Women’s Breast Health and Problems Prevention
Today many women are concerned about their breast health, especially breast pain, lumps and nipple discharges. Breast health should start with awareness of what is normal and what is not. A woman should learn how to examine herself at home and when to have a professional consultation.
Unfortunately, no woman can be absolutely sure she’s healthy: her breasts always vary in texture or sensitivity at different times during her menstrual cycle. Yet still, we suggest learning basic problem prevention steps that will minimize most risks.
What Is Normal and What Is Not?
Sometimes every woman freaks out that something is going wrong. However, most concerns are related to things that are quite normal and usual. What is normal, when it comes to breast health? It is absolutely normal if:
- One breast hangs a bit lower than the other;
- Breasts feel tender or/and hurt before/during period;
- Breasts are of slightly different sizes;
- There’s hair around your nipples.
A healthcare professional should be addressed, when unusual changes occur. The list of such changes may include:
- Fluid (besides milk) or blood leaking from nipples;
- Swelling around collarbone, armpit or breasts;
- Itching/warmth in breasts;
- A firm lump(s) that never was there before;
- Red/thickened/dry/cracked skin around nipples that resembles an orange peel.
Far not in all cases these symptoms stand for illnesses and severe health complications. Yet still professional consultation is a must. Sometimes the above-mentioned symptoms are only harmless changes, reactions to mild infections and irritation that can be effectively treated. Are they signs of cancer? Only in very rare cases!
What Do You Know of Breast Cancer?
This is one of the most dangerous health issues that every woman is afraid of. The condition starts developing, when breast cells start dividing and then growing in an abnormal way. This growth is typically provoked by a combination of many factors. Unfortunately, most of these factors are beyond woman’s control.
Today there exist several different types of breast cancer. They may be diagnosed at different stages of growth. Sometimes, it is too late to choose any treatment.
Each year around 90.000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. The lifetime risk for suffering from this disease for a female is 1 in 8, which means that around 13% of women can have the condition. 7 in 8 females (nearly 87%) are lucky never to have this dangerous condition.
Some males may have breast cancer as well. However, cases are extremely rare. Only around 450-500 males are diagnosed breast cancer yearly.
The condition is said to be more common in older women than young ones. The disease mostly occurs in those, who are over 50 years old. Around 50% of cases occur in females aged 50-69. When it comes to males, they may suffer from the issue, when they’re over 60.
How to Prevent Breast Cancer Condition?
There are several wise ways to choose. These are natural options for those, who are in a risk zone due to the family history of the condition. So, these are the things that we suggest:
- Exercise regularly
If you are physically active, your risks for breast cancer decrease greatly. Exercising is the easiest way to stay healthy. Those females, who stay physically active at least half an hour daily, lower their risks of breast cancer. Regular exercising will also help keep weight under control. A healthy weight decreases risks for number of various cancers and breast cancer is in the list.
- Breastfeed
If you are breastfeeding for a year or even more, you can lower risks of breast cancer, not speaking of exceptional health benefits for children.
- Eat more vegetables and fruits
There’s no need to say much about the value and benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables for one’s health. Any kind of health diet reduces chances for having breast cancer at any age. However, healthy eating won’t do a thing, if a woman keeps consuming alcohol. Moderate drinking is good for older adults, yet sometimes even extremely low levels increase woman’s chances of breast cancer. Don’t start drinking, if you never did that before. Don’t cut down on alcohol completely, in case you drink a glass of red wine at your dinner table. But if you drink a lot, quit immediately, before it’s too late.
- Say NO to birth control pills
Though they are really helpful to many modern females, they have risks of their own. It is suggested to refuse from their consumption, when you’re over 35 or in case you smoke. The younger a female is, the lower the risks get. When a female administers such pills, they add to the breast cancer development. At the same time, the long term use can be beneficial for other cancer types, namely ovarian, colon and uterine. In case you have the history of breast cancer as well as some concerns, refuse from birth control pills immediately.
- Have regular scheduled check-ups
There are thousands of lives that were saved thanks to regular check-ups and screening with mammography. It is true that screening is never effective when it comes to preventing the condition, yet it may diagnose it at early treatable stages. Regular mammograms should start at 40. Rare check-ups should be performed at least once a year for younger females.
- Quit smoking
Smoking has never been beneficial, especially for a woman. Along with high risks for stroke or heart disease that it ensures, smoking can also cause around fifteen different kinds of cancer not speaking of wrinkles, bad teeth and smelly breath.
- Refuse from post-menstrual hormones
They shouldn’t be administered for a long time, if you need to prevent various chronic illnesses and decrease risks of breast cancer, etc. When a woman administers post-menopause hormones, she should make sure that the course is short. All potential risks should better be discussed with a healthcare provider.
They say there is a category of females prone to the breast cancer condition. These are females with a family history of cancer. They need to be very cautions at any age, have regular check-ups and follow the above-mentioned prevention options.
