The month of May brings a lot more than flowers. National Women’s Health Week is May 12- 18. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. So, what does this mean? You don’t have to run out and join a health club or call a therapist, though both of those are good ideas. First, become aware of what ails you, and then find ways to treat it.
In May, we also observe:
- American Stroke Awareness Month
- Arthritis Awareness Month
- Better Hearing and Speech Month
- Clean Air Month
- Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
- Food Allergy Action Month
-
Stretching before the Run, Walk and Roll 5K event
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
- Healthy Vision Month
- Hepatitis Awareness Month
- International Mediterranean Diet Month
- Lupus Awareness Month
- Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
- National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
- National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
- National High Blood Pressure Education Month
- National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
- Ultraviolet Awareness Month
- National Physical Education and Sport Week (May 1–7)
- World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5)
- North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (May 5–11)
- National Stuttering Awareness Week (May 5–11)
- Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day (May 11)
- National Alcohol- and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Awareness Week (May 12–18)
- HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (May 18)
- National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (May 19)
- World Autoimmune Arthritis Day (May 20)
- Don’t Fry Day (May 24)
- National Senior Health Fitness Day (May 29)
What will you explore?
What a list! I’ve decided to use the days of May to explore better sleep and taking care of my bones.
There are also things on this list that I had not given much thought to, but a look is crucial as I move forward. As I navigate this healthcare maze, I’m declaring a hug holiday (though officially, Nationally Hugging Day is January 21).
Hugs are beneficial to good health. When hugged, levels of the stress hormone cortisol and blood pressure decrease. Every day should be hugging day!
What will you explore this month?
Valora Starr is director for discipleship and she oversees Women of the ELCA’s health initiative, Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls. This updated Throwback Thursday blog first ran in May 2013. Photos from the Tenth Triennial Gathering Run, Walk and Roll event in Minneapolis, July 2017.