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 In this section:

                Women's Health Topics

Women's Health Topics

                        5 Healthy Aging Tips for Women
          Women and Anxiety
          Caring for Others: Resources to Help You
          Cholesterol Medicines Guide
          Women in Clinical Trials
          Contact Lens Care
          Cosmetics: Tips for Women
          Depression Medicines
          Women and Diabetes
          Dietary Supplements: Tips for Women
          Food Safety at Home
          Heart Health for Women
          High Blood Pressure
          Women and HIV: Get the Facts on HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment
          HPV (human papillomavirus)
          Mammography
          Medication Safety for Women
          Medicine and Pregnancy
          Menopause
          Osteoporosis
          Women and Pain Medicines
          Pregnancy
          Sleep Problems
          Smoking - Medicines To Help You Quit
          Tattoos and Permanent Make-up
          Uterine Fibroids


                        Pregnancy Exposure Registries
          Free Publications For Women Home
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          Women's Health
          Women's Health Topics
          Caring for Others: Resources to Help YouWomen's Health Topics Caring for Others: Resources to Help You
  
  					From the FDA Office of Women’s Health
	
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              Portrait of Asian female older ageing women smiling with happiness in a gardenEn Español Download English PDF (1.65MB)

Caregiving is the act of providing support for someone with a chronic illness, injury, disability or age-related needs. Taking care of family and friends is a normal part of every day for most women. It can be fun and rewarding to spend time with those who need you. It can also present you with new challenges.

Common challenges include caregiver stress and women especially are at risk for the harmful health effects of caregiver stress. Are you looking for tips to help you with caregiving? You are not alone! FDA has resources to help you keep you and your loved ones as healthy as they can be.

**On this page:**

Helping with medicines and medical devicesPreparing food safelyManaging other concernsLearning about your loved one’s health conditionCaring for yourself

**Helping with medicines and medical devices**

Many women and other family caregivers, like you, worry about making a medical mistake. These tips can help you keep your loved ones safe and on track with their treatments.

**Keep a list of medicines for each person you care for.** Include over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins and herbs. Keep this list with you at all times. Bring this list to health care provider visits. Remember to ask any questions you may have. Download and print (PDF, 1.48 MB) a free My Medicines booklet you can fill in or order free copies.
	**Give the right amount of medicine.** Ask the health care provider how much medicine you should give and when you should give it. Be sure to read the drug facts label of the drug product, follow usage directions and use the measuring cup or device that comes with the medicine.
	**Lock up medicines.** Make sure medication is taken by the person it was meant for. Keep medicines out of reach of children, teens, and older adults who could harm themselves. FDA recommends locking up medicines to prevent accidental poisonings by children and misuse by teens.
	**Use home medical devices safely.**Talk with your loved one’s health care provider about how to safely use medical devices. Ask the provider to show you and your loved one how to use the device correctly.**More information on using medications and devices safely:**

Drug information for consumers and patients
	Find information on a specific drug
	Safe use of over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers
	Safely using sharps (needles and syringes) at home, at work and on travel
	Consumer updates on medical devices
	BeSafeRx: How to be safe when buying drugs online
	Vaccine Facts: Why You and your Family Need Vaccines (PDF, 818 KB)
	A safety guide for patient lifts (PDF, 3.83 MB)
	Recommendations for consumers and caregivers about adult portable bed rails
	Hearing aidsPreparing food safely

Caregiving and food safety are important considerations especially when caring for people who may have a higher risk of getting sick from bad food. Ask the health care provider if there are certain foods that you should not give to your loved one. Also, remember food safety when preparing and storing meals.

Basic steps for food safety
	Food safety for older adults
	Food safety booklet for pregnant women, their unborn babies, and children under five
	The new nutrition facts label
	Food safety in your kitchenManaging other concerns

Use these resources to help overcome some common caregiving challenges.

Preparing for emergencies
	Facts about the loss of bladder control
	Sleep problems
	6 Tip-offs to rip-offs: don't fall for health fraud scams
	What to ask your doctor before taking opioids
	Reporting serious problems to FDALearning about your loved one's health condition

It is important to educate yourself about the health condition to ensure that you can safely and effectively support your loved one. Read important tips on a variety of topics.

Anxiety
	Healthy aging
	Diabetes
	HIV treatment
	Heart health
	Osteoporosis
	Considering clinical trials
	Postpartum depression (womenshealth.gov)
	Tips for families of people with disabilities (CDC)Caring for yourself

When caring for someone else, it is easy to forget your own needs. Common challenges include emotional stress, balancing your personal life, and adapting to changing care needs. Remember to take time to care for your own health. Use these tips to help you stay healthy for those who need you.

Schedule your own well visits and screening tests including your mammogram. Find a location near you.
	Talk with your health care provider about feelings of depression and anxiety.
	Learn how to manage caregiver stress. (HHS)
	Prevent caregiver burnout by practicing self-care and seeking support and caregiving resources in your community. The National Eldercare Locator, a service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can help you find caregiving services in your area.Related links

Caregiving (NIH - National Institute on Aging)
	Caregiver’s Handbook (NIH - National Institute on Aging)
	For Caregivers, Family and Friends (CDC)

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      10/26/2023Women's Health Topics

          
                        Aging
          Anxiety
          Caregiving
          Cholesterol medicines
          Clinical trials
          Contact lens care
          Cosmetics
          Depression
          Diabetes
          Dietary supplements
          Food safety
          Heart health
          High blood pressure
          HIV
          HPV
          Mammography
          Medication safety
          Medicine and pregnancy
          Menopause
          Osteoporosis
          Pain medicines
          Pregnancy
          Sleep problems
          Smoking
          Tattoos and permanent makeup
          Uterine fibroids


                        Pregnancy Exposure Registries
          Free publications for women
 
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