What is National Women’s Health Week?

National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health.

The theme for 2011 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages them to take steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases.

Those 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 seatbelt

* Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress

Why celebrate National Women’s Health Week?

We all have a role to play in women’s health. Women often serve as caregivers for their families, putting the needs of their spouses, children, and parents before their own. As a result, women’s health and wellbeing becomes secondary. As a community, it is our responsibility to support the important women we know and do everything we can to help them take steps for longer, healthier, and happier lives.

It is also now easier than ever before for women to take charge of their health, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, a landmark health care reform law enacted last year. This law gives Americans greater choice and better control over their own health care and includes changes that are especially meaningful to women.

For instance, new plans must cover recommended preventive services, including mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, and well-baby and well-child screenings without charging deductibles, co-payments, or co-insurance. It also assures women the right to see an OB/GYN without having to obtain a referral first.

To learn more about the new benefits and cost savings available, visit www.HealthCare.gov

When is National Women’s Health Week?

The 12th annual National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2011 and is celebrated until May 14, 2011. National Women’s Checkup Day is Monday, May 9, 2011.

Quitline highlights women’s health

Hawaii mothers and women can make the commitment to living a healthier lifestyle, including pledging to be smoke-free. Hawaii moms can celebrate Mother’s Day by setting May 8 as their quit date and pledging to be tobacco-free or ask their son, daughter or husband to quit as their Mother’s Day present!

Would you be interested in including some tips for Hawaii mothers in an upcoming story as a brief mention?

In Hawaii, approximately 13.9 percent of adult females smoke – which is nearly 69,600 women statewide. Tobacco use is Hawaii’s number one cause of preventable death and it costs the state $104 million/year in health care costs to treat female smokers suffering from tobacco-related illnesses.

National Women’s Health Week is a week-long health observance that empowers women to make their health a top priority and encourages them to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life.

For women who are interested in quitting smoking, some tips include:

* Throw out the cigarettes – having them around is a temptation you just don’t need.

* Know your smoking triggers. Your mind is conditioned to want a cigarette in certain places, at specific events, when you’re with particular people, or when you’re feeling a certain emotion. As you’re in the process of quitting, take the time to recondition your mind to deal with these people, places and things without a puff.

* Drink lots of water. Cigarettes contain thousands of toxins. While you’re quitting, take the opportunity to flush some of the poisons out with water

And there is plenty of support for moms who want to quit! The Hawaii Tobacco Quitline is a FREE and convenient telephone service for anyone who wants to quit tobacco. Call1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.clearthesmoke.org.

— Find out more:
www.HealthCare.gov
www.womenshealth.gov/whw/
www.clearthesmoke.org