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Your Health

A healthy lifestyle and good medical care are important for all people. If you have a disabling illness or condition, you need to make sure that you get the specialized care you need to manage your condition. But you need to think about the other aspects of your health and wellness, too. Having a disability does not keep women from getting cancer, becoming pregnant, or getting sexually transmitted infections. So, don't overlook routine checkups, preventive screenings, and vaccines you might need. Talk to your doctor about health risk factors you might have and what you can do to lower these risks. For instance, compared to people without disabilities, people with disabilities are more likely to:

• Have high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Have high cholesterol levels
• Be obese

All of these put you at higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and other diseases.

Taking care of your health also involves eating well, staying physically active, and keeping in tune with your emotional and sexual health. When you look at the big picture, you will focus less on your disability and more on the steps you can take to feel your best and stay healthy overall.

• Staying Healthy
• Medical Care and Rehabilitation
• Sexuality and Reproductive Health

Content last updated September 22, 2009.