Iowa Department of Public Health recognizes Women's Health Week

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health in recognizing May 13 through 19 as National Women's Health Week. The week traditionally focuses on empowering women to make health a priority, and highlights the need for women to schedule check-ups and preventative screenings. In addition to paying attention to their physical health by focusing on physical activity, healthy eating, and avoiding unhealthy behaviors like smoking, IDPH encourages women to examine other areas of their health, such as early detection of substance or alcohol abuse.

Women with substance use disorders get drunk faster, become addicted to alcohol more quickly, and develop alcohol-related disease more rapidly than men. “Women have unique treatment and prevention concerns,” said IDPH Women's Service Network coordinator Michele Tilotta. “Women need specialized treatment which is culturally and gender appropriate and will address the needs of their families.” Tilotta says IDPH currently coordinates 11 statewide treatment programs that specifically address women's concerns, such as child-care, prenatal medical care, family therapy, pediatric care, employment support, parenting training, and housing.

As part of National Women's Health Week, Monday, May 14 has been designated as National Women's Checkup Day. It's important for women to get regular check-ups because screening tests, such as mammograms and Pap tests can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Some women need certain screening tests earlier or more often than other women. Consult your health care provider to determine which tests and screenings are most appropriate for you.

Click here for more information about

National Women's Health Week. To learn more about how IDPH works to prevent and treat substance abuse in Iowa, visit

www.idph.state.ia.us/bh/substance_abuse.asp. For more information about IDPH's programs geared specifically to women, visit

www.idph.state.ia.us/careforyourself/default.asp or

www.womenshealthiowa.info.