YOUR 40S

For many, this is the decade when you feel like you're finally hitting your stride. The balance you've found between work and home life seems to be working well, and now you can spend more time thinking about your personal needs. Putting time and effort into your health is a great investment with a big pay off later in life.

During your 40s, your body changes significantly as you move out of your child-bearing years toward menopause. You no longer build bone mass; you slowly lose it. And your metabolism has probably slowed down so it's harder to keep the weight off. Those may sound like big health obstacles, but your Southwest Health Center healthcare professional can help you develop a healthy eating and exercise plan to keep you on track.

Your Southwest Health Center healthcare professional may recommend you take a multivitamin for extra folic acid and iron, especially for those who may become pregnant in their 40s. Folic acid has been linked to lower birth defects. Premenopausal women often have iron deficiencies because of the regular loss of iron with menstrual periods.

If you smoke, now is the time to quit. This habit can lead to lung cancer; one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. Southwest Health Center can suggest several ways to help you kick the habit to improve your health.

This is an exciting time in your life, but a challenging decade as well. Your kids may be hitting those tough teen years or starting college, your job may be in transition and you may be caring for your aging parents as well. Staying on top of your health will help reduce your stress as you try to maintain a balance in life.