Top 10 Ways for Women to Boost Their Health

All of us may have thought of these before but have you ever actually put them to use?

1.  Know you family’s history.  Reduce your risk for specific disease by asking about your family’s health history.  Ask your family members general health questions and let them volunteer any specifics.  Relay this information to your doctor.  This may help him/her pinpoint symptoms. 
2. Rest Up.  Not getting enough sleep could be as bad to your body and health as getting improper nutrition or not enough exercise.  The human body needs to get 7-9 hours of sleep out of every 24 hours in order to properly function and re-coop.
3. Eat Right.  Consuming a balanced diet is very important.  We all know that but with so many quick easy “fast” foods we all make bad choices.  Try to consume as little trans and saturated fats as possible.  Try to eat monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids.  Nuts are an awesome source, but not too many as they are high in calories.
4. Stop Smoking.  19.8% of Americans are smokers, that’s 43.4 million people.  Smoking can up your risk for heart disease and numerous cancers.  If you cannot quite without assistance ask your doctor for help.
5. Cut Out Stress.   Taking on too much leads to stress, stress leads to high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke.  Try methods such as yoga at least once a week to nix the stress.
6. Wear Sunscreen.   Exposure to sun for as little as 15 minutes a day greatly increases your risk of skin cancer and wrinkles.  Use sunscreen daily, even on the cloudy days.
7. Get Moving.  Getting plenty of exercise can help fight against heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.  Make sure to try and get 30 of blood pumping activity each day.
8. Always Have Safe Sex.    If you choose to have unprotected sex you are putting yourself at risk for numerous sexually transmitted diseases that can even be life threatening.  If you are unsure about your partner ALWAYS use a condom.   Ask your partner to get tested with you before performing any sexual acts.
9.  Take Care Of Your “Girls”.  Make sure to do self breast exams AT LEAST monthly.  The odds of a woman with no family history of breast cancer has a 1 in 13 chance of getting breast cancer.
10. Always Wear Your Seat Belt.  Drive within the speed limit and always buckle up.  Most accidents happen within 2 miles of home.  Crashes are the most common cause of accidental death for women ages 25-34.