May

May is upon us and that means a month to remember those we have lost, as well as a month to honor moms and mother figures. However, since Memorial Day is a day to remember those we have lost, I want to focus more on moms because they deserve to be honored every day. None of us would be here if it was not for a mom, so we should give them their flowers while they are still alive, meaning we should honor them while they can appreciate it. Do you have a mom, grandma, or mother figure you want to honor this month? My mom is no longer with me, but I do have a mother figure at my church who deserves to be honored. I would be remised if I did not give her a shout out! I love you Mother Elsie Coleman!

Being a mom myself, I am reminded to take care of my health so I can be around long enough to watch all of my grandbabies grow up. With that in mind, let’s focus on women’s health this month. It makes sense that women have different health concerns than men. We have reproductive organs that can cause major problems before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and after pregnancy. Women are supposed to develop into vessels that can house and nurture new beings for nine months. Females typically reach puberty between the ages of 8 and 13. During this time, breasts begin to grow so they can some day produce milk for babies, and menstrual cycles begin to prepare the body to someday grow a fetus. These changes alone can cause problems for women if milk ducts do not grow properly, or dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) is the path the body takes. If a female is going to have painful menses, they will have it from day one, which can start as early as 10 or 11 years of age, and last for 35 to 40 years. Once that stops, menopause starts, which can bring with it night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings.

Some of these issues cannot be avoided, but to help with additional issues that could happen, it is very important to have regular checkups with a primary care physician. This can help with early detection of major issues, like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. For example, if your family has a history of breast cancer, you need to perform regular self-exams and schedule regular mammograms for early detection. Be sure to attend all appointments that are recommended by your doctor(s).

As a woman, it is also important to take care of yourself by eating properly and getting regular exercise. Weight management is important because if a woman becomes overweight or obese, it will be very difficult to lose the weight, and that becomes even more of a problem as we age. We need to nip this in the bud at an early age, before our metabolism slows down around the age of 40.

I am 55 now, and it takes a serious commitment to daily exercise and consistent nutrition to lose unwanted fat. I follow the DASH diet because of my heart issues, and I exercise most days of the week, but it is not enough. Unmanaged stress and a lack of adequate sleep can be barriers to weight loss. Exercise is a great stress reliever, especially when you work up a sweat. Exercise can be done in different ways, including dancing, aerobics, stretching, strength training, cardiovascular exercises like running or fast-paced walking. Meditation is a good way to clear your mind and gain perspective as you shift your focus from negative to positive thoughts. Regarding sleep, according to the Cleveland Clinic, school-aged children 6 to 12 years old need 9 to 12 hours, while teens 13 to 18 years old need 8 to 10 hours. Adults aged 19 to 64 years can function with 7 to 9 hours of sleep, while adults aged 65 and older only need 7 to 8 hours. Personally, I concur with these numbers for people my age because I can function with 7 hours of sleep, but maintaining my stress levels is much easier after 8 to 9 hours of sleep. Find what works for you and be consistent.

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