Why Women’s Health is Important at All Ages

Next week is National Women’s Health Week (May 8-14), commencing conveniently on Mother’s Day. The Office on Women’s Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, started the National Women’s Health Week nearly two decades ago. This will be the 17th year it has lead the week focusing on women’s health.

National Women’s Health Week has two goals:

1. Inspire women across the country to place more importance on their health
2. Educate women on what they can do to enhance their health

To help achieve these goals, the Office on Women’s Health created a list of recommendations – most tips transcend all age groups from those in early womanhood to those later on.

How are you doing on these suggestions for all ages?

• Be active
• Eat with your health in mind
• Get annual well-woman visit/checkups and preventative screenings
  • Through the Affordable Care Act, this visit will be free (for most private health plans)
• Manage factors that affect your mental health, such as sleep and stress
• Stop unhealthy behaviors like smoking, texting while driving and driving without a seatbelt

While these tips are beneficial for women of any age, below are some age-specific recommendations.

If you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s, consider these suggestions for a healthy life:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Be active for about 30 minutes most days
• Limit your alcohol intake
• Get a flu shot
• Discuss any domestic violence with your doctor
• If you plan to have children, talk to your doctor about it

How about these tips for women in their 50s and 60s?

• Stop smoking
• Get a shingles shot
• Ask your doctor about daily use of Aspirin
• Have your cholesterol checked, especially if you have a family history of heart issues
• Get a mammogram once every two years
• Get checked for colorectal cancer

Finally, here are health tips for those in their 70s, 80s and 90s:

• Talk with your doctor about how to prevent falls
• Get pneumonia shots
• Ask your doctor about other necessary shots
• Talk to your doctor about any vision or hearing issues
• Be active for around 30 minutes most days (for those who have little to no limitations)
• Discuss any mental health concerns, like stress and depression, with your doctor

In addition to these tips, you can find other preventative services through a tool called MyHealthFinder. Created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, MyHealthFinder can help both genders, as well as all age groups, easily identify preventative services. Simply plug in your age and gender, and you will be shown a list of relevant preventive services. Give it a try!

Your health is important. Follow these age-appropriate suggestions to get your health on track, if it’s currently not. If you happen to be a woman using prescription drugs, be sure to check our search tool for the best pharmacy prices near you. Part of being a healthy woman is adhering to the medications your doctor has prescribed. Don’t ever let cost be a factor when taking your meds.