Every year, at this time, you formulate certain new ways of life and living to be followed in the coming year. Some of these lose the focus in the mid-way while some are not implemented from the very beginning. The words just remain on the pages of your dairy and you come out with newer words the following year! But there are certain vital points which have to be followed strictly to ensure a better living in the New Year and this includes the concern on Women's Health.
Today's women are dynamic. They exercise a tight grip on their career as well as in their personal lives. They are into everything, in all the activities of the office, the home and the society. But they are so busy and devoted to these activities that they are hardly able to manage time for themselves. A woman is a doctor or a counselor for her family but there is no "doctor" or a "counselor" in her family to attend to her needs. So this New Year, one should focus on women's health and come out with resolutions to keep them happy and healthy. The list goes this way:
Women, Don't Overeat
Overeating is a concern for many women, but on the extreme, some women just choose to omit food groups as a part of their weight loss program, but it ends up in nothing! They again revert back to the old practices by the end of January. Women cannot withstand the sense of deprivation and they end up eating those chocolates, candies and pies once again. Cutting a food group comes as a punishment to them and the regime does not last long. So, it's better if you limit the consumption of fatty, sugary foods. For example, you can restrict the consumption of desserts only to Saturdays.
Women, Stop Making Unrealistic Assumptions on Fitness
Most of the women tend to come out with several excuses for not sticking with a fitness plan. They might cite busy schedules, lack of energy and money as the probable reasons. Some of them even think that without joining gyms or fitness classes they won't be able to achieve their weight loss targets. Unrealistic plans often leave them de-motivated and they opt for discontinuing a fitness plan. For example, they might set up a target to lose 10 kilos in two weeks and when this ends up in failure, they decide to withdraw themselves from the program. You don't have to run into a gym to get trimmed. Just a walking session in a local park can contribute towards the achievement of the weight loss goals.
Women, Protect Your Bones
Women across the world suffer from calcium deficiency and so it is very important to take a calcium-rich diet since the childhood. Around 80 percent of the victims of Osteoporosis (brittle bones) are women. Women above 50 years of age stand at a risk of Osteoporosis related bone fractures. You should include calcium supplements in your diet. You should have a minimum of three servings of dairy products per day. Canned salmon, green vegetables, calcium-fortified juices and cereals are also considered as rich sources of calcium. Pregnant and lactating women and those who are approaching their menopause should consider taking 1,500 mg of calcium daily. Additionally, calcium absorption in the body is supported by the presence of Vitamin D. So you should consider taking Vitamin D rich foods like fatty fish, dairy products fortified with Vitamin D and fish liver oil. Apart from maintaining the requisite dosage of calcium in the diet, you should also put emphasis on weight bearing exercises. Simple exercises like walking, running and dancing would add strength to the bones.
In the coming year, you should take a vow to limit your consumption of soft drinks/sodas. It has been observed that those who consume sodas avoid the idea of taking milk. Further, you should also try to quit smoking in the New Year since research has shown that nicotine delays the production of bone cells and thereby contributes towards a faster bone loss.
You should also let your doctors know if you are using steroids or experiencing an overactive thyroid. Both of these are detrimental for the bone density. You should also note that the use of a contraceptive called Depo-Provera has been associated with the weakening and the thinning of bones. Making informed decisions would help you to avoid potential harm to your bones in the future.
Women, Go for Regular Health Checkups
You should make it a point to go for regular health screenings in the New Year. Women who have crossed the age of 65 years should opt for osteoporosis screening tests. This is applicable to younger women as well if the condition is related to the heredity. In fact, women falling in different age groups have to undergo different types of screening tests. For example, women who are above 40 years of age should undergo the breast screening test called mammogram. Experts suggest that women need to undergo mammograms for every one or two years.
The Pap smear test is recommended for women who have started their sex life. This test is a screening exam for cervical cancer. The screening needs to be done after every three years. Women should also get informed about the HPV vaccination which prevents cervical cancer. Women, who are 50 years old, should also go for testing for colorectal cancer since older men and women stand at a greater risk of developing this disease.
You should also go for regular medical screenings on blood pressure, depression, sexually transmitted diseases, cholesterol and diabetes. But can screenings prevent a disease? Definitely Not! But these can make the treatments more effective! That is why, you should give due respect to the idea of health checkups in the coming year.
Women, Spend Some Time in Self-care
Women are the masters of every activity at home and in the office! They are the caretakers of their husbands, children, in-laws and even the pets of the house! But who are the women's caretakers? No one! They have to take care of themselves and the idea is not that good since they do not find enough time to do so! But as the days pass by, the women start feeling very frustrated. Accumulation of stress can lead to stomachaches, diarrhea and weight gain through an increase in the appetite. Stress can also weaken the immune system, thereby making the body susceptible to colds and other infections.
Stress can lead to a decrease in the sex drive and an increase in the blood pressure. The problem lies in the fact that women try to establish everything that they have included in the things-to-do list! But all they can do is to make a list of priorities. Not all the targets can be achieved in a given time! You can identify the cause of the stress and act accordingly. You have to search for ways to keep yourself happy. Pursuing a hobby or any other activity can take your mind away from the hassles of the day to day life.
This New Year, you should restart your thinking process to find out what gives you happiness! You should make it a point to keep yourself interested in life for the entire year. When happiness cannot come from other sources, you should learn to find happiness by doing joyful activities. All these can mark the beginning of a happier and a healthier New Year for you.
