MOTHER'S DAY KICKS OFF NATIONAL WOMEN'S
HEALTH WEEK
~ The 2008 Theme:
"It's Your Time: Get Inspired. Get Healthy" ~
May 2008
Washington, D.C. - The 9th
annual National Women's Health Week, beginning on Mother's
Day, May 11, 2008 empowers women across the country
to get healthy by taking action. The nationwide initiative,
coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH), encourages
women to make their health a top priority and take simple
steps for a longer, healthier and happier life. During
the week, families, communities, businesses, government,
health organizations and other groups work together
to educate women about steps they can take to improve
their physical and mental health and prevent disease,
like:
-
Engaging in physical activity most days of the
week
-
Eating a nutritious diet o Receiving regular check-ups
and preventive screenings
-
Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not
wearing a seatbelt
It is important to celebrate
National Women's Health Week to remind women that taking
care of themselves is essential to living longer, healthier
and happier lives. Women are often the caregivers for
their spouses, children and parents and forget to focus
on their own health. But research shows that when women
take care of themselves, the health of their family
improves. During National Women's Health Week it is
important to educate our wives, mothers, grandmothers,
daughters, sisters, aunts and girlfriends about the
steps they can take 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.
Women across the country are
also encouraged to participate in the WOMAN Challenge,
an eight-week physical activity challenge for better
health. This free challenge encourages women to walk
10,000 steps or get 30 minutes of moderate exercise
every day. Participants will get a tracking log to record
their progress throughout the eight weeks. They will
also receive weekly motivational e-mails and health
tips to help them reach their goals. For information
on the Challenge and National Women's Health Week, log
on to www.womenshealth.gov/whw.
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