Mother’s Day Kicks Off National Women’s Health Week

By Desert Star Staff

Mother’s Day kicked off Women’s Health Week this week, and experts remind women to prioritize their well-being.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that women who are caregivers are at greater risk for poor physical and mental health.

Dr. Karol Watson, professor of medicine at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles and director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Health Program, cautioned women to know their risk for heart disease, the nation’s number one killer of women.

“Much of it will have to do with seeing your healthcare provider,” Watson outlined. “Knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol, and talking to your family about your family history, anything that you might need to know that could impact your own risk.”

Experts also urged women to make appointments for any screenings they may have put off during COVID, such as a mammogram or cervical or colon cancer screenings.

Sonya Young Aadam, CEO of the California Black Women’s Health Project, said it’s essential for women of color to bring a friend or family member to their medical appointments to help advocate for them, especially during a health crisis.

“Too often we experience -- sometimes implicit, sometimes explicit -- bias when going for health care,” Young Aadam emphasized. “Don’t go alone because there is safety in numbers.”

Dr. Donna O’Shea, an OB/GYN and chief medical officer of population health at UnitedHealthcare, said parents need to be on the lookout for symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescent girls.

“Especially after COVID, we found that 57% of high school girls experienced persistent sadness in the last year,” O’Shea reported. “Ten years ago, that number was only 36%.” For Women’s Health Week, the CDC reemphasized the importance of eating right, exercising, and reducing stress.

Disclosure: United Healthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues.