Embracing the Health and Wellbeing of Women

Women are the foundation of the family. Their health is essential for the wellbeing of the entire family; hence, investing in the health and wellbeing of girls and women is crucial for maintaining the health and wellbeing of the entire population.

When we think of women's health and wellbeing, we usually think of gynecological matters, such as pregnancy and childbirth, menstruation, menopause, infertility, and breast health as well. While these are key health issues, women's health is much more than that: it encompasses all kinds of health concerns, including physical, mental, and emotional. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol, etc. are some of the other prevalent health issues impacting women, for which a general health checkup is imperative.

It is also important to note that health issues can impact women in different ways than men; for example, heart disease symptoms can look different in women than in men, often requiring differing approaches to diagnosis and treatment that take women's physiological differences into account.

Women's unique health needs must be the responsibility of healthcare providers as well as women's families, and most importantly, women themselves. Often, a woman's role in her family is turned into prioritizing her children and husband's health while disregarding her own. Moreover, socioeconomic challenges such as managing both work and domestic responsibilities, raising children, and being dependent on the husband or male family members for travelling, limit women's ability to care for their health. There is a dire need to spread education and awareness, particularly amongst men, on these issues so women can have the support they need from their families to improve their health-seeking behavior.

Along with this awareness, women themselves should be equipped with the knowledge to take charge of their own health. This year, we encourage women to embrace their health by developing healthy habits to improve their overall wellbeing:

Every day:

• Exercise for at least 30 minutes

• Use sunscreen when going outdoors

• Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water

• Eat protein such as poultry, dairy foods, fish, eggs, nuts, etc.

• Eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables combined

Every month:

• Do an oral cavity self-exam of your teeth, gums, tongue, lips

• Do a full-body self-exam for unusual moles, growths or irregular skin conditions; check your breasts, armpits, and collarbones for lumps, thickening or any other unusual condition

Every year:

• Get blood tests done to screen for health problems

• Have a full dental checkup
  

• Have your bones checked for vitamin D and calcium deficiency

• Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked

• Get mammograms done for breast cancer screening

• Get Pap tests starting from age 21 and then once every three years for cervical cancer screening

In addition to these preventive measures, women must not ignore symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, headache, dizziness, muscle pain, weakness, lack of concentration or mood swings. In fact, women are more likely to suffer from headaches than men due to hormonal changes caused by menstruation, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause. To help prevent or mitigate such conditions, women must maintain a generally healthy lifestyle, which includes staying consistent with hydration, sleep, and mealtimes.