Elijah Sharrieff is the content writer for My Community Health Network. MYCHN is a full-service healthcare provider in Houston Texas, that provides accessible health care in multiple Houston Communities. Elijah specializes in blogs that educate patients on relevant topics such as: prenatal care, mental health, the importance of diet and exercise, and dental care. Elijah’s holistic approach to health care blogging stems from his background in education. Elijah taught preschool, middle school, and tutored college and high school students. Teaching allowed Elijah to realize the interconnected nature of health as it relates to the mind and body.

Cervical Health Awareness 

Cancer is among the leading causes of death in America. Despite this, cancer is one of those things that you don't think will happen to you. We like to think we are healthy individuals, but cancer is unpredictable and complicated. 

Around 300,000 women are diagnosed with cervical precancers in America. MYCHN has created a list of prevention tips to ensure a healthy cervix! 

What Causes Cervical Cancer? 

Cervical Cancer typically develops when healthy cervix cells grow and multiply continuously. In other words, they don't die like normal cells. Instead, these continually replicating cells form a mass, also known as tumors. 

In many cases, HPV can lead to cervical cancer. However, an HPV diagnosis doesn't mean you will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. 

What are Cervical Cancer Risk Factors? 

Risk factors can increase your cancer risk. There are multiple risk factors for cervical cancer; some of them may surprise you.

• Sexual history: Your sexual history can put you more at risk for cervical cancer.

If you are sexually active at a young age (18 years old and under)

• Diet: If you do not consume a balanced diet, you could be at higher risk for cervical cancer

• Cervical Cancer in the family: If you have family members who have cervical cancer, your chances of developing cervical cancer are higher than if no one in your family has it. In some cases, this is because of rare inherited conditions that make it harder for some women to fight HPV. 

• Smoking: It's a difficult habit to quit. However, smoking has been shown to harm the body. Women who smoke are twice as likely to develop cervical cancer. 

Tobacco by-products have been found in the cervical mucus of women who smoke. Some studies have shown that the chemicals in cigarettes can damage the DNA of cervix cells. This occurrence can lead to the development of cervical cancer. 

How can you Have a Healthy Cervix? 

Prevention is going to be vital to lowering your risk of cervical cancer. What are some cervical cancer prevention methods? 

1. Pap Smear: 

A pap smear is a screening that looks for abnormal changes that could lead to cancer. Luckily, cervical cancer doesn't develop overnight, so regular pap smears are useful in cervical cancer prevention. 

2. Following up with your health care provider:

Following up with your health care provider is crucial to cervical health. Health care providers provide access to pap smears and other preventative measures. 

3. Get the HPV Vaccine:

The HPV vaccine protects against sub strains of HPV that lead to cervical cancer. 

4. Limit your sexual partners: 

Unfortunately, HPV is easily spread. It is relatively easy to become exposed to HPV. The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact, so it can be spread without having sex. The American cancer society has stated that HPV can be spread through hand to genital contact. 

With the aforementioned in mind, limiting the number of sexual partners could put you at a lower risk of HPV. 

5. Stop smoking:

Smoking is a tough habit to shake. However, the consequences of smoking are severe for the body's health in the long term. Many cigarettes and tobacco products have harmful cancer-causing chemicals. In addition, smoking weakens your immune system. 

A weakened immune system makes it harder for your body to fight viruses like HPV. Just a gentle reminder, HPV can lead to cervical cancer. 

Pap Smear Near Me

According to The World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer in women. Pap Smears are an excellent cervical cancer prevention method. MYCHN offers pap smears and other women's health services. We have 11 locations in the metropolitan Houston area. 

CHN Cares for patients with private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured! Visit https://mychn.org/services/womens-health/ for more.

Bottom Line

Cervical cancer is common cancer for women and, in many cases, can be deadly. Thankfully, there are prevention methods to prevent the disease. For example, regular Pap smears can be used to prevent Cervical cancer. 

Eating a balanced diet and not smoking can also be excellent prevention methods. 

My Community Health Network. MYCHN is a full-service healthcare provider in Houston Texas, that provides accessible health care in multiple Houston Communities.

References: 

• https://www.healthline.com/health/cervical-cancer#prognosis
• https://www.nfid.org/2019/01/17/cancer-prevention-in-practice/
• https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-have-a-healthy-cervix-582022