Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle

Do you know what tops women's health risks? Heart disease, cancer and stroke top the list. Although these are serious concerns but there's good news too. Healthy lifestyle choices in your daily routine can go a long way towards reducing women's health risks. Prevent the top threats

• The biggest threats to women's health are often preventable. Here's what you need to know to live a longer, healthier life.
• Take the first step to protect yourself by talking with your doctor about your risk factors for any health conditions. Then get serious about reducing your risk.
• Manage chronic conditions and get recommended screenings
• If you have health problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes that increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, follow your doctor's heart disease treatment recommendations. Also be sure to consult your doctor about when you should have mammograms and other cancer screenings.

Adopt a healthier lifestyle While you can't eliminate risk factors such as family history, you can control many other risk factors for heart disease, stroke and cancer. For example: • Don't smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit. It's also important to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. • Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fibre foods and lean sources of protein. Limit foods high in saturated fat, added sugar and sodium. • Maintain a healthy weight. Losing excess pounds can lower your risk of heart disease as well as various types of cancer. • Get moving. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Exercise can help you control your weight, lower your risk of heart disease and stroke as well as certain types of cancer. • Limit alcohol. The risk of various types of cancer appears to increase with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time that you've been drinking regularly. • Manage stress. If you feel constantly on edge, your lifestyle may suffer and so might your immune system. Take steps to reduce stress in healthy ways. The bottom line It's important to understand the common health risks that women face, but don't feel intimidated. Instead, do whatever you can to lead a healthy lifestyle — include eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, quitting smoking and getting regular checkups. Simple preventive measures can go a long way towards reducing your health risks.