Women's Health Week: Make it Count!

This week is National Women's Health Week.  The theme this year is "It's Your Time! Pamper Your Mind, Body and Spirit".  Of course, I'm delighted with this message because it's the backbone of High-Yield Living.

Taking time to care for yourself is not only essential for good health, it's essential for enjoying life. I know we are all pressed for time, but we really can't afford to take ourselves for granted any longer. After all, today is not a dress rehearsal.  It's opening night. Don't you think it's time to give yourself "top billing"?  It's your choice!  But, before you make that choice, consider this.  You will be no good to yourself and others if you choose to put yourself last.

You've heard this before.  We take better care of our pets and our cars than our own health. Don't you think we have our priorities out of whack?  This is the week to change those priorities.  Put yourself first and be your own personal cheerleader.  No one, including your doctors and nurses, knows your health and your history as well as you do.  You probably have figured this out on your own - - doctors don't have all the answers.  In 2005 an American Heart Association study revealed that only 8 percent of primary care physicians and 17% of cardiologists knew that heart disease was the biggest killer of women.  This is our reality.  We we must take responsibility for our own well being.

Your body is constantly sending you messages.  Pay attention to them.  Don't sweep them under the rug and hope they go away.  The messages will only get louder and louder until you're forced to pay attention.

This is a true story.  One of the messages on the Changing How We're Aging CD is called "Your Body Has A Story To Tell".  That message is the same message I am writing about today.  About a month ago I received an email from a women who purchased the CD. She had been experiencing a pain in her hip.  She chalked it up to getting older and was treating it by getting massages and going to a Dahn Yoga healer. "I was listening to the CD one day, it hit me -go to the doctor!  His office saw me the next day, and had me scanned the day after that.  Fortunately, liver, kidneys, gall bladder and stomach are all fine.  The problem is fibroids, which have grown.  Now I'm on a healing path.  So thank you, thank you, thank you".

Start taking care of yourself.  Here's how:

• Always prepare for your doctor visits. Write down your questions and do some research before you go.
• Don't ignore your symptoms.  Trust your instincts.  Have yourself checked out.  If your doctor doesn't take your concerns seriously, seek a new doctor for a second opinion.
• Take time to de-stress, however you choose to do it.  Start my allowing yourself 30 minutes every day to do something that's just for you.

Mother's Day is over for this year, but give yourself the gift that keeps on giving. Pamper, Your Mind, Body and Spirit.