Women's healthy tips in every age

Whether you're in your 20's, 30's, 40's or beyond, some simple steps can help reduce your risk of getting some very dangerous diseases. No matter what your age, there are always things you can do to improve your health.

Dr. Barb DePree with Holland Hospital's Women's Midlife Services says often times in our younger years we think we've got plenty of time to worry about health problems, “20 year olds and 30 year olds to some extent think they are sort of immune to some of those disease processes." But Dr. Depree says young women can make significant changes in their long-term health by committing to a healthy diet and exercise plan now. It can cut their risk of developing heart disease and other cancers in half, "cardiovascular disease is probably going to be her biggest risk throughout her lifetime and maintaining a healthy weight is probably one of the main things she can do to reduce risk."

Now, 41 years old Tammy Jalving of Zeeland is making up for her reckless behavior in her younger years,” I think that I had a lot of reckless behavior in my 20's. The biggest no no that I did was exposure to sun. Baby oil, lying out in the sun. A little excessive drinking definitely in my early 20's." Jalving is making changes now that will improve her health for the next ten to twenty years. Dr. Depree stresses the importance of bone health, “Healthy bones are established by mid to late 30's so the whole idea of trying to lay down as dense bone as possible happens through that decade." Calcium supplements help and so do weight bearing exercises like weight lifting and running, two healthy habits that Tammy has picked up but she admits it's not easy, “To carve out a little niche of time to go to a gym or to say kids dinner's gonna be in an hour I'm gonna go for a walk, there's huge guilt associated with that because I'm not comfortable with putting myself first."

When you turn 40 Dr. Depree says you should also begin scheduling yearly mammograms along with cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, "Making sure that you are appropriately screened for diabetes heart disease and hypertension and cholesterol screening. These are all going to take on more significance as a woman gets older." And if you haven't yet, start a diet an exercise program, “Because being obese for instance is a huge risk factor is causes not only diabetes but we also know breast cancer." says DePree.

Believe it or not doctors agree 45 to 50 is the best age for women to make a change in their health habits, “Late 40's early 50's is probably the best time to change women's lifestyles that they are very open to change." Because change is going to happen going whether it's on the outside, "I really don't like the gray hair issue that I have going on." Or on the inside, “Bone health is big for the 50's that's when the most accelerated bone loss is going to happen right after menopause.” But the one thing Tammy Jalving does have control of is changing to a healthy lifestyle, "I'm not gonna fight it. I wouldn't say I'm going to age gracefully, but I'm going to enjoy each season as they present itself and I'm definitely going to prepare for the next one."

When it comes to depression, it can happen at any time in a woman's life. For some the onset is caused through the stress of raising a family, for others it's the onset of aging.

About 25% of women over the age of 65 will experience an episode of depression. If you ever feel lost, alone, or overwhelmed for more than two weeks, don't be afraid to tell your doctor. Catching those early signs could prevent someone from going into a deep depression.

By Val Lego. Source: www.wzzm13.com