National Women’s Health Week

This past Sunday marked the beginning of National Women’s Health Week, a time in which we Americans encourage the women in our lives to get checkups to ensure they live long healthy lives. With the right Mindful steps, we can assure that all American women are getting the medical treatment they deserve.

National Women’s Health Week is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health. It “encourages communities, businesses, the government, health organizations, and other groups to promote women’s health.” This is very crucial because though women are more likely to visit a medical provider than men (78 percent compared to 67 percent), overall Americans are making fewer visits to the doctor. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that both healthy Americans and Americans with poor health have reduced their doctor visits.

The top two leading causes of death for American women are heart disease (24 percent) and cancer (22 percent). Other medical conditions women should be wary of include: stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. While genetics and other factors do contribute to these medical conditions, most can be prevented with proper health care.

National Women’s Health Week Tips

To celebrate National Women’s Health Week, consider the Mindful tips from the U.S. Department of Health listed below.

1. Schedule checkups. Start by regularly visiting the doctor. Consider making an appointment for this week and request preventive screenings and tests for serious medical conditions. This is important since screening for things like cancer can prevent premature death by up to 35 percent.
2. Exercise. Whether it’s swimming, yoga, walking around the neighborhood, or recreational sports, staying active is important for your health. But don’t go at it alone. Studies show that exercising with a partner or group yields the best results. So get your family, friends, and even your pets in on the action.
3. Eat healthy. Making healthy eating choices now can keep you from developing serious medical conditions later. Consider cutting the salt and unhealthy fat from your diet and replacing them with fruits and vegetables. You can find Mindful recipes here.
4. Invest in your mental health. Don’t just focus on your physical wellbeing, your mental health is also important. Stress and lack of sleep can all take a toll on your mental health. Fortunately, there are Mindful stress-busting tips to consider like doing yoga. Having trouble sleeping? Consider Mindful tips like creating a sleep ritual.
5. Kick unhealthy habits. We all have habits that we would like to quit, but some habits like smoking and binge drinking can greatly affect our health. This week analyze your habits and consider taking steps to break them. Find Mindful habit-breaking suggestions here.