HOW TO HAVE HEALTHY BREASTS FOR LIFE

Have Healthy Breasts 

No matter your age, to keep your breasts healthy it helps to learn what's normal and what's not. It will put you on the lookout for changes that could be signs of trouble.






Just like any part of your body, find out what to expect at different stages of life.

"Knowing what your breasts look and feel like can help you recognize when something is suddenly different," says Pamela Peeke, MD, author of Body for Life for Women. "The same way you pay attention to your skin and watch for new moles, you should pay attention to your breasts."

Your doctor may give you a breast exam at your annual visit, and may teach you how to do a self-exam at home. Research doesn't show that breast exams save lives or detect cancers earlier, but many doctors still recommend them. And it's always a good idea to be aware of your body and let your doctor know if you notice any changes.

What's Normal, What's Not

You may sometimes worry that your breasts don't look "right."  But most of the things women are concerned about are not actually that unusual, Peeke says. For example, it's completely normal if:

• Your breasts are slightly different sizes.
• One breast hangs slightly lower than the other.
• You have hair around your nipples.
• Your breasts hurt or feel tender before and during your period.

Tell your doctor if you see any unusual changes, though. For example, make an appointment if you notice:

• A firm lump you've never felt before
• Swelling around your breast, collarbone, or armpit
• Dry, cracked, red, or thickened skin (like an orange peel) around your nipple
• Blood or fluid (besides milk) leaking from your nipples
• Warmth or itching in your breasts

These symptoms don't always mean something's wrong, but it's important to get checked out by a doctor. They may be harmless changes, or they may be caused by an irritation or infection that can be easily treated. Rarely, they can be signs of cancer.

You may need to see a doctor if your nipple looks like it's pulling back into the breast. But only if it's a change in your appearance, says Erin Hofstatter, MD, assistant professor of medical oncology at Yale School of Medicine. "Roughly 10% of women have naturally inverted nipples," she says. It's not a problem if it's something you've had all along.

Know Your Risk for Breast Cancer

Talk to your doctor about things that may put you at higher risk for the disease. For instance, your chances of getting it may go up if you smoke, drink alcohol, or have a family history of breast cancer.

Women who don't have children, or who have them after age 30, also have a higher risk. So
do women who have their first period before age 12, go through menopause later than normal, or take certain hormone drugs during menopause for longer than 5 years. 

If you take birth control pills, it could slightly raise your breast cancer risk. Together with your doctor, you should consider all of the things that may raise your odds of getting the disease before you decide what kind of birth control to use.

Changes When You're Pregnant or Breastfeeding

When you get pregnant, it's normal for your breasts to get larger and more tender, for your nipples to darken and blood vessels to become more visible, and for your breast tissue to get lumpier.

Cysts (fluid-filled sacs) and other non-cancerous tumors can form or get larger during pregnancy. "The vast majority of lumps discovered by pregnant women are not cancer," Peeke says. "But you can't rule it out for sure, so you should still mention them to your doctor."

Your breasts will likely swell and fill with milk a few days after you give birth. This can make them feel hard and tender. Breastfeeding can ease this feeling. If you opt to bottle-feed instead, your breasts should stop making milk after a few days.

If you are breastfeeding, you may get sore, cracked nipples or plugged milk ducts. It can lead to a painful infection called mastitis, which needs get treated with antibiotics.

Breast Health in Your 40s and Up

You'll notice physical changes as you get older. During menopause or the run-up to it, the glands that make milk shrink. They're replaced with new fat tissue, so your bra-cup size may go up. Your breasts may also begin to sag more.

Your risk for breast cancer goes up as you get older, so talk to your doctor about when you should start getting screening tests called mammograms. Major health groups recommend them every 1 to 2 years for women 50 to 74, but some suggest you start at age 40 or 45.

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SIMPLE HEALTH STEPS FOR WOMEN IN THEIR 40S AND 50S

Health Tips For Women At The Age Of 40 To 50 

When you're in your 40s and 50s, it's time to start giving some thought to the kinds of screening tests you need, what menopause will mean for you, and what nutrition is best. Check out these tips for managing your health.

