Speaking of Women’s Health logo
Speaking of Women’s Health logo

Columns

Celebrating Women’s Health and Wellness in May

Celebrating Women’s Health and Wellness in May

By: Holly L. Thacker, MD • Posted on May 01, 2021

Observing Women's Health in May

May is an important month for us at Speaking of Women's Health as it celebrates three special women's health events:

  1. National Osteoporosis Awareness Month
  2. Mother's Day, May 9
  3. National Nurses Week, May 6-12

National Osteoporosis Awareness Month

Osteoporosis is an elusive disease. Most people won’t have any symptoms until they break a bone. But falling and breaking a bone is not a normal part of the aging process. Osteoporosis is a disease, and like many diseases it is both preventable and treatable.

Bone is a complex living tissue. In addition to supporting the body and protecting vital organs, bones store calcium and other minerals. When the body needs calcium, it breaks down and rebuilds bone in a process known as remodeling.

After age 35, bone breakdown outpaces bone buildup, resulting in a gradual loss of bone mass. Midlife is a critical turning point for a woman’s bone health. The inside of healthy bone resembles a sponge. When osteoporosis occurs, the "holes" in the "sponge" grow larger and more numerous, weakening the internal structure of the bone. It’s important to be proactive about protecting bone health before you run into trouble. May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, so start today! To help get started, download our free Osteoporosis Treatment Guide.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is the perfect time to remind moms to take care of themselves! Moms always put everyone around them first, and forget about the importance of their own physical, emotional and mental health. If you're due for your yearly women's health physical or a health screening, make that appointment now - don't wait another day. Prevention is key to a healthy life.

National Nurses Week

The attributes that mothers are revered for are many of the same attributes that nurses exhibit daily with their patients: Caring, compassion, kindness, warmth, selfless dedication, around the clock work ethic coupled with a strong spine and a fearless protection of their children.

Cleveland Clinic is a physician led organization that from the very beginning treated nurses respectfully and collegially. Our physicians and nurses work shoulder to shoulder in putting patients first, just as moms around the world put their children and families first. Many of our nurses rise to top leadership posts such as hospital presidencies, just as moms around the globe rise to the challenges of being the CEOs of their households.

Cheers to all the hard-working, loving moms, nurses, and women who enrich all of our lives and help keep us strong, healthy, and in charge!

Be Strong, Be Healthy, Be in Charge!

Holly L. Thacker, MD

Holly L. Thacker, MD, FACP is nationally known for her leadership in women’s health. She is the founder of the Cleveland Clinic Women’s Health Fellowship and is currently the Professor and Director of the Center for Specialized Women’s Health at Cleveland Clinic and Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Thacker is also the Executive Director of Speaking of Women’s Health and the author of The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Menopause. Her special interests and areas of research including menopause and related medical problems including osteoporosis, hormone therapy, breast cancer risk assessment, menstrual disorders, female sexual dysfunction and interdisciplinary women’s health.

women's health, women, national osteoporosis awareness month, mother's day, nurse apprecia, osteoporosis

Related Articles