May 10, 2016

This week women of every age across the country are challenging themselves to be healthy. National Women’s Heath Week is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. The goal is to empower every woman to make her health a priority, and steps she can take to improve her health.

Better Health for Every Age

There are some basic steps that you can take to improve your physical and mental health:

• Get a well-woman check-up and preventative screenings
• Get active by doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day
• Eat healthy
• Support your mental health with managing stress and getting plenty of sleep
• Avoid risky behaviors like smoking, excessive drinking, or texting while driving

As you age your health needs change. All women need to focus on their general health and prevention of diseases and adverse health conditions. But women in their childbearing years need to make their reproductive and sexual health a priority. In addition to screenings for sexually transmitted diseases and a Pap test, you should start a conversation with your doctor about your plans for having children.^1,2,3 Almost one out of two pregnancies (45%) is unplanned.⁴ You should talk to your doctors about family planning and birth control.

If you’re pregnant, your prenatal care can also be part of a well-woman visit. There are certain tests during pregnancy that are recommended to check both mom and baby’s health. As you move into your 40s and 50s the conversation with your health care provider will shift to perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.^3,5

The Women’s Health website provides excellent checklists for women at every age. Click below to download and print specific steps for better health for your age:   

Take the Pledge for Better Health

In an effort to bring about better health for women across the county, the Office of Women’s Health is challenging women to take the National Women’s Health Week Pledge. In doing so women pledge to take at least one step to improve their health. For women who are pregnant this is an excellent opportunity to take care of yourself and also give your baby a healthy start to life.

TAKE THE PLEDGE>> 

Nutritional Support for Mothers & Babies

The Prenate^® Vitamin Family is committed to promoting women’s health. Prenate^® Vitamins can help support mother and baby throughout pregnancy and through labor and delivery.  Even with a balanced and healthy diet, many women have trouble meeting their daily recommended intakes for certain vitamins and minerals. Talk to your doctor to see if a prenatal vitamin may be right for you to help fill nutritional gaps.