EDWARDS AIR Pressure Foundation, Calif. —
The 412th Medical Team at Edwards AFB is teaming up with the foundation community to raise recognition about Women’s Health.


On 28 September, the Base Exchange is web hosting an celebration to honor Countrywide Women’s Overall health and Fitness Day. In addition, the 412th Healthcare Team is sponsoring our Breast Cancer Consciousness 5K wander/operate and Overall health Good on 5 Oct 2022.


To help highlight each events, we interviewed the 412 Medical Group’s Women’s Wellness Nurse Practitioner, Capt Alissa Vigil, to get her standpoint on difficulties pertaining to Women’s Overall health.


Capt Vigil, how long have you been stationed in this article at Edwards AFB as the 412 MDG Women’s Wellbeing Company?


I have been stationed her considering the fact that Oct 2018, so I am approaching my fourth 12 months at Edwards AFB.


What lead you to turn into a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner?


In the yr immediately after I gained my undergraduate diploma I labored in transitional housing, supporting mothers encountering homelessness protected everlasting housing, as properly as functioning in the Head Start out daycare affiliated with the housing centre. It was at that level that I became passionate about wellness and advocacy for women of all ages, and supporting gals obtain their reproductive and health and fitness aims. Soon immediately after I used to a Nurse Practitioner plan with a aim in Women’s Wellbeing and immediately after finishing that software started my Lively Responsibility Provider.


What modifications have you observed in your population’s overall health /women’s wellbeing in the last 3 several years?


I have noticed several girls who have delayed or deferred their routine screenings. In section this was thanks to pandemic-related restrictions, when services were being limiting plan cervical most cancers screenings or breast cancer screenings. Lots of of my sufferers have also been furnishing treatment to other family members associates or cherished kinds and their personal well being was not prioritized. Thankfully we are observing quite a few of our people catching up on their screenings and coming back again in to the clinic.


We have also seen far more social media written content that relates to women’s wellbeing. It is great to see additional mainstream curiosity in women’s overall health subjects, and to see persons connecting and mastering from each other. It is also crucial to don’t forget to verify your resources, or check with for a 2nd opinion with a trustworthy health care supplier.


What steps do you advise to your patients when the say they want to be “more healthy”.


I constantly advocate analyzing the basic principles – snooze, diet, pressure, and work out play these kinds of an crucial function in our total wellbeing. I suggest selecting 1 tiny detail at a time to alter, a little something that you want to stick with. It is difficult to give any a person advice because “healthy” looks quite unique from person to man or woman. I know I’m not likely to coach for a marathon, but I can dedicate to getting my pet dog for a walk just after get the job done! I am often happy to see clients for “well” visits so we can chat about all of the items going on in their lives and come across the best techniques to maintain them healthful.


What are some of the motives women of all ages set off having a mammogram, are they agonizing?


Some women have expressed concerns that they are painful. Although some gals may possibly sense discomfort for the duration of mammograms, most ladies describe them as uncomfortable thanks to the pressure. Generally the whole course of action only requires a number of minutes. At other moments it’s a just a subject of forgetting, or placing it off mainly because some thing else has appear up. I typically advocate making an attempt to do overall health screenings in your beginning thirty day period so it’s much easier to recall.


It can also be puzzling that some pointers advise to start off screening mammograms at 40 decades aged, and other recommendations recommend beginning at 50. This can be one more subject matter to carry up with your healthcare workforce, as your greatest plan of care can count on your heritage, your breast density, and your spouse and children heritage.


Why is it significant to encourage neighborhood gatherings like National Women’s Overall health & Fitness Working day or Breast Cancer Awareness Month?


Activities like these are great reminders for women of all ages to prioritize our health and fitness which in some cases will get neglected for other priorities in our active lives.


Also, we know that avoidance and early detection of disorders are the critical to everyday living-long health. It is crucial to highlight the require to get plan check out-ups to detect or reduce problems early, while procedure is most effective.


And finally, for awareness. Occasions like these are great alternatives to find out new points and join with many others in our community. You under no circumstances know how or who you may possibly effects by sharing your story, listening to other’s, or just coming out and demonstrating your support.




Thank you to Capt Vigil and the Women’s Well being Workforce of the 412 Medical Team for the great care they give for our population.


We glimpse forward to all people who can be a part of us for Nationwide Women’s Wellness & Physical fitness Working day on 28 Sep 22 at the Base Trade and our Breast Most cancers Recognition 5K/Overall health Truthful at the Conditioning Middle on 5 October.


For extra information about these situations, be sure to get in touch with Linda Davis at (661) 275-2737.