The habits you, as a woman, develop early in life may determine your health in your later years. I don't mean eating habits alone. I mean your personal habits and choices as well as your eating habits.

The 5 major causes of poor health and even death in women are as follows: Cancer, Heart Disease, Accidents, Sucide, and Homicide.

Preventing Cancer. Genetic based cancers like breast cancer are nearly unavoidable. However, catching it early on will greatly increase your chances of survival. Periodic examiniations will catch any cancers early on. QUIT SMOKING and your chances of getting lung cancer or other smoking associated illnesses are significantly decreased.

Preventing heart disease. Again, quit smoking. This also reduces your risk of having a stroke. Watch what you eat and excersize regularly. You needn't work out everyday. Just do something a few times a week that gets your heart going and warms up the muscles. Lose weight if you need to. You will know if you need to or not. If you are on medication, take it as directed. If you start feeling better that means the medication is working and is all the more reason to continue taking it as prescribed. Never stop taking a medication without consulting your doctor. Some medications cannot be stopped suddenly.

Preventing Accidents. Buckle your seat belt. Don't drive angry. Don't drive when you are just too tired. Use common sense on the road. Don't drink and drive. 2 beverages is all it takes to impair your driving.

Suicide. Depression is the no. 1 cause of suicide. If you think you are depressed, go see a qualified professional about it. Here are a few signs of depression: feeling sad or a feeling of hopelessness. Your appetite either increases or decreases. Insomnia or too much sleep. Feeling worthless. Frequent thoughts of suicide. If you are having these signs as well as others. You should seek help.

Prevent homicide. Domestic abuse accounts for a large number of women who are murdered. They choose partners emotionally instead of intelligently. Use common sense when choosing a partner. If you choose a rabid dog, you will end up getting bit. Simple as that. Other causes of homicide are interacting with strangers. When driving, don't pull over for hitch-hikers or strangers in other cars. If you are being flagged down by someone in another car and they are warning you of some kind of problem with your car, pull over in a well lighted spot with plenty of people. Never get out of your car unless you absolutely believe it is safe.