This month, we are focused on bringing awareness and support to women’s mental and physical well-being, the health challenges they face, and why it’s important to prioritize health. Physical and mental well-being are intricately connected, and when one is declining, the other typically does, too. We’ve put together a few reasons why focusing on your health status is so important and even some tips on how to care for yourself!
Components of Women’s Health
There are many factors that contribute to women’s overall health. Physical health is determined by nutrition, exercise, sleep quality, and prevention of diseases. Things like stress management and mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, can affect your mental health. Women also have to consider their reproductive health, which can be affected by menstrual cycles, childbirth and pregnancy, contraception, and menopause. All of these factors can change your health depending on how you prioritize your well-being.
Why Prioritize?
When it comes to prioritizing your physical and mental health, you will notice a significant change in your mood and how you feel. Making your health an important factor has many benefits, including an overall improved quality of life, the ability to prevent or detect diseases, stronger communities, and a healthier society. When women’s health is a main focus, everyone can benefit from the advantages, such as reduced healthcare costs, equal access to healthcare, and more research and studies on diseases and illnesses that affect women’s health.
Unique Challenges
Women face various challenges in their day-to-day lives that may cause negative health effects. Twice as many women experience depression and anxiety as men due to genetic, social, and economic differences. Trauma also leads to both mental and physical health problems and can cause PTSD in some cases. Women are also more likely to suffer from eating disorders, which can cause severe health risks and concerns. Other concerns include ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease. If you or someone you know may be predisposed to these challenges, we encourage you to understand and identify the symptoms, speak with a medical professional, and advocate for yourself.
Strategies to Implement
You can do many things to prioritize your health and stay on top of your well-being, including visiting your primary care physician regularly, eating foods that will nourish your body, and exercising daily. You should also find healthy ways to manage stress, refrain from habits like smoking and drinking alcohol, and focus on getting enough sleep. A great way to understand women’s health and make it a priority is by understanding the importance of mental health literacy, offering support to those who need it, and realizing when you may need to seek help. Health education means that others can benefit as well.
Overall, there is a large connection between women’s physical and mental health that should be taken seriously as they can affect each other. Poor mental health can lead to poor physical health and vice versa. Women face many challenges, and health should not have to be one of them! Greenville Women’s Care encourages you to understand the importance of your health, focus on your wellbeing, and reach out when needed. Schedule an appointment with one of our physicians to determine more ways to improve your overall health, 252-757-3131.