Low Country Healthy Start
Health Tips

1. Heart Disease
   African American women are more likely to die from heart disease than any other group of women. Learn the warning signs of a heart attack. To reduce your risk of heart disease:

   1. Don’t smoke
   2. Avoid or limit your alcohol consumption
   3. Have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly
   4. Eat a variety of foods
   5. Exercise daily
2. Cervical Cancer
   African American women are at higher risk than minority women for developing cervical cancer, which occurs most often in women over the age of 40. Asked to be screened for cervical cancer during your next pap test.
3. Nutrition
   Obesity is very common among African American women. Always eat a healthy diet to include: 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice or pasta. 3 to 5 servings of vegetables, 2 to 4 servings or fruit, 2 to 3 servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese. Choose low-fat or fat-free products most often.
4. Depression
   Depression is a medical illness. Talk to your health care provider about depression, if you have the following warning signs:

   1. An empty feeling or ongoing sadness
   2. Lack of energy
   3. Loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities
   4. Problems sleeping
   5. Problems with eating and weight gain or loss
   6. Crying all the time
   7. Aches and pains that just won’t go away
   8. A hard time focusing, remembering, or making decisions
   9. Irritability
   10. Thoughts of death or suicide
5. Health Care Access
   If you have no or little insurance:
   1. Call your local health center or clinic and take advantage of services available in your community
   2. Check out the local branch of the American Cancer Society, which provides comprehensive information on community health care programs
   3. To learn more about what you can do to help yourself and your family gain optimum health, schedule your annual physical exam today if you have not done so.
      
6. Diabetes
   About 1 in 4 African American women over the age of 55 have diabetes, nearly twice the rate of Caucasian women. Being overweight, having high blood pressure, or being physically inactive can increase your risk for developing diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your risk for diabetes. If you are age 45 or older, you should be tested for diabetes.