1. Revisit Your Birth Control Methods

Talk to your doctor about possible changes. For example, if you take the pill, as you get older you may want to think about a switch to an IUD, estrogen patch, or other methods. That's because some birth control pills may raise some women's risk of heart disease and blood clots.

2. Manage Menopause

Talk to your doctor before symptoms of menopause kick in. Discuss what you might want to do to ease any discomfort.

Short-term hormonal therapy (HRT) may be a choice for you if you have moderate to severe effects from menopause and you're at low risk for breast cancer, heart disease, strokes, and blood clots.

HRT can help with symptoms like hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness.

3. Keep an Eye on Your Calcium

If you haven't already started to watch your bone health, do it now. As you move into menopause, it's an important time for you to prevent osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones.

If you don't get enough dairy in your diet, take a supplement with calcium and vitamin D.  Vitamin D is the key that unlocks the calcium in your body so it can use it.

Ask your doctor whether you should have a bone density scan to check for early osteoporosis. If you're under 65 but past menopause, you may need one if you're at risk for the condition because you've had a fracture, take steroid medicines, smoke, have a low weight, drink a lot of alcohol, have rheumatoid arthritis, or have a parent who's had hip fractures.

4. Don't Forget Key Screening Tests

Make sure you get regular mammograms to check for breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about when you should start and how often to get them, because experts disagree. Also ask about when to get diabetes tests and a colonoscopy to check for colorectal cancer.

Thyroid disease is common in older women, so ask your doctor whether you should consider a s

SIMPLE STEPS FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH OF 20S AND 30S

Simple Health Steps for Women in Their 20s and 30s

When you're in your 20s and 30s, the right lifestyle and screening tests can go a long way to keeping you healthy.

1. Start a Heart-Healthy Diet-and-Exercise Plan

Skip the fried and fatty foods, and try to get at least half an hour of exercise every day. Eating right and keeping active are the gifts that keep on giving.

If you set up these habits now, the benefits will last a lifetime. And if you plan on having children someday, it's a good idea to take a multivitamin that gives you plenty of folic acid -- between 400 and 800 micrograms a day. Start taking folic acid at least 1 month before you plan to get pregnant, and keep it up during your first trimester.

2. Work on Your Relationship With Your Doctor

Find one you trust. Before your appointment, make up a list questions, such as: What contraceptive method is right for me? What's the best way to prevent STDs? What vaccines do I need?

3. Know Your Family Health History

Did your sister, mother, or grandmother have breast cancer or heart disease before they turned 50? Does diabetes run in the family? These are important questions to ask your family to help your doctor figure out your own health risks.

4. Don't Forget Key Screening Tests

Make sure you get a Pap test to check for cervical cancer every 3 years starting at age 21. If you're 30 to 65, you can keep getting a Pap test every 3 years, or you can get it along with an HPV test every 5 years. That other test is useful because most cervical cancers are caused by an infection with HPV (human papillomavirus).

If you're sexually active and have a higher risk for STDs, get tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year. Take an HIV test at least once, more often if you're at risk. Also consider tests for other STDs like trichomoniasis, syphilis, and hepatitis B.

Check your blood pressure every 2 years if it's normal (lower than 120/80). If it's high, or you're at risk for high blood pressure, you'll need more frequent checks and diabetes screening tests. Also, get your cholesterol tested, and ask your doctor how often that needs to be done. 

CAUSES OF DRY EYES AND PREVENTION

Are You Taking Care of Your Eye Health?

As we age, vision and eye health deteriorate. By tackling your eye health problems now, you can prevent or slow the progression of vision loss in the future. Its not surprising that living in a dry,windy or wearing contact lenses can lead to dry eyes.But cold outdoor temperature and some medication may also effect your tears.

If you take antihistamines regularly, have diabetes, or sit for hours in front of a computer, watch out for gritty, burning, itchy eyes.Known as dry eye syndrome, the chronic condition occurs when you don’t have enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated and nourished. 

Other dry eye culprits

“Beware of ceiling fans, heaters and car air conditioning too,” says Melissa Barnett, OD, principal optometrist at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and California Optometric Association member.

