It's National Women's Health Week! I'm the proud representative for women in their 40's, and am working with the Office of Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C. to help encourage women to make our health a priority! Over the past several years, my focus on wellness has been comprehensive across fitness, sleep, stress, and nutrition. I'm realizing how much the hormonal changes that begin in our early 40's affect our physical and mental health moving forward. So, now is the time to really grab hold of our wellness. A great way to start is by making yourself a priority by scheduling appointments and physicals. I'm booking my doctor's appointment this week to have my physical exam and my blood tested for everything (including my liver and kidney function, cholesterol, and hormonal levels). I'm also going to ask for a baseline EKG of my heart. And, since I live in Southern California where the sun is really strong, I'm going to see the dermatologist to check my moles and skin. I'm not concerned about any health issues, but want to baseline where I am today. Other appointments to consider include: Dental exam and cleaning Comprehensive eye exam Blood pressure screening Diabetes screening Baseline skin exam to determine skin cancer risk Breast and pelvic exams, pap test, and bone density test (I choose breast ultrasounds, rather than mammograms, to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure) As our hormones change in our 40's, it's even more important to get adequate sleep and rest, and to decrease our overall stress. I've shifted my lifestyle to do less, and rest more. To spend less, consume less, and have more free time to play, laugh, and love. High levels of stress [...]