a good way to It s been 25 years since the best-selling book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus was published to help bridge the great psychological divide between the sexes, and to explore exactly how we differ. And while it s questionable as to whether any progress has been made on that front, it is becoming increasingly clear that women often have very different physical health issues and needs than their male counterparts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women s Health is leading the charge with National Women s Health Week (NWHW), an initiative intended to empower women to make their health a priority and to educate themselves about how to achieve better health at every age. This year s observance of National Women s Health Week kicks off on Mother s Day, May 14, and runs through May 20. Liesl B. Smith, M.D. , an OB/GYN and physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Dallas, feels that any opportunity that provides public health education is beneficial. Opportunities to provide attention to a certain health issue are certainly helpful, she says. A perfect example of that is how breast cancer awareness campaigns in October have improved women s knowledge about breast health, and have also created fundraising opportunities for research projects and screening programs for uninsured women. National Women s Health Week provides a platform for educating women about all aspects of their health. The NWHW website provides information for women in every decade of life , starting from their 20s to their 90s and beyond, with tips on general health, diseases and conditions, and conditions, as well as reproductive and sexual health advice for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Smith believes that it s important for women to know how their wellness needs will change as they age, and to have information and access to preventative care and screenings as the years pass. Women s health needs change throughout their lives, with some based on age and others based on the stage of life a woman is in, she explains. For example, does she want to become pregnant or prevent pregnancies? Is she approaching menopause? The need to address certain diseases, including sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer, and to provide preventative care such as human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, is greater when it comes to younger women. As a woman ages, she needs screenings for breast and colon cancer. Those with lower risk for that can stop being screened for that. In addition to encouraging women to receive the proper screenings and medical care for their age brackets, organizers of NWHW also suggest that women consider the following steps to achieve a healthy lifestyle: Physical activity Proper nutrition Mental health care (including adequate sleep and stress management) Eliminating unhealthy or risky behaviors (including smoking , texting and driving , etc.) As I often tell patients, you can t expect to feel well if you don t treat your body, including your brain, well, Smith says. Getting enough sleep, exercising adequately, eating a healthful diet (including avoiding excess alcohol), and making time for rest and relaxation are all important. Every day I have conversations with patients who complain of lack of energy, having a short fuse, not sleeping well, being overweight and other similar complaints. There is no medication to fix poor self-care. Women often spend so much of their time caring for others that they don t take good care of themselves, or perhaps they don t see the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Neither of those approaches will work in the long term. Women can advocate for each other by encouraging healthier habits and finding ways to celebrate National Women s Health Week. Additionally, Smith encourages making small lifestyle changes that are easy to maintain but can make a big impact in the long run. Eat a healthy diet, which is thankfully becoming easier to do with our better access to healthful food choices in more places, she observes. You have to make smart choices about what and how much goes in your mouth. Move every day. Some days you might get lots of exercise and some days less, but keep up the effort to do something active daily, even if it is just a walk around the block or using stairs instead of an elevator. Be aware of your mental health and don t be afraid to access mental health care. Texas Health has greatly improved access to mental health care with their Metroplex-wide referral line ( 682-236-6023), which I give out to patients every day. Remember, a trained counselor can equip you with great skills to keep the stress of life from getting the better of you. general health , women's health , Women's Health Week you actually
remedies Healthy, Empowered Women at Every Age being attentive to
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