The month of May is Women’s Health Care Month, and we are eager to celebrate all of the caregivers who keep patients safe and cared for. When you’re a caregiver, you have to devote a portion of your life to taking care of others. However, you can’t forget to take care of yourself. Let’s discuss how you can prioritize your own health and wellness while caring for the health and wellness of someone else.

Why Should Caregivers Care About Themselves?

If you’ve flown on an airplane, you’ve heard the flight attendant report over the intercom that, in case of an emergency, you have to put your own mask on, before you help others put on theirs. When you’re a caregiver, you need to put your needs first, because you can’t help others until you do.

You cannot properly care for someone else if you’re fatigued, tired, malnourished, or emotionally unwell. Therefore, you must take control of your own physical and emotional health. When you do, you’ll have more energy to be a caretaker, which benefits you and the person you’re caring for.

What are the Main Women’s Health Issues?

There are many health issues that affect women, but here are the most common ones:

Cancers

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases that humans face. Breast and skin cancers are the most common cancers in women in the United States. It is really important to stay on top of your health, by completing Pap Smears, Mammograms, check-ups by dermatologists etc. This way you can prevent the disease or discover it at an early stage when it is easier to treat it.

Heart Health Issues

Another thing that women need to monitor is their heart health. One of the best ways to take care of your cardiovascular health is to ensure that you’re eating well, exercise and sleep at least 8 hours a day. No matter how old you are, be sure to do your annual physical evaluation so that you can get your heart listened to and your blood pressure checked. Also, you should do routine blood work to check your cholesterol levels. Women can have high cholesterol for many reasons, oftentimes simply due to genetics, and you want to ensure that you’re managing your cholesterol levels and heart health to avoid a heart attack or stroke.

Stress and Anxiety

Being a caregiver can sometimes be very stressful. However, to maintain your health, you cannot let your stress and anxiety levels get out of hand. Therefore, you must be talking to a therapist/ counselor or ask a support group for help if you need it. But also, you must be getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and spending time with people you love. When you prioritize doing these things, you’ll be on your way to reducing your anxiety.

Caregivers, Stay Well for You and Your Patients

Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”? The saying means that in order for us as humans to effectively take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves. We, at All Heart Homecare, know the importance of selfcare and always encourage our employees to be the best caregivers not just for others but, most importantly, for themselves. That is why our aides are happy, satisfied and are able to provide top quality care to our clients. If your or your loved one needs in-home care, please contact us at 888-388-8989. We will be happy to answer all of your questions!