Allergies, Sjogren’s syndrome and refractive laser surgery to improve vision are other causes of dry eye, which afflicts 3.2 million American women ages 50 and older, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. About 1.5 million men are also affected.The problem gets worse with age, growing from 5.7% of women younger than 50 to 9.8% of women 75 and older. 

Does refractive surgery, such as LASIK, cause dry eyes?

Refractive surgery improves vision problems, often eliminating the need for eyeglasses. But dry eyes are a common side effect, usually lasting 3-6 months post-surgery. That’s because the corneal nerves that prompt glands to produce tears are temporarily damaged. Before surgery, you’ll need an exam from your eye doctor to determine the severity of your dry eyes, if you have it. You must have a sufficient amount of tears for the [procedure].

Your doctor will give you moisturizing drops to improve your eye lubrication. You may get punctal plugs, which are inserted into the tear ducts and can be left in indefinitely. They block tear drainage, helping you retain more tear film on your eye surface.

Your doctor might prescribe cyclosporine drops, which help you produce your own tears. After surgery, you’ll be instructed to use moisturizing drops for several weeks. You can use thicker gel eye drops at bedtime.

Some people sleep with their eyes open; are they at risk?

People who sleep with their eyes slightly open have nocturnal lagophthalmos; it causes eye dryness and irritation.They should wear an eye mask during sleep. Some patients tape their eyes shut. Lubricant ointment is helpful to use at night.Moisture goggles work well too; they keep moisture in and around your eyes while you’re sleeping.

If you believe your eyes aren’t fully closing during sleep, see your doctor. Panoptx glasses have inserts that create a sealed moisture chamber around your eyes. They’re available as a prescription, non-prescription and sunglasses, according to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Tranquileyes are soft, flexible goggles that prevent evaporation of natural tears. You can wear them while sleeping, relaxing or in dry environments.

Can illnesses cause dry eyes?

Studies show that people with diabetes have a 50% chance of getting dry eyes. It’s caused by neuropathy, which affects the nerves that control tear-producing glands.Just as diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy – tingling or burning in the hands and feet – it also affects the nerves that sense dryness and keep eyes moist.

What’s your advice to people with diabetes?

Keep your blood sugar under control. If you don’t, you may also increase the amount of glucose  in your tears, which contributes to dry eye.Use artificial tear drops, cyclosporine, punctal plugs and increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake. Drink plenty of water and use a humidifier.

Which other health conditions cause dry eyes?

Bell’s palsy – possibly due to inflammation of a nerve controlling the muscles on one side of your face – causes weakness in your facial muscles. The eye can droop and not close, creating severe dryness. Any nerve damage that prevents your eye from closing, such as a stroke, can do that.

Eye lubricants are a must, especially lubricant ointment at night. You can also try moisture goggles at night.

Are Sjogren’s syndrome patients at high risk of dry eye?

If you have dry eyes and dry mouth, it’s important to get your eyes checked. If you have arthritis symptoms with them, you may have Sjogren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease.

White blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands, drying the eyes. The syndrome can cause chronic irritation and damage to the cornea and other organs. Symptoms include eye burning, stinging, itching, lid swelling and eye fatigue.

Eat foods rich in omega-6 essential fatty acids, including corn and soybean oils and nuts and seeds. Topical steroids, along with antibiotics, sometimes help the inflammation.Prescription products for dry eyes and dry mouth are available. Sometimes immunosuppressive medications are used to treat internal-organ  related to Sjogren’s.

 Why do continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines cause dry eyes in people with sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing pauses or becomes shallow during sleep. CPAP machines prevent it by increasing air pressure into the throat. That way, your airway stays fully open while you inhale. Users wear a mask covering their nose and mouth, and the air can escape and blow into the eyes at night, causing dry eyes.

Make sure your mask is tightly sealed around your face. Use lubricant ointment before sleep and preservative-free artificial tears when you wake up to moisten your eyes.

