It’s National Women’s Health Week!

This week is National Women’s Health Week, a week long health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH). It’s aim is to empower women to make their health a top priority. With the theme “It’s Your Time,” the nationwide initiative encourages women to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Important steps include:

• Getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week
• Eating a nutritious diet
• Visiting a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings
• Avoiding risky behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seat-belt
• Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress

An essential component in health care empowerment is education. Teaching women about the best ways to protect their health is vitally important. Recommendations for various screening tests and immunizations for women have been set as guidelines by womenshealth.gov, and are reproduced below. These charts are guidelines only. Your doctor or nurse will personalize the timing of each test and immunization to meet your health care needs.