Veil Wellness is here with a look at your medical questions. Let’s look at the question:
What exercises are okay to do if I have a herniated disc?
In our Mini Med School, let's first understand what a herniated disc is. If you think of a really fat burger and when you go to squeeze it and take your first bite, everything kind of shoots out the back. That’s basically what a herniated disc is. You have a lot of gelatinous material that gets compressed between two vertebrae, causing a lot of pain. The most important thing is, if something hurts, do not do it and always check with a healthcare provider or a physical therapist to make sure you’re not doing harm. However, anything that can help strengthen the muscles around that area, reduce inflammation, and increase flexibility is beneficial. Now, I can’t stop thinking about my spine as a set of cheeseburgers or a bagel with cream cheese and everything. That’s the medical explanation.
What is your prescription for, well, in honor of Women’s History Month, some screening tests that women should talk to their healthcare provider about? These are very important for overall health, wellness, and disease prevention.
First, for cervical cancer, a Pap smear is generally recommended every three years if all previous results have been normal. Any abnormalities require shorter-term, more frequent follow-up screenings.
For breast cancer, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, screening mammography is recommended every two years for women at average risk. Other cancer organizations may have different screening recommendations.
For bone density, this is done with a DEXA test, which is not painful. This should be done once at or after the age of 65 for most people.
You can always submit your health and wellness questions to us here at Veil Wellness. We thank you for reading and we’ll see you here again on Veil Wellness.