Each year starting on Mother’s Day, we celebrate National Women’s Health Week. It’s a great time to support and encourage girls and women to make their personal health a priority. We, at MediBid, support women’s health awareness, and we hope you do too!

 

Why is women’s health important?

Women play a major role in the health of their families and it’s important that they have good health themselves.

Women have unique health issues. Some are related to female hormones, and some are due to the different ways women store fat (for example, women store fat in their hips and thighs). Women need to be aware of these differences and make sure they get enough exercise, eat well, visit their doctor regularly and take care of themselves. The more women know about their health, the better their chances are of making healthy choices.

 

The Risks to Women’s Health

When you think of the risks to your health, you may not consider some of the most significant threats. For example, heart disease is a leading cause of death for women in the U.S., even though it’s often thought of as a man’s disease. It kills nearly twice as many women each year as breast cancer does.

But heart disease isn’t the only threat out there; cancer and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) also take their toll on women every year:

• Breast, cervical and colorectal cancers are three major types of cancer that affect women, along with skin cancer and other forms of cancer.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over four-fifths of STDs occur among young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years old—but these diseases can affect people at any age.

Obesity, diabetes, depression and eating disorders are other top health problems affecting American women today:

• More than one third of adults in America are obese—which means they have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. Another third are overweight with BMIs between 25 and 30. Obesity increases a woman’s risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease—all major causes of death in American adults over age 65.
• Depression affects up to 12 million Americans each year and is slightly more common among women than men; postpartum depression may affect up to 15 percent of new mothers.

 

Prioritize Your Health By Minimizing The Risks

The more you know about your health, the better your chances are of being your best self. Some ways you can prioritize your health include:

• Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking can harm nearly every organ in your body, including your heart and lungs. Smoking also increases the risk for many cancers, heart disease, and lung diseases.

• Get enough sleep. The amount of sleep each person needs is individual, but the National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours a night.
• Eat healthy foods and maintain a healthy weight. A balanced diet can help prevent or help manage obesity-related conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Eating healthy also helps control your weight and have more energy for daily activities.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise helps lower blood pressure, lose weight or maintain a healthy body weight, and builds strength in muscles and bones.
• Avoid stress. When stress becomes overwhelming, it can cause tension headaches or interfere with other activities such as sleep or eating well (see above). Try taking some time to relax through meditation or deep breathing—even 10 minutes a day can make a difference!
• Incorporate safe behaviors into your daily routine. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption by monitoring your alcohol intake. Also, avoid illicit drugs, including drugs that are not prescribed to you.
• Take care of your mental health. Depression and anxiety are two common mental health disorders that can be debilitating when they’re not treated. Remember that mental illness is extremely common, and not something to be ashamed of. If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, find someone to talk to about those feelings, like friends and family members; your primary care doctor; or even an online counselor.
• Stay informed about your family’s health history. Sharing your health history with family members lets you take the steps needed to protect yourself from diseases or conditions that may run in the family. Keeping a detailed list of the medical conditions can provide valuable information to doctors who treat members of your family.
• Schedule an annual physical or wellness exam with your primary care doctor. Preventative care, such as health screenings and physical exams, helps you stay on top of your health history. Annual wellness exams can help detect cancer early when it is most treatable. Early detection and treatment can save your life!

 

Get Real-Time Updates On Your Health

National Women’s Health Week is all about empowering women to be their best selves and to make choices that will lead them to good health. Your smartphone can be an important tool for getting health information, staying active, managing stress, eating right, and monitoring your status.

Here are some of the ways a smartphone can help you live life at its fullest:

• Set alarms or reminders for taking medications or going to doctor visits.
• Use the Health app provided by your iPhone or Android devices to display the most important medical information, such as blood type, current medications, age, and important contacts in the event of an emergency.
• Use wellness apps for tracking your exercise time, calories burned during a workout, or number of steps walked each day. They’re all great ways to motivate you to get more active!
• Listen to health podcasts and audiobooks on your commute to work or during your lunch break.

 

MediBid Supports Women’s Health and Awareness

It’s important to find the right specialist for your needs and budget. MediBid connects patients with a provider in their area who will offer transparent pricing on services. We encourage women across the country to research their options, get informed about what you want, and educate yourself on how you can receive that care without breaking the bank.

You can get estimated costs on procedures such as:

• Cardiology for preventative and diagnostic testing
• Gynecology
• Imaging
• Routine labwork
• Dermatology
• Urology
• Orthopedics including surgery
• Regenerative medicine

MediBid is an excellent way to find the exact care that fits your needs.