Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System

Women Veterans Program Newsletter
January/February 2025

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Cervical cancer can be detected by screening. Screening can be performed through a Pap test, HPV testing, or both. The Pap test can show pre-cancerous cells that can be removed before the onset of cancer.

Women aged 21-29 should have a Pap test every three years. Women aged 30-65 have several options:

1. A Pap test every three years
2. A test for human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer, every five years
3. A Pap and HPV test together (called co-testing) every five years

Women 26 years old or younger may also get the HPV vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer. Discuss the vaccine with your health care provider if you are older than 26 and are interested in the HPV vaccine.

Check out the Cervical Cancer Awareness tables at both Jack C. Montgomery Hospital, and Ernest Childers Outpatient Clinic.

Women Veterans Health Care Services

10 Women Veterans Health Care Services That May Surprise You

1. Women's Mental Health Services
2. Breast/Chestfeeding supplies & Lactation Support
3. Sexual Health Evaluation & Treatment
4. Post-Mastectomy Prosthetics
5. Telehealth Appointments
6. Yoga, Tai Chi, & Acupuncture
7. Recreation & Art Therapy
8. Pelvic Floor Therapy for Pain, Urinary Issues, & Constipation
9. Healthy Cooking Classes
10. Treatment for Sleep Issues

Women Veterans May Be Surprised to Learn About All VA has to Offer

Women Veterans, you may be surprised to learn about all VA has to offer! If you haven’t checked out VA in a while—things have changed. We recognize that each of you are unique, and your health care needs are not “one-size-fits-all.” That's why VA continues to expand its services, so we can provide you with the best care possible.

When it comes to your health and well-being, we have you covered. VA is a one-stop-shop where you can receive care coordination for all your health needs in one place. You have access to a wide range of gender-specific health care services, including primary and preventative care, reproductive health, fertility services, maternity care, mental health, and resources for your overall well-being, like exercise, sleep, nutrition.

There are many lesser-known services that may be a bit unexpected for VA! These may include telehealth, post mastectomy prosthetics, breast/chestfeeding supplies and lactation support, yoga or tai chi, acupuncture, treatment for sleep issues, recreation and creative arts therapy, healthy cooking classes, and so much more. Plus, we want you to feel comfortable talking to us about more sensitive topics, such as sexual health, birth control and same day emergency contraception, pregnancy loss, or pelvic floor therapy.

Call or text 1-855-VA-WOMEN or visit Women Veterans Health Care Online to learn more. If you haven’t been using VA’s health services, we invite you to give us a chance. And if there’s something on your mind, talk to your VA health care team about it. We can most likely help!

Perimenopause

Perimenopause and Mood

Before you reach menopause, you may have irregular periods for several years. During those years you may also have hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, and urinary changes. That transition to menopause is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, the risk of depression doubles. Anxiety may increase also.

What causes perimenopausal depression?

The increased risk of depression during perimenopause is partly because of hormonal changes. Hormone levels shift up and down in unpredictable ways. That can affect brain chemistry.

Other things that add to risk of depression at this time include:

• Stresses and losses during midlife. Common ones include retirement, loss of loved ones, caring for elderly parents, and medical illness.
• Being less physically active. Unless you work at it, most women become less active and physically fit in midlife. Often this is because of pain and medical conditions. It may also be because you’re caring for others and have less time for yourself.
• Less social support. Sometimes this is because loved ones have died. Often, it’s because loved ones are struggling with their own issues as they get older.
• Sexual health problems. These are common in perimenopause. Vaginal dryness can make sex painful. Sometimes this leads to tension with a partner. Negative feelings about aging. These can be picked up from others and from messages in the media.
• Perimenopausal symptoms often go together and can make each other worse. For example, hot flashes can wake you up from sleep, and not getting enough sleep can lead to more depression. Treatments that focus on all the symptoms, not just some, work best.

How Perimenopausal Depression Can Affect You

Untreated perimenopausal depression can sometimes:

• Get in the way of functioning your best
• Increase your risk of health problems as you age
• Increase thoughts of suicide

Treatments for Perimenopausal Depression

• Antidepressant medicines. Some of these can also improve hot flashes and sleep problems. If you have hot flashes, sleep problems, or both along with depression, tell your doctor. They can then suggest a medicine that helps all your symptoms.
• Estrogen. This may be a good choice if you need it for other reasons, like hot flashes and bone strength. It can also help if you have difficulty with antidepressants. Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits in your case.
• Talk therapy. This is especially helpful if you’ve had midlife losses and stresses. For some people, talk therapy works without medicines. Some people get the best results with both talk therapy and medicines.

Treating other perimenopausal symptoms can lift mood.

