As the New Year approaches and we begin to make our resolutions, please be sure that your health goals are considered. According to the the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), each year millions of women are diagnosed with mostly preventable health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Research shows that these diseases could be avoided, held at bay, or improved through healthy living, routine screenings, and doctor's visits.

To help you decide what your health resolutions are for 2015, here are some important tips from ACOG to help our patients adopt healthy lifestyle habits - with prevention in mind.

Visit with your ob-gyn regularly. For many women, preventive care starts with a visit to their ob-gyn. It is recommended that most women see their doctor every year for a well-woman check-up. Regular visits to the ob-gyn help ensure that you receive age-appropriate screenings, exams, and immunizations and allow physicians to identify and treat common problems before they become a serious health risk.

Get Active in 2015. Regular physical activity can help you control your weight and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, some cancers, Type II diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Exercise can also improve your ability to perform daily tasks, keep you mentally sharp, and help you avoid injuries.

Taking small steps can help ease you into a workout routine, especially if you are not accustomed to being active. ACOG recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days of the week to lower the risk of chronic disease, 60 minutes on most days of the week to maintain weight, and at least 60 to 90 minutes a day to lose weight. Even if you can't get a full workout in every day, any physical activity will make a difference. It's a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

Eat Smarter. According to a measure of Body Mass Index (BMI), one-third of all women in the US are currently classified as obese, a number that is not declining amid the abundance of over-processed, supersized, high-fat, and high-sodium food choices that are constantly and conveniently available. (To calculate your BMI, click here.) Though many Americans would have a hard time changing their diets overnight, a reasonable goal for most women is to consume a healthier, balanced diet such as the one recommended by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

USDA's food pyramid (www.mypyramid.gov) can be useful in planning smart meals and food choices. The MyPyramid website also features a tool that calculates the nutrients from the major food groups needed to maintain optimal health based on age, sex, and physical activity. Eating healthier is an important step in lowering your risk of disease and may lead to long-term wellness and weight maintenance. To check your BMI, click here.

Understand the Health Impacts of Your Sodium Intake. According to the Centers for Disease Contril and Prevention (CDC), current dietary guidelines for Americans recommend that the general population should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day (about 1 teaspoon of table salt). However, people who have high blood pressure, African Americans, and people older than age 40 are in population groups that should consume no more than 1,500 mg/day. This represents about 70 percent of American adults.

Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of salt, and about 75% of sodium we consume is in processed and restaurant foods. Eating less sodium can help prevent, or control, high blood pressure, which is a major factor in heart disease. The good news is that blood pressure can respond to lower sodium intake within weeks. Read your food labels, shop for fresh fruit and vegetables and when eating out, ask for foods with no or low salt.

Stop Smoking ASAP. Quitting smoking is one of the single most significant preventive health moves that women can make. Every puff of cigarette smoke contains more than 2,500 chemicals that can negatively affect just about every organ in the body. Smoking also increases the risk of heart disease, infertility, early menopause, and more than 10 different cancers. Smokers who quit can stop or reverse most of the damage caused by smoking. Soon after a woman stops smoking, her heart rate and blood pressure drop to healthier levels, and breathing, circulation, and sense of smell and taste may improve. Heart attack risk decreases by 50% within the first year of quitting, and the risk of developing some cancers, heart disease, and other ailments falls to nearly that of a nonsmoker within the first few years. Statistics show that it takes most smokers several attempts to truly quit. Women who are considering quitting should talk to their doctor about methods that may increase the odds of quitting for good. For example. some studies show that nicotine replacement products used to combat cravings (patches, gums, nasal sprays, etc) or medications (such as bupropion or varenicline), in combination with nicotine replacement, can double the chances of quitting.

Whether your goal for 2015 is to lose weight, lower your cholesterol, or focus on leading a healthier lifestyle, we are here to support you.