EMPOWERING
WOMEN
OMEN’S W L A N O I T NA EEK H E A LT H W
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N MAY 10, THE 16TH ANNUAL NATIONAL WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK KICKS OFF AND GOES THROUGH MAY 16. LED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH, THE GOAL OF NWHW IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO MAKE THEIR HEALTH A PRIORITY. BESIDES DAY-TO-DAY HEALTHY HABITS, THE NWHW PROMOTES NATIONAL WOMEN’S CHECKUP DAY ON MAY 11, 2015. This will be the 13th annual incarnation of the day that
women are encouraged to schedule their annual well-woman visit. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, a well-woman visit is considered a preventive service and must be covered by most health plans at no cost to women.
Take Charge Of Your Health
Keep a record of your important health information. Know your family health history. See a doctor/health care practitioner regularly for checkups. Be prepared for medical appointments. Ask your doctor/health care practitioner and pharmacist questions.
4 STEPS TO A HEALTHIER YOU
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HEALTHY HEART It’s important to eat healthy, but it’s even more important to eat for your heart’s health. Avoid foods with
saturated and trans fats, and monitor your cholesterol and exercise.
Obviously, eating a lot of sugar, sodium and red meat are not good for your heart either. Moderation is key. “Eating a healthy diet is not about good foods and bad foods in isolation from the rest of your diet—it’s about the overall diet,” says Robert Eckel, M.D., previous American Heart Association president. Also, beware of fad diets. Even the trendy Paleo diet can promote weight loss at a rate that’s not healthy for your heart, according to the AHA.
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STRONG BONES According to Marcelle Pick, OB/ GYN and nurse practitioner, most of our diets are overwhelmed with acidic foods. Although our bodies are built to combat acid, too much acid
will end up forcing the body to pull alkalizing minerals from our bones to digest certain foods. This leads to a loss in
bone density over time and can eventually cause osteoporosis. Pick writes, “Paying attention to your pH is one place you can begin to make an immediate positive change to preserve your long-term health.” A quick Internet search will yield of list of acidic and alkaline foods, and your doctor can test your pH levels. You can also test your own saliva and urine with litmus strips from your local pharmacy.
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MUSCLE MASS It goes without saying that working out is good for your overall health, but did you know that building
strong muscles can halt and even reverse diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular illness and hypertension? Try targeted muscle-building exercises and rotate areas worked on from day to day.
4
MENTAL HEALTH
Women are far more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression than men, according to The American Institute of Stress. Changing hormone
levels, being more invested in relationships and managing work and family responsibilities are the main explanations. Marcelle Pick urges women to get to the root of what’s causing their stress. “Everything we know about stress—either real or perceived—acute or chronic affects your health,” she writes. Eating healthy will fuel your body when the stress hormone cortisol is released, doing something relaxing for 15 to 30 minutes each day can quiet your nerves, and handling any deep emotional issues with psychotherapy can help resolve issues.
Weights © Valerii Ivashchenko; Woman © vita khorzhevska; Bone, Muscle and Brain Icons © Dream Master; Heart Icon © Visual Idiot / Shutterstock.com
LIVINGWELL
Sources: American Heart Association, womentowomen.com, medhealth.net, The American Institute of Stress, womenshealth.gov
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