• Urinary problems can add to depression. Your doctor can suggest treatments, such as pelvic floor therapy and bladder training.
• Sexual health problems can also be treated. Your doctor can check and see what’s creating problems and recommend solutions.

Self-care can help, such as:

• Engaging in regular physical activity. If pain or medical conditions make it hard to exercise, a physical therapist may have suggestions.
• Eating healthy foods like whole grains, vegetables, and legumes.
• Staying connected with others. Some examples include joining groups, forming new friendships, or volunteering in your community.

Is it Perimenopausal Depression or Anxiety?

If you think you might have perimenopausal symptoms, answering these questions can help you figure this out.

• Is there a change in how often you have periods?
• Is there a change in how many days you bleed?
• Has your period become heavy or light?
• Do you have any of these symptoms?
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling tired
• Feeling irritable
• Feeling anxious
• Feeling depressed
• Crying
• Urinating more often
• Leaking urine
• Dry or itchy vagina
• Pain during sex

If you answered “yes” to several of these, talk with your VA Primary Care Provider or mental health provider about assessment and treatment.

New Veteran Orientation

Come to our New Veteran Orientation
Held Monthly at Ernest Childers Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa

Are you new to VA health care? Are you a current VA patient, but want to learn more about what services and benefits VA has to offer and how to obtain them?

Join Us For New Veteran Orientation

When:
The 2^nd Tuesday of every month

Where:
Ernest Childers VA Clinic
8921 S. Mingo Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74113
2^nd floor, Rooms 2008 - 2010 (across from optometry)

Time:
1 p.m.

Open to all Veterans, family members, caregivers, and community partners.

• Meet representatives from various departments within the VA
• Learn about the processes for getting things done at the VA
• Learn about and sign up for My HealtheVet
• Question and answer session

Women Veterans Program in Action

December 16, 2024

The Womens Veterans Program hosted the 1st annual Cookies, Coloring and Comradery. Several Women Veterans participated in this event with check in’s from several WV providers and others just wanting to see what all the fun was about. They may have heard us singing carols and laughing! Be on the lookout for other coloring and comradery events coming soon!

December 20, 2024

Women Veterans Program Manager hit the road again for Women Veteran outreach in Henryetta, Oklahoma and Mcalester, Oklahoma. Both stops were held at the VFW. It is nice meeting Women Veterans in their community and we look forward to our next road trip. The dates, time and location will be determined soon and posted here in the monthly newsletter, on our local VA social media pages and on Oklahoma Veterans Calendar.

Interested in hosting the Women Veterans Program in your town or have an idea for outreach opportunities? Call or email:

Kellie Zimmerman, RN
918-348-5128
kellie.zimmerman@va.gov

It's Time To Get Your Flu Shot

It's that time of year!

Influenza, or "flu," is a contagious respiratory virus. Flu season usually begins in the fall and can continue through late spring.

Anyone can be infected by the flu virus. Flu can be mild or serious for some and deadly for others. Flu causes hospitalizations and deaths, especially among vulnerable groups such as the very young, people ages 65 and older, and those with chronic medical conditions.

Symptoms of flu

• Fever of 100°F or higher
• Body or muscle aches
• Headache
• Feeling tired or weak
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Stomach symptoms, mostly in children

Symptoms can vary in severity from mild to severe. While some people experience mild symptoms, not much different than a cold, others may get a severe infection that requires hospitalization. Know when to seek medical care.

How flu is spread

When a person with flu sneezes, coughs, talks, or laughs, flu virus can spread into the air as droplets. The droplets can spread to people and surfaces up to 6 feet away. Flu virus can spread to your hands if you touch anything that has the virus on it. If you then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you might get the flu.

People can spread flu to others about 1 day before they feel sick and up to 5 days after getting sick.

Who is most at risk

If you're in a high-risk group, you can become extremely ill from the flu. Be sure to take special precaution to prevent flu if you have any of the following conditions:

• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• HIV
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease
• Weakened immune systems

Get a flu shot every year to protect yourself and help keep the flu from spreading to others. The 2024 flu vaccines at Eastern Oklahoma VA will be available after September 1st, 2024 in the vaccine clinics, or thru your Primary Care team.

Whole Health

Women Veterans: What matters most to you?

Your values, needs, and goals are unique—and they’re central to your health. When you come to VA, you receive a personalized Whole Health approach to care that supports your physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Your VA health care team gets to know you as a whole person, focusing on what matters to you, not what is the matter with you.

Understanding Whole Health

Whole Health is VA’s approach to health care. We recognize you as a whole person, going beyond illnesses, injuries, or disabilities. We support you with evidence-based plans that include traditional treatments and complementary and integrative health therapies (e.g., yoga, massage therapy, and acupuncture).

