YOUR 30S

Your focus may be a bit scattered during this busy time of your life. Between family, work and personal responsibilities, it's tough to balance priorities. While you're busy building a successful career and family life, probably the last thing on your mind is your health.

So why make it a priority? Even if you don't have any major health concerns now, the habits you develop in your 30s can have a big impact on your future. Your Southwest Health Center healthcare professional can help you focus on prevention with a routine of regular exercise, nutritious meals, reducing stress and avoiding smoking and other harmful habits. Think of your health as an investment, paying attention to it now will have a big pay off later in life.

If you are thinking about having a baby, talk with your Southwest Health Center healthcare professional to get the best advice on how to have a healthy pregnancy. If you become pregnant after the age of 35, your risk of birth defects increases, so incorporating folic acid into your diet is important since its been linked to lower incidents of birth defects.

Other health concerns in your 30s include high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. Talk with your Southwest Health Center healthcare professional to determine the best ways to improve your health to lower these risks.

If you smoke, this is the time to quit — especially if you're considering having a family. Aside from any potential harm it might cause to your unborn child, this habit can lead to lung cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. Southwest Health Center healthcare professionals can explain the many options to help you quit the smoking habit.