SMARTPHONE ADDICTION TAKING ITS TOLL ON SLEEP

Smartphone addiction Study

Most people are responding to messages, looking at social media notifications, reading news or replying to office emails in middle of the night which has significantly disrupted their sleep patterns, a new study has warned. 

study 'Global Mobile Consumer Survey 2016' conducted by global consultancy firm Deloitte found that almost half of 18 to 24-year-olds check their phones in the middle of the night.

The study, involving 4,000 people in Britain, revealed that if users do not wake up to check their texts, they take time to scroll through their notifications right before bed.

Ten percent of users also like to check their smartphone first thing in the morning, Fortune reported, quoting the study.

Less than a quarter of smartphone users are unplugging at least an hour before they go to sleep.

"Nearly 27 percent of smartphones include a fingerprint reader, of which 76 percent are used while 31 percent of smartphone users make no traditional voice calls in a given week. This contrasts with a quarter in 2015 and just 4 percent in 2012," the findings showed.

The majority of survey participants have downloaded 20 or fewer apps. By mid-2016, almost two-thirds of British adults had access to a tablet, but penetration growth had slowed down.

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হার্ট অ্যাটাক আসার আগে থেকেই আপনার শরীরকে ক্রমাগত সিগন্যাল দেয় হৃদপিণ্ড! জানেন?

হার্ট অ্যাটাকের আগেই সিগন্যাল দেবে হৃদপিণ্ড

বিশ্বজুড়ে যেভাবে দূষণের মাত্রা বেড়ে চলছে তাতে আট থেকে আশি বছরের সকলের মধ্যেই দেখা দিচ্ছে শ্বাসকষ্ট জনিত সমস্যা। যৌবনে প্রবেশ করার আগেই অনেকের মধ্যে হার্ট অ্যাটাকের প্রবণতা দেখা যায়। কিন্তু গোবেষণা বলছে, হার্ট অ্যাটাক আসার আগে থেকেই আপনার শরীরকে ক্রমাগত সিগন্যাল দেয় হৃদপিণ্ড। জানেন কীভাবে?

এই ৬টি বিষয়ই  আপনাকে বলে দেবে আপনার হার্ট অ্যাটাক আসতে চলেছে:-

১) দুর্বলতা- হার্টের সমস্যার জন্য ধমনীতে রক্তের প্রবাবিশ্বজুড়ে যেভাবে দূষণের মাত্রা বেড়ে চলছে তাতে আট থেকে আশি বছরের সকলের মধ্যেই দেখা দিচ্ছে শ্বাসকষ্ট জনিত সমস্যা। যৌবনে প্রবেশ করার আগেই অনেকের মধ্যে হার্ট অ্যাটাকের প্রবণতা দেখা যায়। কিন্তু গোবেষণা বলছে, হার্ট অ্যাটাক আসার আগে থেকেই আপনার শরীরকে ক্রমাগত সিগন্যাল দেয় হৃদপিণ্ড। জানেন কীভাবে?

২) ঝিমনি- অদ্ভূত ভাবে একটি ঝিমুনি অনুভব হবে প্রতি মুহূর্তে। সেই সঙ্গে রক্তের প্রবাহ কমে যাওয়ার ফলে শরীরে একটা শীতল ভাবও অনুভূত হবে হার্ট অ্যাটাক আসার আগেই।

৩) বুকে ব্যাথা- হার্ট অ্যাটাক আসার প্রায় এক মাস আগে থেকেই বুকে ব্যথা অনুভূত হতে শুরু করবে। শুধু তাই নয়, বুকে থেকে ব্যথা শরীরের অন্য অংশেও ছড়িয়ে পড়বে ক্রমাগত। বিশেষ করে পীঠ, হাত ও কাঁধে ছড়িয়ে বড়বে ব্যথা।

৪) ঠাণ্ডা লাগার প্রবণতা- হার্ট অ্যাটাক আসার আগে কিছুদিন আগে থেকেই ঠাণ্ডা লাগার একটা প্রবণতা বেড়ে যায়। ফলে আগে থেকেই সাবধান হয়ে যাওয়া অনেকটাই ভালো।

