May is Women’s Health Month. Spring is in the air, and now is the perfect time to look after your health and that of the women you love. Here are 5 female health tips to celebrate this important month.
1. Schedule your annual exam
All women should have an annual well-woman exam, which is included as part of your EHE Health Pulse™ Physical. If you’ve been putting yours off, why not schedule it? These exams can catch potential health issues before they become problematic. They’re also a time to speak with your doctor about any physical or mental health concerns you might have.
Choose a provider who listens to you, takes your needs seriously, and validates your concerns. The doctor-patient relationship requires a great deal of trust. Women’s Health Month is an excellent time to make a change if you don’t feel like you have the best professional rapport with your provider.
2. Get a mammogram
Mammograms may not be the most pleasant experience, but they’re an essential part of looking after your health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all women ages 40 to 74 at average risk for breast cancer have a mammogram every two years. It’s a short, relatively painless procedure, though some women do report some discomfort. It’s best to schedule your mammogram for the time of the month that your breasts are the least sensitive, generally during the week after your menstrual period.
3. Talk to the women in your family
Conversation can be one of the most important female health tips. Many chronic conditions, from diabetes to cancer, tend to run in families. Get together with your female relatives this month for coffee and an honest discussion. It may feel awkward initially, but openly sharing health histories and risk factors can help everyone make better decisions to protect their health. You could even turn the meeting into a dinner party or other fun afternoon or evening activity.
Remember to be sensitive to your relatives’ feelings. While open discussions about health status have become more common in the past decades, they were considered taboo at one time. Some women, especially from previous generations, may not be comfortable discussing the topic. Try gently encouraging them by focusing on the importance of familial risk factors, but never pressure anyone to participate. Conversations with a few relatives should be enough to get a pretty good idea of your family history, even if not all the details are there.
4. Have some fun
All adults need about 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days per week. But this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go to a gym. Celebrate Women’s Health Month by reconnecting with the things you genuinely love to do. Are you a pickleball enthusiast? Do you enjoy dancing at a local club? Maybe playing fetch with your dog is more your speed. It doesn’t matter what the activity is as long as it gets you off the couch and moving around. You could even challenge yourself to try something new every week of the month, such as horseback riding or hiking. You might just discover a passion you never knew you had.
5. Prioritize self-care
Many women are stretched thin between responsibilities at work and home. But your mental and physical health will pay a price if you don’t make time for yourself. Throughout Women’s Health Month, book some time on your calendar, at least twice weekly, to focus on yourself. You can do the traditional self-care routines, such as reading a book while taking a bubble bath or sipping a glass of tea. Or you can do whatever makes you happy, whether playing video games, binge-watching TV, or having a long phone chat with your best friend.
Don’t get so caught up in your activities that you forget to sleep, though. Getting plenty of sleep is one of the most critical ways to prioritize self-care. It’s the time for both your mind and your body to repair all the microtrauma that occur throughout the day.
Why is Women’s Health Month important?
For too long, women’s unique health needs were often overlooked by the medical community. A hundred years ago, women usually received diagnoses such as “hysteria” or “a nervous disposition” and were given questionable tonics and other pseudo-treatments. Medical science has come a long way since then and now recognizes the importance of caring for women’s health. But women today are stretched thin, and some report that they don’t feel taken seriously by the medical establishment. Women’s Health Month celebrates and honors women and their unique needs. It’s a reminder to slow down and look after yourself with these female health tips.