Women’s health advice for employees
As we recently looked at health and wellbeing advice for men in honour of prostate cancer awareness month, we thought it was time to look at a similar guide about how women can be more aware of their health and wellbeing in the workplace and at home.
A healthy heart
Whilst heart disease kills more men than women, the risks are still very real to women. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to reduce your risk of having a heart attack or other heart problems.
Here are just a few things to ensure your heart is as healthy as can be:
- Don’t smoke
- Exercise regularly
- Reduce your salt intake
- Cut down on your alcohol intake, women shouldn’t drink more than 14 units per week
- Get regular blood pressure tests
- Keep track of your cholesterol levels
- Get tested for diabetes
- Take any prescribed medicine that you’re given
Preparing for pregnancy
Expecting a baby is a beautiful time, but pregnancy can take its toll on your body. If you’re pregnant, it’s important that you have regular check-ups with your doctors, but the following advice will provide you with a general basis to ensure you’re taking care of yourself.
- Stop smoking, drinking alcohol, and doing drugs
- Eat healthy foods
- Don’t eat uncooked or undercooked meats or fish
- Limit caffeine
- Drink water
- Take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily
- Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take
- Stay active
- Get enough sleep
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone-thinning disease that affects more than three million people in the UK. Whilst osteoporosis can affect anyone, the most common sufferers are postmenopausal women.
From around the age of 35 onwards, the bones in the body naturally become weaker and more fragile due to a loss of mineral salts. This loss is more intense in women because their oestrogen levels begin to fall as they move towards menopause, when the production of this hormone from the ovaries ceases altogether.
In order to keep bones as healthy as possible, it’s vital that women take care of them. The secret to healthy bones isn’t a complicated one; it’s just exercise, sunshine, and diet! With a good diet that’s rich in vitamin D and calcium, you can’t go far wrong.
It’s also important to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as partaking in regular exercise such as gentle aerobics to keep the bones strong and healthy.
Menopause
As women get older, the menopause becomes inevitable. During this time, your body will slowly produce less of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Whilst the menopause can’t be avoided, you can make the process more bearable whilst keeping the bones and heart in good shape.
This fall in hormone levels can increase the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. In order to reduce the risk of these issues, a healthy diet is essential. Your diet should be:
- Low in saturated fat and salt to reduce blood pressure
- Rich in calcium and vitamin D to strengthen bones
- Include dietary supplements
If you’d like to find out more about our work health assessments and other occupational health programmes, get in touch with us today.