Women Be Empowered: Take Control of Your Health

May is National Women's Health Month!

Ladies, be empowered to take control of your health and make informed decisions about your overall well-being.

There is so much information online about the importance of physical movement, mental well-being, the benefits of cooking and eating meals at home, and various topics of personal self-care priority. Yet, women still put everyone first, before ourselves.

Think about that for a moment.

It is not selfish to prioritize our well-being.

Ladies, if we can't keep our house clean, organized, and operating smoothly (our body), how do we plan on keeping our household running smoothly (family or self)?

We are the foundation of our little world.

May is National Women's Health Month, so I would like to discuss three areas where women have seen increased numbers over the last decade.

Stress and Anxiety

Raising a family or living in our country has become challenging since the COVID-19 pandemic, political indifference, high unemployment rates, inflation, bird flu, and family conflicts. I don't know about you, but I can often sense that tension in the air.

This unprecedented period in life has increased our anxiety levels. And maintaining elevated stress levels for a prolonged period can impact your body, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Everyone has experienced the Fight/Flight Mode. However, staying in the mode for an extended period and going unchecked stress will contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

We must become more mindful of our triggers and use strategic tools to help reduce our stress. One method you can use is the 4-Step Breathing Technique. It has been proven effective in decreasing stress levels and blood pressure.

I use this tool to help manage my stress when it rises due to daily stressors. And when I experience stress-induced insomnia. Give it a try next time you feel stressed.

Cardiovascular Disease

Heart Disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, and it strikes more women than men.

Heart disease is preventable and manageable. Genetics, gender, and ethnicity do play a role in developing CVD, but at the end of the day, lifestyle is the primary contributor.

What small changes can we make?

Start walking for health. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity for health benefits and 300 minutes or more for added health benefits and weight loss.

Start eating healthy for fuel. 80% is nutritional habits, and 20% is exercise. Reset your eating habits. Go for moderation and decrease highly processed foods found in fast food, packaged food, artificial sweeteners, soda, and simple carbohydrates such as pastries, table sugar, cookies, donuts, etc.

The goal is to move the body, eat healthy, and not be inactive all day.

Women and Cancer

We need to discuss the different cancers women face today. Second, we need to be aware that cancer can occur at any age, but the risk goes up as we get older.

These are some of the cancers that most often affect women are lung, breast, colorectal, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, and skin.

Knowing about these cancers and what you can do to help prevent them or find them early (when they are small, haven't spread, and might be easier to treat) may help save your life.

What We Know

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. According to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women in the US and is the leading cause of cancer death.

However, Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women. It's also the second-leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer).

Did you know that women under the age of 50 being diagnosed with Breast Cancer has risen in the last five years?

Be proactive! Mammograms can detect breast cancer early, possibly before it has spread.

In the News

To be honest with you, I've never thought about Colorectal Cancer and women. CRC has been reported in the news more frequently because, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, more young people (under 50) in the United States are being diagnosed with CRC at an alarming rate. That statement took me by surprise.

Currently, researchers are still trying to find out why young adults are the only population group experiencing an increase in colorectal cancer, not the older population, which has seen a decline.

Here are some factors that may increase colorectal cancer risk: physical inactivity, family history, colorectal polyps, heavy alcohol use, history of cancer, a diet high in red and processed meats, obesity, and smoking.

We need to research, read, and learn so we are our health advocates, and it is not selfish to prioritize our well-being. Healthy 365 Life is a lifestyle, a healthy life for this lifetime.

Professional Organizations to learn more about health:

1. American Heart Association

2. American Breast Cancer Foundation

3. Colorectal Cancer Alliance