National Women's Health Week kicked off yesterday; today is National Checkup Day

National Women's Health Week kicked off fittingly on Mother's Day, with communities, hospitals, health centers, churches and schools participating. The observance, which runs through May 14, is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health.

This year's theme is "It's Your Time." The goal of the week is to have women make their health a top priority by encouraging them to eat a nutritious diet; go to the doctor to get a regular checkup and preventative screenings; avoid risky behaviors like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt; get enough sleep and manage stress; and get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity and 1 hour and 15 of vigorous physical activity each week.

Today is National Women's Checkup Day, which is meant to promote regular checkups for early detection of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health illnesses and sexually transmitted infections. (Read more) For a list of Kentucky-based events being held in honor of National Women's Health Week, click here.