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National
Women’s Health Week urges Women to take
charge of their health
Jennifer Wider, M.D.
Society for Women’s Health Research
Newswise — Women are
often the primary caretakers of their
family's health, but when it comes to their
own needs, they often relegate themselves to
the bottom of the priority list. But studies
have consistently shown that when women make
the time to take better care of themselves,
the benefits trickle down to the entire
family.
This year, National
Women's Health Week kicks off on Mother's
Day, May 11, and runs through Saturday, May
17. The national observance empowers women
to take better care of their own health.
“It is important to be
a well-informed advocate for your own
health,” says Jo Parrish, vice president of
communications for the Society for Women’s
Health Research, a Washington, D.C., based
advocacy organization. “No one knows your
body and your personal and family history as
well as you do.
“Your health and the
quality of care you receive is a shared
responsibility between you and your health
care providers. National Women's Health Week
encourages women to make their health a
priority and to take steps toward a
healthier life.”
According to the
Society for Women’s Health Research, there
are five key health tests every woman needs
at various stages of life to stay healthy:
• Blood pressure and
cholesterol screening for heart disease
prevention
• Pap test for cervical cancer screening
• Mammogram to detect breast cancer when it
is most treatable
• Colonoscopy to prevent and detect colon
cancer
• Annual skin examination to prevent and
detect skin cancer
Many women aren’t aware
of the health issues they may face at
different times in their lives and instead
focus on reproductive and gynecologic health
issues.
“When people talk about
women's health, they're often focused on
reproductive health,” Parrish said. “That’s
a big part of women's health, but it doesn't
tell the full story. Women's health can
differ from men's health in almost every
area. Take heart disease, for example. It
strikes women, on average, 10 years later
than men and women often experience
different symptoms associated with a heart
attack. That’s why you should always ask
yourself how being a woman instead of a man
may uniquely affect your symptoms, diagnosis
and treatment of disease.”
Familiarizing yourself
with your family’s health history and
keeping copies of your own medical records
that includes tests and medications can go a
long way in safeguarding your health now and
in the future. Also knowing what screenings
are available and recommended can make a big
difference, too.
The “National Women’s
Check-up Day Pledge” is a major focus of
women’s health week. Women are encouraged to
schedule at least one of the recommended
health screenings within the next 90 days by
submitting an online pledge.
“You can submit your
pledge online through the official women's
health week Web site – www.womenshealth.gov/whw/
– where you can also find a list of
recommended health screenings for your age
group,” Parrish said.
In addition to taking
the pledge, women can also sign up for the
WOMAN Challenge, which stands for “Women and
Girls Out Moving Across the Nation.” It is
an eight-week physical activity challenge
for better health.
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