National Women’s Health Week

Contributed by the staff at Mid-Florida Agency on Aging

It’s that time of year again, the time to celebrate being a woman, and to celebrate this wonderful feeling you must participate in this year’s 9th Annual National Women’s Health Week. National Women's Health Week 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.

The 9th Annual National Women's Health Week will kick off on Mother's Day, May 11, 2008 and will be celebrated until May 17, 2008. Women are often the caregivers for their spouses, children and parents, and often forget to focus on their own health; therefore, during this week, women across the nation are encouraged to put themselves first by making positive lifelong decisions that will enhance their lifestyle. This can be accomplished by engaging in physical activity, making healthy food choices, scheduling appointments with healthcare providers to receive annual check ups, mammograms, preventative care and to address any questions or concerns about achieving a healthy lifestyle. National Women's Check-Up Day will be Monday, May 12, 2008, and will be identified as the first day of a renewed and healthier Woman.

Along with the National Woman’s Health Week there is a WOMAN challenge. This free eight week WOMAN challenge encourages women and girls to set and achieve personal physical activity goals. All women are different so the goal must be appropriate and as with any new health activity participants should speak with their medical provider before starting this challenge to see what will work best. Women are encouraged to take this challenge individually or as a group. The WOMAN Challenge begins on Mother's Day, May 11, and ends on July 5, 2008.

There will be numerous activities in surrounding communities and nationwide to help women be successful at completing the Woman’s Health Challenge. To find out more about these events and the locations throughout the state of Florida please visit www.womenshealths.gov or contact the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) §

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