Top 10 Health Tips for Women

Ladies, you just have to face the reality that doctor visits are short. And they are getting shorter as time goes by. What if your doctor had all the time in the world? She might give you the same advice that OB-GYN Alyssa Dweck wants you to have. She is the co-author of the popular book V is for Vagina.

Here are the top 10 health tips that she wants you to know for a lifetime of wellness.

1. Get rid of stress.

The biggest problem that most women go through is that they tend to have a lot on their plates and they want to deal with them all at once. Stress is a huge factor in women’s health as it can cause anxiety, depression, heart disease, and infertility. Look for ways to relieve stress that suits you and stick with it.

2. Stop dieting.

Eating a healthy diet doesn’t mean you need to deprive yourself a piece of chocolate or a glass of your favorite wine. Moderation is the key to a good diet. Consuming a good mix of healthy fats, lean proteins, smart carbs, and fiber results to a healthy diet.

3. Don’t consume too much calcium.

When your body absorbs too much calcium, you increase the risks of acquiring kidney stones and heart disease. Women who are under the age of 50 should consume 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, while those who are over 50 should be consuming 1,200 milligrams of calcium. This can be mainly done through diet – about three servings of food enriched with calcium like almonds, milk, and salmon.

4. Don’t rely just on cardio.

A mix of resistance and cardio exercises is the secret of many women to healthy living. Doing these exercises at least three to five times a week can help reduce the risks of acquiring diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Exercise can also boost a woman’s mental health as it promotes good self-image.

5. Take fertility into consideration.

Getting pregnant is usually not an issue among ladies in their late 30s and even those who are already in their early 40s. However, there are women who are already suffering from infertility at the early age of 32. So if you are planning to have kids in the future, consider talking to your doctor and ask about different options available, like freezing your egg cells.

6. Think about birth control.

Birth control is still a sensitive issue that many people don’t dare talking about. However, many scientific studies have already proven that it is not only effective in keeping you from getting pregnant, but it can also lower the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.

7. Visit your doctor at least once a year.

For women over the age of 21, it is crucial to get a Pap test once every 3 years. This can help diagnose cervical cancer. Women aging 30-65 years old can get both HPV and Pap tests once every 5 years. Women older than that may stop undergoing these tests if the doctor diagnosed them as low risk. Sexually active women who have high risk for STDs should undergo tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis annually. Make sure to not check your yearly checkup.

8. Have a healthy sex life.

Sex is effective in reducing stress and lowering the risk of acquiring chronic disease. That only applies if you have an active and healthy sex life. However, there are women who cannot enjoy sex due dryness and paint. If you are one of those women, it is best to consult your doctor and seek for advice.

9. Get enough sleep.

The needs for sleep differs from one person to the other. However, if you find yourself having problems getting out of bed, trouble concentrating, or getting exhausted easily, you likely are not getting enough sleep. Many scientific studies have already proven that not getting enough of sleep can result to heart disease and psychological problems.

10. Think about genetic testing.

Women who have a family history of breast and ovarian cancer can now have their risks of acquiring these diseases be assessed by their doctors. Talk to your doctor to know more about the different preventive measures you can do.