Steps Women Can Take for Better Health – National Women’s Health Week

National Women’s Health Week (NWHW) is a week-long health observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). The Obesity Medicine Association is proud to partner with them and support women. This week — May 10-16, 2020 — serves as a reminder for women and girls to make their health a priority and take care of themselves, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. We want all women and girls, especially those with underlying health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and women 65 years and older, to pay close attention to their physical and mental health and take steps to protect them. Having underlying or chronic health conditions can increase the risk of illness, including COVID-19.

Steps Women Can Take for Better Health

• Talk to your healthcare provider.
  Pay attention to your overall health and schedule an in-person or telehealth visit with your health provider:
  • if you have concerns about COVID-19,
  • if you are sick or something doesn’t feel normal;
  • if stress is getting in the way of your daily activities or,
  • If you have a health condition, such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity, develop or maintain a plan to keep it under control.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Get and stay active regularly in your home or outside your home.
• Eat heart-healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks.
• Take care of your mental health
  • Stay connected with family and friends.
  • Loneliness and social isolation can increase your risks of heart disease and depression and weaken your immune system.
• Find healthy ways to manage stress.
• Practice good sleep habits to improve your mental and physical health and boost your immune system:
  • Follow a routine for going to sleep – be consistent in going to bed and getting up – even on weekends.
  • Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
• Monitor alcohol intake and avoid illicit drugs, including drugs that are not prescribed to you.
• Look out for your lungs
  • Try to quit smoking and vaping.
  • Smoking weakens your lungs and puts you at a much higher risk of having severe complications from infections like COVID-19.
• Slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 while protecting yourself.
  To get the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 and things you can do to be healthy and safe, visit:
  • CDC.gov/coronavirus
  • Coronavirus.gov
  • USA.gov/coronavirus
  • When to Seek Emergency Care By: Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health
  • When to Seek Emergency Care(link is external)(video) By Brett P. Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health

Focusing on your health is important. Use this tool to find ideas to improve your health in a way that works for you. https://go.usa.gov/xmnGe #NWHW #FindYourHealth