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Page 2A - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, October 18, 2023
To Your Health
Healthy habits to help reduce breast cancer risk
October is Breast
Cancer Awareness Month
and a time when those
fighting and those who
have survived the disease
are celebrated locally and
across the globe. Women
are encouraged to do
regular self-exams as well
as annual doctors visits.
Women 40 to 44 should
start getting mammo
grams (x-rays of the
breast. Women age 45 to
54 should get mammo
grams every year. Women
55 and older should get
mammograms every two
years, or can continue
yearly screening.
According to the
National Cancer Institute,
almost 298,000 women
in the United States will
be diagnosed with breast
cancer and more than
43,000 will die of the
disease in 2023.
Like all cancers, breast
cancer cannot be pre
vented. However, various
healthy habits could help
women reduce their risk
for the disease.
• Avoid alcohol. The
ACS reports that alcohol
consumption is a clear
risk factor for breast can
cer. Risk increases with
the amount of alcohol a
woman consumes. For
example, a woman who
consumes one alcoholic
drink per day has a 7 to
SPECIAL PHOTOS
Women can perform self-exams and get mammograms to ensure they do not have breast cancer. A physically active lifestyle can help women reduce their risk.
10 percent higher risk
of getting breast can
cer than a woman who
abstains from alcohol.
Drinking two to three
drinks per day could
increase risk by around
20 percent.
• Establish and main
tain a healthy weight. Be
ing overweight or obese
increases breast cancer
risk, particularly among
postmenopausal women.
According to the ACS,
after menopause women
get most of their estrogen
from fat tissue. Fat tissue
increases estrogen levels
in the body, which in turn
increases a woman’s risk
for breast cancer. Elevat
ed levels of insulin in the
body, which is common
among individuals who
are overweight, also has
been linked to higher
breast cancer risk. Estab
lishing and maintaining
a healthy weight cannot
prevent breast cancer,
but it can help women
reduce their risk for the
disease.
• Maintain a physi
cally active lifestyle.
A sedentary lifestyle
increases a person’s risk
for various conditions
and diseases. Women
who live such a lifestyle
are at elevated risk for
breast cancer. The ACS
notes that sedentary
behavior such as sitting,
lying down, watching
television, or engaging
with screen-based forms
of entertainment that do
not require physical ac
tivity can increase breast
cancer risk, especially for
women who spend most
of their work day sitting
down. A more physi
cally active lifestyle that
includes routine exercise
can help women reduce
their breast cancer risk.
• Adopt a nutritious
diet. Eating right is
another way for women
to reduce their breast
cancer risk. Vegetables,
fiber-rich legumes such
as beans and peas, fruits
across the color spec
trum, and whole grains
are some components
of a healthy, nutrient-
rich diet that can help
lower breast cancer risk.
Women also can avoid
certain foods, such as red
and processed meats and
refined grains, to lower
their breast cancer risk.
Though there’s no
guaranteed way to
prevent breast cancer,
women can embrace
various healthy habits to
lower their risk for the
disease.
Caution for those diagnosed with Celiac disease
Behaviors that can affect liver health
The gluten-free move
ment has taken off and
for people who suffer
from Celiac disease,
avoiding gluten is a ne
cessity. They must steer
clear of gluten at all costs
or risk serious illness.
WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?
The Celiac Disease
Foundation says Celiac
disease is a serious
autoimmune disease
that causes damage in
the small intestine when
gluten is ingested. The
foundation estimates
that Celiac disease
affects around one in
every 100 people world
wide, although many
people do not know
they have it.
When gluten is con
sumed, the immune sys
tem mounts an attack
on the small intestines,
particularly the villi,
which are small, finger
like projections that
deal with nutrient ab
sorption. The condition
is hereditary, so if one
person in a family has
Celiac disease, there is a
heightened risk for oth
ers to develop it.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of Celiac
disease can include
diarrhea, fatigue, weight
loss, bloating, and ane
mia, indicates the Mayo
Clinic.
In children, malab
sorption can affect
growth and develop
ment in addition to the
other symptoms that
affect adults.
TESTING AND DIAGNOSIS
Serology testing
looks for antibodies in
the blood. Elevated lev
els of certain proteins
indicate an immune re
action to gluten. Genetic
testing is another way
to determine if a person
has Celiac disease. It
is essential that Celiac
disease is diagnosed be
fore gluten in eliminated
from one’s diet; other
wise, tests may produce
false negative results.
CELIAC DISEASE TREATMENT
Celiac disease has
no cure. Managing the
disease includes avoid
ing foods that contain
gluten. Gluten may be in
food stabilizers, lipstick,
herbs, medications, and
even envelope glue.
The liver performs
many important func
tions for the body. In fact,
Johns Hopkins Medicine
says more than 500 differ
ent vital functions have
been identified with the
liver, which underscores
how important it is to
protect the liver from
possible damage. This
begins with a recognition
of behaviors that have
the potential to jeopar
dize liver health.
Liver disease can
be genetic, but various
lifestyle choices can
increase anyone’s risk for
liver disease. The follow
ing are some behaviors
that adversely affect liver
health.
• Excessive alco
hol consumption: The
liver can withstand a
lot, including moderate
alcohol consumption.
However, drinking to
excess can contribute to
liver disease. According
to the National Institute
of Alcoholic Abuse and
Alcoholism, alcoholic
liver disease accounts
for a significant percent
age of morbidity among
heavy drinkers.
• Unhealthy diet: The
USA Oncology Centers in
dicates a diet high in pro
cessed foods, saturated
fats and sugars adversely
affects weight and overall
health. It’s also a threat
to the liver. Poor diet can
contribute to obesity
and non-alcoholic fatty
liver disease, which can
progress to more severe
conditions.
• Infection: Infection
with certain viruses can
cause liver damage. Some
such viruses are spread
through blood or semen.
The most common types
of liver infection are from
hepatitis viruses, includ
ing Hepatitis A, B and C.
Engaging in risky sexual
behaviors and drug
use may increase the
chances of contracting
hepatitis.
• Overuse of medi
cations: Certain medi
cations, when taken
excessively or without
the guidance of a doctor,
can harm the liver. Even
prescription medica
tions, including certain
antibiotics and cholester
ol-lowering drugs, may
have adverse effects on
the liver.
• Nighttime eating:
Nighttime eating, or
Night Eating Syndrome, is
characterized by exces
sive caloric intake when
eating after dinner. A
study of NES among shift
workers identified that
the condition could lead
to diabetes and obesity,
which could potentially
contribute to fatty liver
disease.
We're the Heart of
HOMETOWN DERMATOLOGY
Ryan Rogers, MD
Jeff Moulton, PA-C
Amber Mayfield, PA-C
Madison Tanner, PA-C
General &
Surgical
Dermatology
SKIN CANCERCENTER
New patients &
referrals
welcome!
770.228.2824
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