HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Health experts estimate that nearly 14,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer, with more than 4,000 dying from the fourth-most common cancer in women worldwide.

Cervical cancer is most devastating in middle- and low-income countries, but in the U.S., efforts to get ahead of the diagnosis have been successful. But that's the key — getting ahead of it.

"Unfortunately when diagnosed in late stages, [cervical cancer] can cause quite a detriment to quality of life and can be challenging to cure,” said Dr. Danielle Chau, a gynecological oncologist with Virginia Oncology Associates at Sentara.

Nearly all cervical cancer cases are caused by the huma papillomavirus, or HPV, with 80% to 85% of everyone in the U.S. exposed to HPV.

For most, it's a temporary virus, but for a small group, their bodies are unable to clear it. It's something Chau feels strongly about.

"Because it's something that I feel like, if we have enough advocacy for, we can actually prevent this in the pre-cancerous stages," Chau said.

She stresses the importance of screening, such as a simple pelvic exam or pap smear. A vaccine that guards against HPV was introduced in 2006. Doctors recommend getting it at age 11 or 12. 

"Depending on their age, it's either two vaccines or three vaccines that they'll get," Chau said.

And studies show it's been able to be 97% to 99% effective in preventing HPV. And it's been proven effective — even if you've already had a history of cervical pre-cancer.

"If they get vaccinated after that point, that we can actually reduce their risk of recurrence by 65%," Chau said.

Symptoms of cervical cancer can include abnormal spotting after intercourse, heavy discharge, a sensation of “pelvic fullness” and changes in bowel or bladder habits.

A test you can take at home for cervical cancer is currently being studied and awaiting approval by the FDA.

(WAVY) — Millions of pets are microchipped in case they go missing, giving a veterinarian or shelter the ability to scan for the chip and find the owner's information. However, one company that has serviced animals nationwide has reportedly gone out of business.

Zeke is a rambunctious and rowdy four-month-old boxer mix. He's also been microchipped at the Norfolk SPCA. It's an easy way for shelters or vets to find a pet's owner's information if they get lost.

There are numerous chip companies out there, and one — Save This Life — recently seemed to go out of business. 10 On Your Side tried calling the number, only to get a recording saying our call could not be completed. What does this mean for those using the chip?

"It would just ring as there is a chip in them, but it doesn't have the data, so it doesn't tell us anything about the ownership of the animal," said Jesika Streeter, deputy director at the Norfolk SPCA. "So, it doesn't give a phone number, it doesn't give us an email."

Streeter believes the company was popular with breeders. But if you don't know what company tracks your pet's chip — the shelter, or a vet will scan them for free.

The chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is placed between the animal’s shoulder blades. When scanned, it registers a 15-digit ID number. If your pet is tracked by “Save This Life,” you’ll need that number to re-register your pet’s chip with another company.

Companies usually charge around $20 to register, but certain ones do it for free:

And if you want to double down, Streeter suggests having a QR code added to your pet's collar.

"I'm using a QR code on their tag," Streeter said. "So yes, they are chipped, but now I'm a little leery. So, it's a QR code that anyone can scan with their phone and it gives them all of my information."

You can find QR code tags for your pet on Amazon, at PetSmart or by searching Google for “QR codes pet tags.”

Overall, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

"Microchips save lives," Streeter said. "We had a story of a cat that ... came in for surgery, actually, and they were chipped and they ended up being missing from Ohio for about seven months."

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — February is American Heart Month, and knowing your blood pressure is a big part of staying healthy.

Blood pressure tells a doctor how well your heart is pumping blood through your body. There are always two numbers on a reading, a higher number over a lower number. But what are they?

“There’s a systolic number. That’s when the heart is beating. And then there’s a diastolic number and that’s when the heart is relaxing," said Dr. Ronald McKechnie, a cardiologist for Sentara Health Interventional. “A normal blood pressure would be 120 over 80. Less than that is normal."

Elevated blood pressure is anything between 120 and 139 over 80 or below. Above 139 and you’re looking at something called hypertension — a condition in which the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high. Doctors call it a silent killer.

“So, most people don’t recognize they have an issue until it’s been running high for a number of years,” McKechnie said.

Signs can be shortness of breath, occasional chest pain and headaches. It can lead to a heart attack, a stroke, trouble with kidney function, vision loss and leg circulation issues. And minority populations, like African Americans, are adversely affected.

“They are adversely affected by social determinants of health," said Dr. Francine Pearce, medical director of health equity for Sentara Health. "And those are the non-medical impacts. That includes education — so lower education — economics, if you have financial stress, access to health, as well as unsafe neighborhoods or communities can really impact somebody’s stress level, leading to hypertension."

Other minorities at risk of hypertension include Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans. Other risk factors are inactivity, sleep apnea, excessive alcohol, a diet high in salt and obesity. Seventy-nine percent of Americans are considered obese. If you have high blood pressure, doctors say for every 10 milliliters that you lower your blood pressure, you drop your risk of cardiovascular events by 20%. Experts say know your numbers.

“Knowing your blood pressure, knowing your weight circumference, knowing your hemoglobin A1C so that you can know what your risks are [is important] because most of these things can be managed by early intervention of a change in diet and increasing physical activity,” Pearce said.

They suggest home blood pressure monitoring. You can shop for blood pressure cuffs online. However, it’s important to know how to take your blood pressure. Studies have shown you need to hold your arm at the level of your heart, so rest on a desk or the arm of a chair. If it’s in your lap or hanging down, it could lead to a higher reading. If you plan to buy a cuff of your own, the American Heart Association has detailed information about how and when to take it:

For a list of Sentara Community Care Centers where you can get your blood pressure taken, visit Sentara Community Care.

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine raised the red flag on increased air traffic around Reagan National Airport more than a year before Wednesday evening's crash of an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter.

Sen. Mark Warner, who lives in northern Virginia, witnessed the aftermath of the tragedy and spent much of Thursday morning at Reagan National Airport. He addressed the Senate before confirmation hearings proceeded.

"There will be a time to figure out how, what happened and how we rectify it," Warner said. "But today, our thoughts and prayers ought to be with the families, and again, thanking our first responders."

Warner spoke out last year when the FAA was considering adding five additional flights to an already busy airstrip.

“Adding these additional flights will both cause, I believe, a safety challenge and increased delays,” Warner said.

It was a sentiment echoed by Sen. Tim Kaine when he said Thursday that "you're also increasing safety risk, because when you have one plane taking off or landing every minute, while other planes are circling, especially in very constricted air space, … you run the risk of serious challenge."

Kaine offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the crash.

"We offer our profound condolences to them and our sorrow for this tragedy," Kaine said. "There are going to be a lot of questions, obviously, a lot of questions and that's what the NTSB's job is — to be an independent investigator of incidents like this. And they are here, we were in dialogue with them earlier."

10 On Your Side was at an event earlier Thursday with Rep. Bobby Scott, who shared his thoughts on the crash.

"Well, this is a very difficult time for all of the families involved," Scott said. "We've gotten air safety to the point where we don't have air crashes. It's been at least a decade since there's been any deaths on a commercial airline. And so, we have to find out what happened in this situation. I mean, our condolences go out to the families. There are many families involved."

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised the swiftness of the responders, from the Coast Guard and local fire rescue teams, up to the federal level, including the FBI, saying they continue their difficult work.