’s not easy to beat a nicotine

addiction, committing to and quitting

smoking will significantly reduce your

risk for lung cancer.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU STEPS

■

Quit smoking if you smoke!

Talk to your doctor if you need help.

■

Avoid places that have a lot

of cigarette smoke.

■

Visit the Aetna InteliHealth

Smoking Cessation area available

through the

www.aetna.com website

or directly at

www.intelihealth.com/

smoking cessation

to learn more

about Quitting Smoking, Effects of

Smoking, Tobacco-Related Diseases

and more.

Know the signs of heart

disease and stroke in women.

Not everyone gets all of the warning signs

of a heart attack, and sometimes these

signs can go away and return. Since

treatments are most effective within one

hour of an attack, it pays to know the

warning signs.

Signs of heart attack include:

■

Chest discomfort or pressure, fullness,

squeezing or pain in the center

of the chest that lasts longer than a

few minutes, or comes and goes.

■

Spreading pain to one or both arms,

back, jaw or stomach.

■

Cold sweats and nausea.

Women are somewhat more likely than

men to have warning signs not typically

associated with heart attack, including

shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting,

and back or jaw pain.

Symptoms of a stroke include:

■

Sudden weakness or numbness on

one side of the body — usually the

face, arm or leg.

■

Sudden dimness or loss of vision,

particularly in one eye.

■

Loss of speech or trouble talking.

■

Sudden, severe headaches with

no known cause.

■

Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness

or sudden falls.

Not all of these symptoms occur during

a stroke. But any one of them is serious

enough to seek immediate help.

If you have any of these symptoms,

call 911 right away or go to your

nearest emergency room.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU STEPS

■

Quit smoking if you smoke!

Talk to your doctor if you need help.

■

Read nutrition labels. Cut back

on foods high in saturated fat

and cholesterol.

■

Visit your doctor regularly, and check

your blood pressure, cholesterol and

blood sugar levels. Work with your doctor

to get and keep them under control.

■

Exercise at least 30 minutes every day.

Check with your doctor before beginning

any formal exercise program.

■

Get to and maintain a healthy weight,

with a target body mass index (BMI) of

less than 25.*

o calculate your BMI, divide your weight (in pounds) by your height (in inches squared), then multiply that number by

703 (weight in pounds ÷ [height in inches x height in inches] x 703). You may also visit the Aetna InteliHealth website

and use the Body Mass Index calculator at

www.intelihealth.com/bmi. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight,

and 30 or above is considered obese.

American Heart Association. Heart Attack, Str

oke and Car

diac Arr

est W

ning Signs.

Available at:

http://www.americanheart.org/. Accessed November 8, 2005.

American Diabetes Association. All About Diabetes. Available at: www.diabetes.org. Accessed November 8, 2005.

Know your risk factors

for diabetes.

While diabetes and prediabetes occur in

people of all ages and races, some groups

have a higher risk for developing the

disease than others. Diabetes is more

common in African Americans, Latinos,

Native Americans, and Asian Americans/

Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged

population. These groups are also at

increased risk for developing prediabetes.

The good news is that studies have

shown that people with prediabetes

(blood sugar levels that are higher than

normal but not high enough to be

diagnosed as diabetes) can prevent the

development of type 2 diabetes by making

changes in their diet and increasing their

level of physical activity. They may even

be able to return their blood sugar levels

to the normal range.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU STEPS

■

Have your blood sugar level checked

every 3 years if you are age 45 or over.

■

Eat a healthy diet. Speak to your doctor

about making changes in your diet.

■

Increase physical activity. Even a minor

increase in activity can make a difference.

■

Get to and maintain a healthy weight,

with a target body mass index (BMI) of

less than 25.

■

Visit the American Diabetes

Association

at www.diabetes.org for

resources to help people with diabetes

or prediabetes.

■

Visit the American Heart Association

at www.americanheart.org/diabetes

for information on a free educational

program called “The Heart of Diabetes.”

What are menopause and

perimenopause?

Menopause is the time when your

menstrual cycle stops for good. Most

women reach menopause in their late

40s or early 50s.

In the years leading up to menopause,

called perimenopause, the levels of

two female hormones, estrogen and

progesterone, begin to change. Most

women experience perimenopause

between ages 35 and 50.

For many women, the shifting levels of

hormones during perimenopause cause

physical and emotional changes.

Some of these changes include:

■

Skipping periods

■

Irregular bleeding

■

Hot flashes

■

Mood swings

■

Sleep problems

■

Painful intercourse from vaginal dryness

After menopause

After menopause, women are at higher

risk for some diseases such as osteoporosis

(bone thinning) and heart disease.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU STEPS

■

Eat a healthy diet. Speak to your doctor

about making changes in your diet.

■

Increase physical activity. Even a minor

increase in activity can make a difference.

■

Quit smoking if you smoke!

Talk to your doctor if you need help.

■

Speak to your doctor about how to

relieve the symptoms of perimenopause

and menopause.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Pocket Guide to Good

Health for Adults, Menopause and Beyond. Available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/adguide/stayhealthy.htm.

Accessed November 8, 2005.

We hope you find

this information

useful, and encourage

you to TAKE GOOD

CARE OF YOU!

The guidelines and information included in this br

ochur

e ar

e recommendations only. It is important that

you and your physician work closely together to create a specific care plan that addresses your individual

health care needs.

This material is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer of coverage nor medical advice. Aetna

arranges for the pr

ovision of health care services. However, Aetna itself is not a provider of health care services,

and ther

efor

e, cannot guarantee r

esults or outcomes. Aetna assumes no r

esponsibility for any circumstances

arising out of the use, or misuse, interpretation or application of any information supplied by Aetna InteliHealth.

Information supplied in this material and through Aetna InteliHealth is for informational purposes only, is not

medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute for proper medical care provided by a physician. Members

should consult their physician first r

egarding their health care needs.