This post is sponsored by HealthOne.
Now that the school year is in full swing, you might feel like you’re running on fumes. We all get caught up in the back-to-school chaos—packing lunches, helping with homework, and keeping up with endless schedules. But as moms, it’s so easy to put ourselves last.
This is your friendly reminder that you can’t pour from an empty cup! Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s essential so you can be the best version of yourself for your family.
So, while you’re busy with everyone else, here are five things you can do to take care of yourself right now.
1. Schedule Your Annual Physical
Think of your annual physical as a one-stop-shop for your health. Even if you feel perfectly fine, don’t skip this visit! Your primary care doctor can tackle a bunch of health concerns all in one appointment. Screenings to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar can catch potential issues early. This is also a great time to talk about mental health. Don’t have a primary care provider? Find one here.
2. Don’t Skip Important Screenings
Beyond the physical, there are specific tests every woman should get regularly. From mammograms and skin exams to heart and lung screenings, these regular checkups and tests are key to catching issues early.
- Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy is the gold standard for detecting and preventing colorectal cancer. It can detect polyps that can be removed to prevent cancer from developing. For adults at average risk of colorectal cancer, regular screenings should start at age 45.
- Heart screenings: Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, but a coronary calcium scan can help detect calcium build-up in your arteries, giving you a chance to fight heart disease before it starts. Doctors often recommend this scan for women ages 45-70 who have one or more risk factor like high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease.
- Lung cancer screenings: If you’re 50 to 80 years old and have a history of smoking, doctors recommend a simple, yearly low-dose CT scan to catch lung cancer early – when it’s most treatable.
- Mammograms: Starting at age 40, women should get mammograms annually to screen for breast cancer. Changes to your breasts or your risk factors may affect when you should start having mammograms and how frequently they are required.
- Pap smears and pelvic exams: For women over 21, a Pap smear every three years can detect abnormal cells that may lead to cervical cancer. Regular screenings are crucial for early detection. Depending on certain factors, your doctor may recommend you have more frequent screenings.
- Health risk assessments: Eating right and exercising are great steps toward leading a healthy life, but did you know your family history, age, and countless other factors can still put you at risk for health problems? HCA HealthONE offers free risk assessments to learn more about your risk for certain health conditions and take action to prevent future complications.
- Heart disease: Compare your actual age to your heart’s biological age, calculate your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and prioritize your most harmful risk factors. Start quiz
- Hip & knee: Joint pain can impact many areas of your life. This includes mobility, sleep quality, daily activities, self-care, and more. Only you can determine how much your quality of life is affected by joint pain. Start knee quiz or Start hip quiz.
- Weight loss: Learn your weight category and if you should lose weight, discover if weight-loss surgery may be an option for you, and identify your weight-related issues and conditions. Start quiz.
3. Make Time For Movement
Your health journey isn’t just about doctor visits. It’s about making healthy choices whenever you can, because progress, not perfection, is the goal. Moving your body is critical for both physical and mental health. A simple 30-minute walk or a quick at-home workout can make a huge difference in how you feel. Here are seven benefits of walking daily.
4. Prioritize Rest and Hydration
When you’re constantly on the go, it’s easy to forget the basics. Make a conscious effort to drink enough water throughout the day and get adequate sleep. These simple habits can help reduce your risk of chronic diseases and keep you feeling your best. Remember, you can’t be at your best if you’re constantly running on empty.
5. Call Your Doctor
Finally, if you don’t have a primary care provider, make it a priority to find one. Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Ready to find a doctor for you and your family? To find an HCA HealthONE physician, you can call 844.706.8773 or click here.
Free advice, anytime, from our nurses. Do you need help deciding if you or a loved one should go to the ER, visit an urgent care or consult your family physician? Our expert nurses can help you understand symptoms, manage a chronic condition or learn about treatment options and medical procedures. They can also help you find a primary care provider or specialist and schedule an appointment. Whether you are a new mom, worried about your child’s fever or caring for an aging parent, free medical advice is just one phone call away. Call 844.706.8773 or click here.
