(Mejias serves as chairman of the Health & Social Services Committee.)
National Women’s Health Week
Each year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dedicates a week to encourage women to receive a proper health checkup from their physician. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this event and I want to encourage women of all ages to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider in the next few weeks for a routine checkup. National Women’s Checkup Day was on Monday, May 11 and the “Women Challenge,” an online physical activity program, began on Mothers Day, May 10. More information about either of these programs can be found at www.womenshealth.gov.
National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. This year’s theme is “It’s Your Time.” The program encourages women to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Regular checkups promote prevention and early detection of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and many others. A few easy steps anyone can take to improve their health include:
Getting at least 2 1.2 hours of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week
- Eating a nutritious diet.
- Visiting a health care professional for regular checkups and preventive screenings.
- Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt.
- Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
As chair of the Nassau County Health and Social Services Committee the health and well-being of all residents in Nassau County is a priority of mine. Nassau County has implemented the Healthy Nassau program to encourage residents to develop a healthy and sustainable lifestyle through eating right, exercising regularly and protecting our environment. We have developed fitness trails, opened new facilities in our parks and hosted many events to promote healthy living. To find out more about Healthy Nassau please visit http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/healthynassau/index.html.
