Not just a woman’s issue

Not just a woman’s issue

Columnist - Dave Woods shares an opinion on why women’s health is be important to everyone

The most important people in my life have always been women.

They have been strong women who succeeded in spite of odds, in spite of societal and professional conventions, and in spite of their gender. As a kid, my grandmother, who raised me and recently died, spent more time taking care of her grandkids than herself. I had high school teachers who served as role models who often looked after kids, not even their own, and devoted long hours to our success.

In the U. S. 1avy, I was honored to serve under one of the ¿rst combatant female Command Master Chiefs aÀoat. Professionally, I was lucky to be mentored by a strong “Lady Editor,” not my words, at my ¿rst newspaper job. I was fortunate to be hired by a woman who built a small advertising and marketing agency into a regional powerhouse. She too, recently passed. Gone, but not forgotten.

The one thing that links these important women in my life is selÀess courage. They all put others before themselves. They all put themselves in the backseat when it came to personal wellbeing.

Guys, if you don’t already, do it now. Put the women in your life in the front seat. Make sure your friends, daughters, nieces, sisters, mothers and grandmothers are pushed and prodded to take care of themselves.

I challenge you to be a pest, to offer to take them in for a checkup, or to invite them for a long healthy evening walk. Take the time top open up a discussion and make sure they know their health is important to you.

These tips will help the women in your life put their health ¿rst. Share them with those important to you. Don’t take “no” for an answer and follow up with them. Clip this list out and tape it to the fridge.

‡ Schedule a checkup. An annual checkup is covered as part of your preventive care bene¿t through your health insurance plan. Schedule one today. Talk to your doctor about conditions women and men experience differently, like a heart attack, so you can know what to watch for.

‡ Take small steps for your health. Replace some TV time with light exercise, like a 20-minute walk. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. Buy more fresh or frozen fruits and veggies so they’re handy when you’re hungry.

‡ Make health a family objective. Tired of pizza and a movie night? What about salads and an after-dinner stroll night? 2r family bike ride Saturday? Working toward goals together can help everyone succeed.

‡ 2pt in for insurance at work. If your employer offers affordable health coverage, explore your options and sign up.