Happy Mother’s Day to all Women
by Ngozi Osuagwu, MD | May 14th, 2017
My sister texted me ‘Happy Mother’s Day wishes’ and I responded by texting her ‘thank you’. After a minute, I sent another message, ‘Happy Mother’s Day’. My sister does not have any biological children, but she has been a woman who has been a care-giver providing unconditional love to the people that surround her. I believe that is why Mother’s Day marks the first day of National Women’s Health Week (NWHW) for all women – mothers, godmothers, daughters, aunts, nieces, sisters, cousins and friends. The NWHW is an observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health. The goal is to empower women to make their health a priority.
The questions this year is –What steps can you take for better health? It offers suggestions for each decade from your 20s to your 90s. The other feature this year is the – What’s your health style quiz. Click here to take the quiz.
There are five areas to consider in your step to a healthier you:
- Schedule your well-woman visit – If you cannot remember when you last had your visit, it is probably time to schedule. Do not get alarmed if you cannot get in as soon as possible, the first step is scheduling the appointment. Our series this year- Gynecology 110 – reviewed the ten reasons to have this exam.
- Pay attention to your mental health – I have said it many times, there is no shame is getting help. Reach out to friends and family. Call 1-800-662-4357 for confidential treatment referral and information on mental health and substance abuse.
- Engage in safe behaviors – Wear your seatbelts all the time, do not text and drive, no drinking and driving to name a few.
- Get active – I am not asking you to train for a marathon. It would be great to work out 30 minutes in a day, five days a week, but something is better than nothing. Remember to incorporate aerobics (ex. dance the wobble), strength training ( ex. get two cans in your pantry and move your arms)), flexibility (ex. touch your toes) and balance (ex. stand on one foot near a wall for 20 seconds).
- Eat healthy – I really loved those seven words I learned from Michael Pollan’s book – eat food, not too much, mostly plants. Minimize the amount of processed food. Stick mostly with fresh and frozen food. Drink more water. ChooseMyPlate.gov is a great resource.
For more information one each of the items above, click this infographics.
I just heard that Americans spend $21 billion on Mother’s Day gifts. It is still not too late to give one more gift to that person that is close to you. Ask them the following question – ‘What steps are you taking for a better health’? Asking the question is free and what a wonderful gift to show that you care.
