Beginning on Mother’s Day and continuing through the second full week in May, National Women’s Health Week encourages women to be healthy by taking action. It’s a reminder that taking care of ourselves is essential to living longer, healthier, and happier lives.

We know that women are often the caregivers for their spouses, children, and parents, but sometimes forget to focus on their own health. But research shows that when women take care of themselves, the health of their family improves.

Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health (OWH), National Women’s Health Week encourages women to make their own health a top priority. Simple steps can improve physical and mental health and prevent disease, like:

• Engaging in physical activity most days of the week
• Eating a nutritious diet with five or more fruits and vegetables per day
• Visiting a healthcare provider to receive regular check-ups and preventive screenings
• Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt

This nationwide initiative is an opportunity to encourage your own mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends to improve their health and prevent disease. After all, when women take even the simplest steps to improve their health, the results can be significant and everyone will benefit.

A highlight of the 9th annual National Women’s Health Week, celebrated May 11–17, 2008, is National Women’s Check-Up Day on Monday, May 12. This observance encourages women to visit their healthcare professional to receive or schedule a checkup.

Regular check-ups are vital to the early detection of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health illnesses, sexually transmitted diseases, and other conditions. Screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap smears, can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Some women need certain screenin--g tests earlier, or more often, than others.

Many of the leading causes of death among women can be successfully prevented or treated if the warning signs are caught early enough. For example, every year, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers are lost to breast and cervical cancer. It’s a real family tragedy.

You can encourage the important women in your life to participate in National Women’s Check-Up Day by contacting their healthcare provider to schedule check-ups and screening services. They should discuss with their provider which tests are right for them, when they should have them, and how often.

And remember to take care of yourself, too! As the slogan for National Women’s Health Week points out: “It’s Your Time: Get Inspired. Get Healthy.” If not now, when?

SCREENING TESTS FOR WOMEN: WHAT YOU NEED AND WHEN

Screening tests can find diseases early when they are easier to treat. Health experts from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have made recommendations, based on scientific evidence, about testing for the conditions below. Talk to your doctor about which ones apply to you, and when and how often you should be tested.

Obesity: Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

Breast Cancer: Have a mammogram every one to two years starting at age 40.

Cervical Cancer: Have a Pap smear every one to three years if you have ever been sexually active and are between the ages of 21 and 65.

High Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you are younger than 45, talk to your doctor about whether to have your cholesterol checked if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, if heart disease runs in your family, and/or you smoke.

High Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every two years. High blood pressure is defined as 140/90 or higher.

Colorectal Cancer: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier.

Diabetes: Have a test for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Depression: Your emotional health is as important as your physical health. If you have felt “down,” sad, or hopeless over the past weeks or have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, you may be depressed. Talk to your doctor about being screened for depression.

Osteoporosis: Have a bone density test beginning at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis. If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 lbs. or less, talk to your doctor about being tested.

Chlamydia and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections: Have a test for chlamydia if you are 25 or younger and sexually active. If you are older, talk to your doctor about being tested. Also ask whether you should be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases.

HIV: Have a test to screen for HIV infection if you have had unprotected sex with multiple partners; are pregnant, have used or now use injection drugs; if you exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do; have past or present sex partners who are HIV-infected, are bisexual, or use injection drugs; are being treated for sexually transmitted diseases; and/or had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.

Mary Ann Reuter lives in Boise and writes on health and lifestyle issues.

Note: For more information about National Women’s Health Week activities, visit womenshealth.gov/whw or call (800) 994-9662 [TTY: (888) 220-5446].