Whole Health involves a wide range of support for fitness, mindfulness, stress reduction, nutrition, sleep, relationships, personal development, and more.

VA also considers social factors when providing you with personalized care, including living conditions, access to resources (like transportation), income, military service, past trauma, as well as the gender and racial disparities women Veterans may experience.

Women Veterans, VA is the largest and only health care system designed specially around you, the Veteran. No other health care system understands your needs better.

With today’s VA, you have the opportunity to manage your health through a wide range of services and resources, including gender-specific care.

Take advantage of your VA health care benefits by using the complimentary offerings you won’t find through most private health care plans. VA empowers and enables you to take charge of your health and well-being, centering your health care around what matters to you, not what is the matter with you.

Benefits of Whole Health for Women Veterans

Your VA health care team will get to know you as a person to develop a personalized health plan based on your unique values, needs, and goals. Discussing your health conditions AND the things that impact your well-being with your VA health care team can help us support you better.

Women Veterans are at an increased risk of certain health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain—these can be improved by using Whole Health services.

Women Veterans who use Whole Health (including treatments like acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, and art therapies) have better stress management, chronic pain management, reduced opioid use, and mental health, and feel they have a better experience with VA health care.

VA’s MOVE! program, significantly helps women Veterans with weight loss and heart health (including blood pressure and cholesterol management) through consistent coaching, nutrition, and exercise.

Women Veterans with a greater sense of purpose are significantly more likely to have a healthier well-being, and Whole Health can help with this. Younger women Veterans, who typically report lower well-being, significantly improve when they engage in personalized health care plans aligned to their values and life goals.

Hear directly from other women Veterans about their stories of Whole Health and healing.

VA’s Whole Health Tools and Resources

To get started with Whole Health, speak to your VA health care team about what matters to you most! They can connect you to the resources you need.

To help paint a picture of the connection between your health and other important aspects of your life, VA has created the Circle of Health. This tool can help you understand how to approach specific areas of self-care so you can live your healthiest life.

To help think through what matters in your life and what goals you may want to achieve, download and fill out the Personal Health Inventory.

This will help you have conversations with your VA health care team so we can create a plan to support you and your goals.

You also have access to free self-care tips and resources to use on your own, including:

• The Whole Health Veteran Resources page for basic overviews, handouts, and videos
• The #LiveWholeHealth library on VA News for recipes, exercises, and more
• The Live Whole Health mobile app to learn more about Whole Health, set goals, and view other resources, as well as other Whole Health-related mobile apps to support your specific needs
• Several VA podcasts related to Whole Health covering topics like pain management, tobacco cessation, meditation, and Veteran stories

Pink Goes Red!

February 7^th was National Wear Red Day!

Join Eastern Oklahoma VA in wearing red every Friday in February to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for Women. Together we can shine a light on the importance of prevention, early detection and healthy habits to protect our hearts.

Lets spread the message: Heart health matters!

1 in 5 Women Will Have a Stroke

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in women. Surprised? You’re not alone. Women Veterans may not know that unique factors related to military experience that put them at greater risk. While it’s easy to let your health fall to the bottom of your to-do list, knowing and managing your risk for stroke may save your life.

Understanding Stroke

A stroke occurs when an artery carrying blood from the heart to the brain is either blocked or bursts, depriving part of the brain of oxygen and causing brain cells to die. This can lead to death or serious health issues or disability, like paralysis, memory loss, vision and language problems, or behavior changes.

Stroke is an emergency and every minute counts! Quick treatment may minimize long-term conditions and even prevent death, so knowing how to recognize it as it’s happening is important. Signs of stroke in women may include:

• Face dropping
• Numbness or weakness in limbs
• Difficulty speaking and confusion
• Sudden trouble seeing
• Sudden severe headache
• Dizziness and trouble walking
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting

If you notice these sudden symptoms, call 911 immediately. Use the B.E.F.A.S.T. method to remember: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time to act.

Higher Risk for Women Veterans

You may face unique risk factors due to your military experience that increase your chance of stroke compared to civilian women, such as mental health concerns, unhealthy lifestyle habits you may have developed, and your increased risk for certain health conditions like high blood pressure. The risk factors for stroke include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder or depression
• High blood pressure or cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Substance Use
• Poor diet and exercise
• Family history
• Race
• History of preeclampsia and Birth Control
• Hormone therapy

For black women in particular, stroke is the leading cause of death. Black women are nearly twice as likely as white women to have a stroke and often experience it earlier.

