Thinking about starting a business?

Then visit a women’s business center

Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) represent a national network of nearly 100 educational centers designed to assist women start and grow small businesses. WBCs operate with the mission to “level the playing field” for women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the world of business.

Through the management and technical assistance provided by the WBCs, entrepreneurs — especially women who are economically or socially disadvantaged — are offered comprehensive training and counseling on a vast array of topics in many languages to help them start and grow their own businesses.

http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2895/resources/13729

Breast Cancer Screenings 

Kinds of Screening Tests

Breast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. Three main tests are used to screen the breasts for cancer. Talk to your doctor about which tests are right for you, and when you should have them.

• Mammogram. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. If you are age 50 to 74 years, be sure to have a screening mammogram every two years. If you are age 40–49 years, talk to your doctor about when and how often you should have a screening mammogram.
• Clinical breast exam. A clinical breast exam is an examination by a doctor or nurse, who uses his or her hands to feel for lumps or other changes.²
• Breast self-exam. A breast self-exam is when you check your own breasts for lumps, changes in size or shape of the breast, or any other changes in the breasts or underarm (armpit).

Which tests to choose: Having a clinical breast exam or a breast self-exam have not been found to decrease risk of dying from breast cancer. ¹Keep in mind that, at this time, the best way to find breast cancer is with a mammogram. If you choose to have clinical breast exams and to perform breast self-exams, be sure you also get regular mammograms.

For more information contact your provider or a VA medical center today!!

Thinking about having a little bundle of joy??

5 Steps to Get Ready for a Healthy Pregnancy

1. Take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day for at least 1 month before getting pregnant to help prevent birth defects.
    
2. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
    
3. If you have a medical condition, be sure it is under control. Some conditions include asthma, diabetes, oral health, obesity, or epilepsy. Also be sure that your vaccinations are up to date.
    
4. Talk to a health care professional about any over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are taking. These include dietary or herbal supplements.
    
5. Avoid contact with toxic substances or materials that could cause infection at work and at home. Stay away from chemicals and cat or rodent feces.

Learn how to manage your stress

Everyone has to deal with stress. There are steps you can take to help you handle stress in a positive way and keep it from making you sick. Try these tips to keep stress in check:

Develop a new attitude

• Become a problem solver. Make a list of the things that cause you stress. From your list, figure out which problems you can solve now and which are beyond your control for the moment. From your list of problems that you can solve now, start with the little ones. Learn how to calmly look at a problem, think of possible solutions, and take action to solve the problem. Being able to solve small problems will give you confidence to tackle the big ones. And feeling confident that you can solve problems will go a long way to helping you feel less stressed.
• Be flexible. Sometimes, it’s not worth the stress to argue. Give in once in awhile or meet people halfway.
• Get organized. Think ahead about how you’re going to spend your time. Write a to-do list. Figure out what’s most important to do and do those things first.
• Set limits. When it comes to things like work and family, figure out what you can really do. There are only so many hours in the day. Set limits for yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.

Relax

• Take deep breaths. If you’re feeling stressed, taking a few deep breaths makes you breathe slower and helps your muscles relax.
• Stretch. Stretching can also help relax your muscles and make you feel less tense.
• Massage tense muscles. Having someone massage the muscles in the back of your neck and upper back can help you feel less tense.
• Take time to do something you want to do. We all have lots of things that we have to do. But often we don’t take the time to do the things that we really want to do. It could be listening to music, reading a good book, or going to a movie. Think of this as an order from your doctor, so you won’t feel guilty!

Take care of your body

• Get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep helps you recover from the stresses of the day. Also, being well-rested helps you think better so that you are prepared to handle problems as they come up. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to feel rested.
• Eat right. Try to fuel up with fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Don’t be fooled by the jolt you get from caffeine or high-sugar snack foods. Your energy will wear off, and you could wind up feeling more tired than you did before.
• Get moving. Getting physical activity can not only help relax your tense muscles but improve your mood. Research shows that physical activity can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Don’t deal with stress in unhealthy ways. This includes drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking, or overeating.

Connect with others

• Share your stress. Talking about your problems with friends or family members can sometimes help you feel better. They might also help you see your problems in a new way and suggest solutions that you hadn’t thought of.
• Get help from a professional if you need it. If you feel that you can no longer cope, talk to your doctor. She or he may suggest counseling to help you learn better ways to deal with stress. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines, such as antidepressants or sleep aids.
• Help others. Volunteering in your community can help you make new friends and feel better about yourself.

For more information

For more information on stress and your health, please call womenshealth.gov at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the following organizations:

National Institute of Mental Health
Phone: (301) 443-4513; Toll-Free: (866) 615-6464
Internet Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov

National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse
Phone: (215) 751-1810; Toll-Free: (800) 553-4539
Internet Address: http://www.mhselfhelp.org

National Mental Health Information Center
Phone: (800) 789-2647
Internet Address: http://www.mentalhealth.org

American Institute of Stress
Phone: (914) 963-1200
Internet Address: http://www.stress.org

American Psychiatric Association
Phone: (703) 907-7300; Toll-Free: 1-888-35-PSYCH (77924)
Internet Address: http://www.psych.org

American Psychological Association
Phone: (202) 336-5500; Toll-Free: (800) 374-2721
Internet Address: http://www.apa.org

National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Phone: (802) 296-6300
Internet Address: http://ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/

Mental Health America
Phone: (800) 969-6642
Internet Address: http://www.nmha.org