৫) ক্লান্তি- একটু কাজ করলে বা হাটাহাটি করলেই শরীরের মধ্যে ক্লান্তি অনুভব করা। সেই সঙ্গে হাপ ধরে যাওয়া। এমন সমস্যা দেখা দিলেই সঙ্গে সঙ্গেই চিকিৎসকের পরামর্শ নিন। হতে পারে আপনার হার্ট দুর্বল। যে কোনও মুহূর্তে অ্যাটাক আসতে পারে।

৬) নিশ্বাসে সমস্যা- এটিও একটি নির্দেশ হার্টের পক্ষ থেকে যে তা অত্যন্ত দুর্বল। ছোটো বড় যে কোনও কাজ করলেই নিশ্বাসে সমস্যা দেখা দিতে পারে। আর তা হলেই সঙ্গে সঙ্গে চিকিৎসকের পরামর্শ নিন।

SICK FROM SCENTED PRODUCTS

Americans Say 'No' to Scented Products

 

Lavender, lemon or lilac: Whatever the artificial aroma, more Americans are avoiding scented spaces and products, a new survey shows.

Fragranced products such as soaps, candles and air fresheners cause more than one-third of U.S. adults to suffer ill health effects, includingheadaches, dizziness and breathing difficulties, researchers said.Surveying a nationally representative group of more than 1,100 Americans, the research team also found that more than 20 percent of people quickly leave a business place if they smell air fresheners or other scented products.

Led by Anne Steinemann, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Melbourne in Australia, the research is believed to be the first to examine many aspects of exposure to fragranced products and their effects in the United States."What I found was that half the reports of adverse health effects could be considered potentially disabling," Steinemann said. "That's astounding, since more than 99 percent of the population is exposed to these fragrances regularly."I call it secondhand scent," she added. "But unlike cigarette smoke, which is one distinct product, this is much more pervasive. Fragrances are everywhere, in hundreds of different products, so it's a huge problem that's just exploding."

Prior research found that common fragranced products -- even those labeled "green" or "organic" -- emit a range of hazardous air pollutants, the researchers behind the new study said.Steinemann and her team surveyed more than 1,100 American adults online using a national random sample representative of age, gender and region.

Survey questions asked about the use and exposure to fragranced products, both by choice and from others' use, and health effects related to this exposure. Among other aspects, the survey also asked respondents about their preferences for fragrance-free environments and policies.

Nearly 35 percent of respondents reported health effects when exposed to fragranced products. The most common complaint was respiratory problems. But, the list also included migraine headaches; nasal congestion or sneezing; skin problems such as rashes; asthma attacks; andmental health problems such as difficulty thinking, concentrating or remembering.

About 20 percent reported health problems when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers, while 24 percent reported such effects from being near someone wearing a fragranced product. More than 12 percent said they suffered ill effects from scented laundry products vented outdoors.Meanwhile, about 15 percent said they lost workdays or a job due to fragranced product exposure, and more than half would prefer fragrance-free workplaces, health care facilities, hotels and airplanes.

But the apparent widespread disdain for scented products and environments hasn't seemed to stop industries from incorporating added scents into daily life, Steinemann said."I see a trend with scent branding and more apartments, hotels, airports and other places going toward fragrancing their air," she said. "However, as my study found, more people would prefer the opposite -- no fragranced air."

Dr. David Huston, chairman of allergy and immunology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, said it's important to understand the distinction between fragrances causing an allergic reaction and causing an irritant effect."What I think is really captured here [in the new research] is the irritant effect of things in the environment," he said. But, he also noted that about 10 percent of Americans suffer from allergies that would be worsened by inhaled irritants such as fragrances.

Both Steinemann and Huston agreed that changing U.S. laws -- which currently don't mandate the disclosure of all ingredients contained in fragranced consumer products -- may be in order.Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said they weren't aware of this lack of disclosure and wouldn't continue to use a fragranced product if they knew it emitted potentially hazardous air pollutants.

"One of the many remarkable things about product labels is the absence of the requirement to completely list what's in there for consumer reading," said Huston, also a professor of medicine and microbial pathogenesis and immunology at Texas A&M College of Medicine. "So you kind of blindly work through it and rely on your nose to let you know, [but] that's a little bit late."

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