Prevention and VA Support

The good news? Four in five strokes are preventable! Managing blood pressure is key, along with lifestyle habits like staying active, eating well, reducing stress, and limiting smoking or alcohol. Even focusing on just one or two of these changes at a time can make a big difference for your heart health. Your VA health care team can provide lifelong risk reduction, risk assessments and screenings, blood pressure management, diagnosis and treatment, and healthy lifestyle support through resources for nutrition, exercise, mental health care, smoking/alcohol cessation, and more.

Don’t skip a beat on your heart or brain health! Give yourself one less thing to worry about and schedule your next checkup with your VA health care provider to discuss your risk for heart disease and stroke. Focusing on the American Heart Association’s Essential 8 can keep you healthier and reduce your risk for stroke and other heart conditions. This includes eating better, being more active, quitting tobacco, getting healthy sleep, managing weight, controlling cholesterol, managing blood sugar, and managing blood pressure.

Visit the Women Veterans Heart Health page or the American Stroke Association to learn more. Call, text, and chat with the Women Veterans Call Center (1-855-VA-WOMEN) to speak to a real person who can help you enroll, schedule an appointment, and connect you to care you can trust.

Our Commitment to You

We are committed to making significant improvements to ensure that you have the support you need and more options than ever before—and our services and resources continually expand each year. Enhanced women Veterans’ health care includes:

Expanded Services: Increased availability of extended hours, childcare, telehealth, home care, medical equipment, mail-order prescriptions, and transportation.

Comprehensive Care: Access to personalized services such as primary care, gynecology, reproductive health, maternity care, mental health, specialty care, cancer screenings, and more.

Women Providers: Enhanced access to women’s health providers and women-only clinics, with options to request a specific gendered provider.

Safety and Respect: A respectful environment with practices like medical chaperones and accommodating specific requests to ensure safety and comfort.

Mental Health Support: Access to Women’s Mental Health Champions, counseling, support groups, and 24/7 confidential support through the Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988 and press 1).

Increased Communication: Improved access to information via the Women Veterans Call Center (1-855-VA-WOMEN), the Center for Women Veterans', newsletters, Women Veterans Health Care, Veteran Service Organizations, and direct messaging with VA health care teams.

Visit the Women’s Health webpage or call 1-855-VA-WOMEN for personalized assistance with eligibility, enrollment, and VA women’s health care and benefits.

Is It Time to Start Moving Your Body More?

An active lifestyle decreases the risks of long-term health problems. Moving regularly decreases inflammation in the body which is at the center of many diseases.

Moving your body on a regular basis lowers your risk for some types of cancer, fatty liver disease, chronic pain, arthritis and even dementia. It also helps relieve anxiety and depression. Some comprehensive practices—which include movement, such as yoga, Tai Chi, and qigong—can also help you practice mindfulness and other skills.

Consider the results you’d like to focus on, such as improving strength, flexibility, balance, range of motion and the mind-body connection.

Moving your body doesn’t have to involve working out in a gym or joining a sports team—you can bike, walk, swim, garden, play a sport, or play with a child or an animal. You can exercise on your own or with a group, or whenever it works for you. Any activity is better than none; even a few minutes a day is beneficial. It’s important to choose activities that you enjoy because you’ll stick with them!

Many activities which include movement, such as yoga, Tai Chi, strength training, and aerobics, can be modified for people with limited mobility due to chronic pain or injury.

Eastern Oklahoma VA HCS is Proud to Now Offer Accessible Gentle Yoga Classes!

These yoga classes are adaptable/gentle style for all skill and fitness levels. We provide the mats, and you bring a water bottle and wear flexible clothing.

Classes are for Women Veterans and Women Caregivers.

First session will be on Tuesdays starting on:

February 4^th thru March 11^th
2 to 3 p.m. @ Ernest Childers VA Clinic
8921 S. Mingo Ave , Tulsa 74133

Women Veterans Program in Action

On Friday January 24th, The EOVAHCS Women Veterans Program Manager, Michele Reeves sat down for a one on one interview with Ms. Tricia Bear. Ms. Bear is a DAV/VFW Service Officer in the Henryetta VFW. This interview was recorded for placement on the Henryettan newspaper’s you tube channel. The interview focused on various Women Veterans benefits and general questions regarding services offered.

Watch the full interview on YouTube

Interested in Past Newsletters?

Check us out on the web!

Your Eastern Oklahoma
VA Women Veterans Program Team

Michele Reeves, BSN, RN
Women Veterans Program Manager

Email: Michele.Reeves@va.gov
Phone: 918-577-4277

Makyla Clark, MSN, RN, CLC
Mammogram Navigator, Maternity Care Coordinator

Email: Makyla.Clark@va.gov
Phone: 918-577-4242