What a Woman!

It is no secret that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pink is everywhere you look! It is a great reminder to women that we need to be proactive in maintaining a healthy body. There are so many aspects to women’s health that keeping up to date on the variety of signs and symptoms of good health should be an ongoing part of your routine. When was the last time you stopped to look at how well you are taking care of your personal health and well-being? If you are like many women it may have been quite a while. Here are few reminders on some of the important facts and symptoms associated with some of the major health risks that women face.

Heart Health
While we often think of women’s health issues relating mainly to breast health and menopause it may be surprising to note that heart disease is actually the number one killer of women in America, one in four women die from heart disease. While it is a natural course of a woman’s life cycle, menopause can cause physical changes that can impact your heart health. In fact, studies have shown an increase in heart attacks among women after experiencing menopause. If you’ve followed a healthy lifestyle and continue doing so at menopause, your risk for heart disease and stroke is lower.

Ovarian Cancer
Early ovarian cancer usually has no obvious symptoms, though studies have indicated that some women experience persistent, nonspecific symptoms, such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, or urinary urgency or frequency. Women who experience such symptoms daily for more than a few weeks should seek prompt medical evaluation. The most common sign of ovarian cancer is swelling of the abdomen, which is caused by the accumulation of fluid.
There are no good routine screening tests for early or late detection of ovarian cancer. It is usually found at an advanced stage due to the fact that there are few major symptoms that draw attention to the fact that something is wrong; most symptoms can be vague and mild. An estimated 21,290 new cases of ovarian cancer are expected in the US in 2015.

Breast Cancer
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump or mass in the breast, which is often painless. Less common symptoms include persistent changes to the breast, such as thickening, swelling, distortion, tenderness, skin irritation, redness, scaliness, or nipple abnormalities, such as ulceration, retraction, or spontaneous discharge. Breast pain is more likely to be caused by benign conditions and is not a common symptom of breast cancer.
An estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the US during 2015; about 2,350 new cases are expected in men. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women.

Self-Care
Women are notorious for spending more time taking care of others and less time on their own needs. The trend toward taking more time for yourself is not a new idea, it is often just hard to do. When it comes to maintaining health there are a few simple practices that are a great start to maintaining health.

• Be physically active most days of the week

• Eat a balanced diet rich in lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables

• Use relaxation techniques to cope with stress

• Get enough rest/sleep most to all nights

• Avoid tobacco products

• Limit alcohol to one drink per day or less

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Schedule routine preventative care and health screenings

The choices you make today affect your quality of life in the future!