Women’s Wellness: How To Take Care of Yourself?

While life expectancy is higher for women than men in most countries, a number of health and social factors combine to create a lower quality of life for women. Unequal access to information, care and basic health practices further increase the health risks for women.

Some statistics show that:

• Tobacco use among younger females in developing countries is rising rapidly. Women generally have less success in quitting the habit, have more relapses than men, and nicotine replacement therapy may be less effective among women.
• Violence has serious health consequences for women, from injuries to unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, depression and chronic diseases.
• Even though early marriage is on the decline, an estimated 100 million girls will marry before their 18th birthday over the next 10 years. Young married girls often lack knowledge about sex and the risks of sexually transmitted infections.
• Essentially all maternal deaths occur in developing countries. Every day, 1600 women die from preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth
• Heart diseases and cancer are the leading causes of death among women.

How to take care of yourself (for example decade by decade)?

Wellness is defined as an individual’s subjective experience of overall life satisfaction in relation to physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, economic, occupational, and environmental dimensions. Women’s wellness focuses on those aspects of one’s well-being that pertains disproportionately, or solely, to women.

Women’s bodies go through a lot, from hormonal ups and downs to childbirth and menopause. They juggle a lot of things and often place themselves at the bottom of the to-do list. They tend to forget that they have to take care of themselves too in order to be there for other people.

Here are tips for women to achieve their health and wellness goals:

• Eat natural food (seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grains, high-fiber greens).
• Drink warm water and lemon juice: it keeps you hydrated, reduces constipation, and gives your body a good dose of nutrients and phytochemicals.
• Exercise regularly: it improves your health, helps you sleep better and boosts your mood.
• Take probiotics: it boosts your immune system, promotes mental clarity, and boosts your mood too.
• Self-care: take some time for yourself to manage stress:  read, meditate, listen to some music, write, enjoy your hobby, etc.
• Get enough sleep: lack of quality sleep has been linked to weight gain, depression, and higher stress levels. 
• Schedule checkups: and it gives you the opportunity to spot problems early when they’re easier to treat. Making your well-being a priority isn’t selfish!

Regular wellness checks and health screenings can increase your chances of early detection of problems:

• Cholesterol and Blood Pressure.
• Pelvic Exams and Pap Smears.
• Breast Exams and Mammograms.
• Osteoporosis Screenings.
• Colorectal Screenings.
• Paying attention to changes in the skin.