National Women’s Health Week May 8-14, 2011

The 9th annual National Women’s Checkup Day will be held on Monday, May 9, 2011, during National Women’s Health Week. The day is dedicated to encouraging women to visit health care professionals to receive or schedule a checkup and promoting regular checkups as vital to the early detection of  breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, other types of cancer, and many other conditions.

National Women’s Checkup Day is a nation wide effort coordinated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health to:

• Encourage women to visit their health care providers to receive or schedule a checkup.
• Promotion of regular checkups as vital to the early detection of illnesses and other conditions.

It is important for women to get regular checkups because:

• Screenings tests such as mammograms can find and detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Some women may need certain tests earlier or more often than others.
• Screenings and routine care can help women lower their risks of many health conditions early including breast cancer and heart disease.

How can you participate in this important event?

• Contact your physician or local health clinic to schedule screenings or checkups on Nationl WOmen’s Checkup Day.
• During your checkup discuss what screenings and tests are right for you, when you should have them and how often.
• Take the CheckUp Day Pledge and Pledge to schedule at least one preventive health screenings during the month of May.
• Click here  for the Interactive Screening Chart and Immunization Tool to determine what screenings and immunizations you need and at what age.
• Take the Pledge:

As a participant in National Women’s Checkup Day, I will:

• Contact my current doctor or nurse to schedule checkups and screening services;
• Use the interactive screening chart and immunization tool to learn what screenings and immunizations I need and at what age;
• Discuss with my health care professional during my checkup which of the tests are right for me, when I should have them, and how often;
• Schedule an appointment for at least one of the preventive health screenings during May 2011

Click here I’m ready to take the pledge! to select your state and then click  Submit My Pledge to commit to a Healthier You!  Print out your Certificate like the one below!