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It's that time of year when many of us make resolutions to improve our health by eating healthier and exercising more. Or we make resolutions to take care of our mental health by spending more time with friends, taking up a new hobby, or putting a new, fresh focus into our work.

Ed. note: This blog is cross-posted from the Healthcare.gov blog. The original post date was January 9, 2014.

Women can be affected by many different types of disabilities, each of which presents a unique set of challenges. Disabilities can impact a woman's ability to move, see, or even communicate. While disabilities may make everyday activities more challenging, that doesn't mean that women living with disabilities can't enjoy healthy, productive lives.

Ed. note: This blog is cross-posted from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services news page. The original post date was November 20, 2013.

My mother called me last Thursday night to let me know she was in the hospital and would be having surgery the next day. As I drove to North Carolina to be with her, I was thinking about how many people are in a similar situation, providing care for a family member from a distance. As I got closer to the hospital, I realized it didn't really matter how long or short the distance is between you and the family member you are caring for - being a caregiver is hard work.

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.

Hello! I'm Dr. Nancy Lee, the director of the Office on Women's Health. I'd like to welcome you to our new blog. I hope it will be a place where you can find discussions of women's health that matter most to you.

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.

Ed. note: This blog is cross-posted from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HealthCare blog. The original post date was October 24, 2013.

There's no doubt about it - quitting smoking is tough. But you can do it. Here to tell us how she successfully quit is Pamela Worth. With the Great American Smokeout just around the corner, read on for Pamela's tips and suggestions for quitting. Learn how her decision to quit is helping her lead a healthier life.