As we look forward to another new year, many of us want to improve our overall health. Smokers may decide to quit smoking, and while most of us are aware of the risk of lung cancer to smokers. But did you know that women have many uniquely feminime  reasons to quit smoking? Take a look at these reasons women should be especially committed to not smoking.

Of course, the biggest New Years resolution we make is to lose weight and get in shape. Unfortunately, the weight loss resolution is also the most quit New Year's resolution. If losing weight and getting in shape is your goal, you are more likely to achieve your goal if you also start an exercise program. If you are severely obese, and you've tried many times to lose weight without success, you might want to explore your options in weight loss surgery.

What is your New Years resolution? Have you been successful with your previous New Years resolutions? What has made you successful? What has hinder your success?

According to the CDC the number of cases of the flu have declined recently; however, the CDC Flu Activity map reminds us that the flu season is far from over.

Have or will you get the flu vaccines? Either one or both the H1N1 or the seasonal flu vaccines? This year, I decided that I was not getting either type of flu vaccine. While the majority of people who get the vaccine never get the flu, I seem to get the flu within weeks of getting the vaccine. And as luck would have it, it's usually Christmas or New Years when I'm the sickest. This year is different in that I had the H1N1 flu a few months ago, and still have a pretty bad case of bronchitis as a result.

While getting the flu vaccine offers you the best protection against getting the flu,  there are a few other things you can do to lower your risk. Because the flu virus is believed to be spread by being around people who are coughing and sneezing, keep a supply of tissues handy to pass out to others you may see coughing and sneezing around you, as well as to contain your own coughs and sneezes. Always throw the tissue away, don't think you can save it to use again, it's just not worth the risk of spreading the flu virus.

Of course, not enough can be said about proper hand washing hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 15 to 20 seconds  using  mild soap and water throughout the day after eating, using the bathroom, etc. If you don't have soap and water available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers regularly. I avoided hand sanitizers for a long time, because they caused eczema breakouts on my hands. This year, I've found hand moisturizers that work the same as the regular hand sanitizers. The hand moisturizing sanitizers that I've found include ones sold at Bath and Body Works, as well as one made by Gold Bond and available at most drug stores. The CDC has more tips for proper hand washing, that may be helpful.

You should also avoid rubbing your face, eyes, and mouth -- this significantly raises your risk of infection.

If you do get the flu, make sure to stay away from others until you are well. You'll know when you are well enough to be in public when you have not had a fever for 24 hours without taking any fever-reducers such as acetaminophen or aspirin.

Finally, it goes without saying that you should follow all public health warnings that occur in your area.

Have you or your family had either the H1N1 flu or the seasonal flu this year? What are you doing to prevent the flu this year? Share your experiences with the flu, as well as what you are doing to prevent the flu from infecting yourself and your family.

In a typical year, more than 35,000 cases of new oral cancers are diagnosed. Historically, men have outnumbered women 6 to 1 in oral cancer diagnosis. Recently, this number has changed to two men for every one woman diagnosed with oral cancer. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer has previously been linked to cigarette smoking and alcohol use, but more and more cases are being diagnosed in women who neither smoke nor drink heavily. While cigarett smoking and alcohol use are still major factors as causes of oral cancer, often oral HPV-16 -- one of the types of HPV linked to cervical cancer -- is the cause of oral cancer. Like other types of HPV, oral HPV is linked to sexual activity, specifically oral sex.

Found early, oral cancer survival rates are about 80 to 90%. Unfortunately, many cases of oral cancer are not found until the late stages when the survival rate drops to about 45%. This late stage diagnosis of oral cancer could be significantly decreased if everyone stuck to the recommended every 6 months dental check ups. Dentists routinely check for the signs of oral cancer that can appear inside the oral cavity, including the tonsils and throat.

Going to the dentist has never been one of my favorite things to do -- maybe if I'd been aware of the possibility of oral cancer, I'd have stuck to the every 6 months schedule my parents insisted on while growing up. Knowing about the risk of oral cancer may have encouraged me to see the dentist more frequently.

Puberty and Menstruation Affect Dental Health

Top 10 Facts Your Dentist Wants You To Know

Just as we hear that mammograms are no longer necessary before age 50, we learn that the ACOG has changed their guidelines for Pap Smear frequency and age at first Pap. According to the New York Times, Pap smears are unnecessary before age 21. Prior guidelines suggested that first Pap Smears be performed at age 21, unless sexually active when Pap smears were recommended  starting three years after becoming sexually active. One reason for this change is that having Pap smears earlier may lead to difficulty maintaining a pregnancy later in life.

The recommendations also advise women over 30 only need a Pap smear every three years when they have a three year history of normal Pap smears.

Additionally, women who have had a hysterectomy for a non-cancer reason can stop having Pap smears altogether. Of course, this includes only women who have had both their uterus and cervix removed -- women who have opted to keep their cervix during hysterectomy will need to follow their doctor's recommendation on future Pap smears. The sad fact is that 15 million unnecessary Pap are performed annually in the US on women who have had hysterectomies that included removal of the cervix.

Another recommendation is for women between ages 65 to 70, who can stop having Pap smears if they have had normal Pap smears for three consecutive years and no abnormal Pap smears over the last ten years.

See: How To Prepare For Your Pap Smear

What do you think about these new guidelines? Will these new guidelines affect the frequency of your Pap smears?

The USPSTF said last week that screening mammograms should not be performed yearly on women aged 40 to 49. They also recommended not teaching breast self exam. According to them, women should only have mammograms every two years between the ages of 50 and 74, unless there is a special circumstance such as a family history of breast cancer. This decision has raised a great deal of controversy among women, their doctors, and cancer organizations.

However, the USPSTF is alone in their recommendation. Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society recommend that women continue practicing breast self-exam and having a screening mammogram every one to two years beginning at age 40.

5 Reasons Young Women Should Practice Breast Self Exam

Will this new recommendation change how often you will have a screening mammogram for breast cancer? Will you continue practicing monthly breast self exam? If you have daughters, will you teach them to perform monthly breast self exam?

Many factors can play a role in the occurrence of vaginal infections and discharge. What can you do to reduce your risk of vaginal infections? Practicing these simple tips significantly reduces your risk of getting a vaginal infection.

Chlamydia is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease diagnosed  in the US. Approximately four million new cases of this disease occur each year and up to forty percent of women infected with this disease may be unaware of its existence. Learn the facts about chlamydia.

Vaginitis is a condition that occurs in the vagina causing vaginal discharge, inflammation, and irritation, as well as vulvar or vaginal itching. You might be surprised to learn that vaginitis is frequently caused by one of the three most common vaginal infections women experience.

There's been a lot of talk about the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA and how it affects our sexuality, as well as our mental and physical health. Does DHEA provide effective relief for sexual problems, mental health issures, or physical health issues? Or is buying DHEA a waste of your money? Learn the facts about DHEA.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States. While it's true that the majority of women still believe that breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women, the truth is that more women die of heart disease each year than die of all types of cancer combined. Find out what you can do now to prevent heart disease later.