The 10th annual celebration kicked off on Mother's Day, May 10, 2009 and lasts until May 16, 2009. With the theme "It's Your Time," the nationwide initiative encourages women to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Why an entire week? Women are often the caregivers for their spouses, children, and parents and forget to focus on their own health. But research shows that when women take care of themselves, the health of their family improves.

During National Women's Health Week it is important to educate mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends about the steps they can take to improve their health and prevent disease. After all, when women take even the simplest steps to improve their health, the results can be significant and everyone can benefit.

So what can you do to celebrate Women’s Health Week?

• Remind your mom that National Women's Checkup Day will be Monday, May 11, 2009. The day is dedicated to encouraging women to visit health care professionals to receive or schedule a checkup and promoting regular checkups as vital to the early detection of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health illnesses, sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions. So make sure your mom makes that appointment and go with her to show your support.
• Join the WOMAN Challenge (Women and girls Out Moving Across the Nation) and encourage your loved ones to do it with you. The online physical activity program, starts May 10, 2009, and is an eight-week physical activity challenge for better health. The challenge encourages women to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week.
• Cook your mom a nutritious meal for Mother’s Day or every day of Women's Health Week is you want to go that extra mile.