National Women’s Health Week was coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health to bring together communities, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. In 2012, National Women’s Health Week will be observed May 13-19, and the theme is “It’s Your Time.” The objective of NWHW 2012 is to encourage women to make their health one of their top priorities and to improve their physical and mental health by taking the following steps:
- Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings.
- Get active.
- Eat healthy.
- Pay attention to mental health, get enough sleep, and manage stress.
- Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt.
Women often serve as care-givers for their families and put the needs of spouses, children, and parents ahead of their own needs. As a result, women’s health and well-being becomes secondary.
Women can now more easily take charge of their own health than ever before. Because of the Affordable Care Act, a landmark health care reform law enacted in 2010, Americans now have greater choice and better control over their own health care. Changes are included that are especially important to women and their families. New plans now cover preventive services, including mammograms, colon cancer screenings, and well-woman visits with no out-of-pocket expenses. To learn more about the law and your health options, visit go.usa.gov/nHV.
The Brownwood/Brown County Health Department would like to remind the women of the community and the surrounding area of the services that are available to them and their families at the local health department. They currently offer low-cost blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks, blood sugar checks, B-12 shots (with MD order), TB testing, TB treatment (with MD order), adult and children’s immunizations (to qualifying individuals), pregnancy testing and STD testing.
In observance of National Women’s Health Week, the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department is offering free blood pressure checks and a gift to all area women who come by the office during the week of May 13-19. The health department is located at 510 E. Lee St. in Brownwood. Please contact the BBCHD at 325-646-0554 for any questions.