Smoking

It's a new year, full of opportunity, promise, and hope. While no one knows what 2015 will bring, there is one truth we can't escape: we're all older than we were last year. Aging is a natural part of life, and it's up to us to make the most of it. To me, that means being active and feeling my best. No matter your age, you can feel your best, too! Here are six easy ways you can stay active and healthy in 2015.

Research shows women influence the habits of those around them. When we set a good example by prioritizing our own health, we encourage others to make healthy choices, too - including our kids. My kids' well-being has always been my primary concern, but I know how critical it is to take care of my own needs at the same time.

It's been fifty years since the Surgeon General released the first report on smoking and health in the United States. In that time more than 20 million Americans have died because of smoking. In fact, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and premature death in the United States.

Did you know that two weeks to three months after quitting smoking, a woman's heart attack risk begins to drop? In honor of the Great American Smokeout, I spoke with Dr. Howard Koh, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to learn more about smoking and how it affects women. He also told me that the number of former U.S. smokers now exceeds the number of current smokers. Talk about encouraging news! Read my interview with Dr. Koh to learn more.

Quitting smoking isn't easy. In fact, many ex-smokers say that it's one of the hardest things they've ever done, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Millions of people have quit - and so can you.

Just ask Pamela Worth.