By Anne Federwisch, OTR
Illustration by Malcolm Garris/PhotoDisc
February 22, 1999

How savvy are you when it comes to your own health? Do you know when a mole needs expert evaluation? Are you following current guidelines about exercise? How well do you understand food labels?

Take our quiz to test your women’s health knowledge. Click on the question to get the right answer.

1. Which of the following statements is false?
a. More than 20 percent of women have some type of cardiovascular disease.

b. Coronary heart disease is the second most prevalent cause of death for American women.

c. A greater number of women than men die annually from cardiovascular disease.

d. More than three out of five women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous evidence of the disease.

2. If a food is labeled 97 percent fat-free, that means:
a. It will taste like cardboard.

b. 3 percent of its calories come from fat.

c. 97 percent of its calories come from fat.

d. 3 percent of its weight comes from fat.

3. Women are how much more likely than men to experience clinical depression?
a. Half as likely

b. Twice as likely

c. Four times as likely

d. Ten times as likely

4. Which of the following moles should be checked out by a dermatologist?
a. Any round mole

b. Any mole with irregular borders

c. Any uniformly colored mole

d. Any mole smaller than 6 mm

5. You can increase your absorption of calcium by:
a. Getting adequate amounts of vitamin D

b. Staying out of the sun

c. Increasing your intake of chocolate

d. Eating more lettuce

6. If you’re trying to lose weight, nutritionists recommend:
a. Eating just one meal a day

b. Cutting out all fat from your diet

c. Spreading your calories among five small meals a day

d. Decreasing your activity level

7. According to the most recent guidelines from the surgeon general, in order to achieve health benefits from exercise you should:
a. Exercise at a moderate level most if not all days of the week

b. Exercise in a gym

c. Exercise twice a week at maximal heart rate for your age

d. Exercise in Spandex

8. Which of the following is not a symptom of diabetes?
a. Frequent urination

b. Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

c. Hair loss

d. Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

9. Which of the following statements is false?
a. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in women.

b. The best time for premenopausal women to perform breast self-exams is seven to 10 days after the start of their period.

c. Giving birth to your first child after the age of 30 elevates your risk of breast cancer.

d. The highest incidence of breast cancer is found in women 40-50 years old.

10. Hormone replacement therapy (a combination of progestin and estrogen):
a. Is necessary for all menopausal women

b. Is sometimes prescribed for menopausal women who have had a hysterectomy

c. Is sometimes prescribed for menopausal women who still have their uterus

d. Is merely a money-making enterprise by pharmaceutical companies

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Related Sites
American Heart Association

American Cancer Society

American Public Health Association

National Osteoporosis Foundation

American Diabetes Association