Rural Health, Inc. Highlights Importance of Preventive Care and Wellness for Women during National Women’s Health Week

May 10 through 16 is National Women’s Health Week; a time for women of all ages to focus on preventive care, including screenings, healthy eating, and physical activity. Rural Health, Inc. encourages women to prioritize physical and mental well-being, which includes talking with their healthcare provider if they have any concerns.

Traditionally, reproductive health is the focus of medical education and research related to women’s health. Yet today’s women live nearly half of their lives outside their reproductive years. While historically living longer than men, women are not necessarily living better and find themselves more vulnerable to certain chronic conditions like osteoporosis, thyroid disease, heart disease, cancer, and depression.

Rural Health, Inc. recommends women do the following, with the guidance of their healthcare provider, to help improve their health outcomes and prevent long-term illness.

• Preventive Care: Consult a provider for regular checkups and wellness visits, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and age-appropriate screenings like HPV, cervical cancer, mammograms, and colonoscopy.
• Physical Activity and Nutrition: Engage in regular, moderate activity (at least 150 minutes a week) and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
• Mental Health: Focus on stress reduction, mental health, and emotional well-being.

For more information on women’s health and what you can do, or to schedule an appointment with a Rural Health, Inc. provider, call 618-833-4471 or visit ruralhealthinc.org for a medical center close to you.

Rural Health, Inc. (RHI) is a not-for-profit organization serving Johnson, Massac, and Union counties in Illinois, designated by the federal government as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), whose mission is to provide quality services to all patients in need of healthcare while being committed to the overall health and well-being of the underserved.

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