If you're a typical busy woman, your daily calendar is filled with doctor and dentist appointments for everyone in the family, from the kids to your parents to the family pet.

But chances are that you just can't find the time to schedule a checkup, or a mammogram, or a half hour at the gym for the one person who holds it all together: You.

Here's where to start: Schedule well checkups with your family doctor: Everyone should have a standard yearly physical - no matter what your age. Your family physician should monitor your height and weight and check your skin from head to toe for any suspicious moles that might signal cancer. If you have a family history of certain diseases or if you have specific health concerns, your doctor might also take a blood test that checks things such as your blood's iron level or your thyroid function. And if you have any special risk factors for coronary heart disease - that is, if you smoke, are very overweight, have diabetes or high blood pressure, or if you've had a close female relative who developed heart disease before age 65 - your doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram (EKG) or a chest X-ray. For a referral to a PMMC physician, call 610-327-7662.

Schedule a mammogram: The American Cancer Society recommends an annual mammogram screening for breast cancer after the age of 40, and more often if you have a family history. A mammogram can detect breast cancer when it is confined to the breast. Ninety-seven percent of women diagnosed at this stage survive without a recurrence for at least five years, according to the American Cancer Society.

Mammograms are offered at PMMC or our outpatient facility, Boyertown Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Services. Call 610-327-7485 for an appointment.

Take care of your heart: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. More than half of all women who die from sudden cardiac death do not experience any previous symptoms of this disease. Don't be one of these women! Have your blood pressure checked annually starting at age 20. If your blood pressure is higher than 130/90, you may be developing hypertension. Another important way to track your heart disease risk is to monitor your cholesterol levels. Elevated cholesterol not only raises your chances of a heart attack or stroke but also is associated with gallbladder disease. More importantly, if you have been experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath and/or are easily fatigued, your primary physician may refer you to a cardiologist, who should order a stress test and an EKG to help evaluate your heart and future heart-disease risk. PMMC offers blood pressure and cholesterol screenings as well as EKGs. For future dates, call 610-327-7284 or www.pottstownmemorial.com.

Relieve stress. Stress not only contributes to high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcers and other physical conditions, but also can cause depression by creating an imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. "About 18 percent of women will get true clinical depression compared to 12 percent of men because of the stress of having to do all these things," says Dr. Henwood. To help relieve stress: Exercise, get enough sleep, try relaxation exercises and yoga or talk to your doctor. If you are dealing with major issues, such as a death in the family, or a major illness, or are just trying to lose weight or stop smoking, Pottstown offers a variety of support groups. Check out the calendar on www.pottstownmemorial.com to find meeting places, dates and times.

Build strong bones: After 30, women's bones start to lose density, leading to the risk of osteoporosis, which afflicts nearly 10 million older Americans, 80% of whom are women, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Keep your bones strong by weightlifting, jogging, hiking, dancing or playing racquet sports. The only sure way to determine bone density and fracture risk for osteoporosis is to have a bone mass measurement (also called bone mineral density or BMD test). The dual-energy X-ray (DEXA) test is the most accurate bone-density test. It is safe and noninvasive. You lie fully clothed on a table while the X-ray machine scans your wrists, spine and hips. PMMC offers DEXA scan screening. Call 610-327-7485.