If you don't already know, October is the month for Breast Cancer Awareness. It's an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
Breast Cancer is a type of cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk.Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas, while those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas. Breast cancer occurs in humans and other mammals. While the overwhelming majority of human cases occur in women, male breast cancer can also occur.
The size, stage, rate of growth, and other characteristics of a breast cancer determine the kinds of treatment. Treatment may include surgery, drugs (hormonal therapy and chemotherapy), radiation and/or immunotherapy. Surgical removal of the tumor provides the single largest benefit, with surgery alone curing many cases. To increase the likelihood of cure, several chemotherapy regimens are commonly given in addition to surgery. Radiation is used after breast-conserving surgery and substantially improves local relapse rates and in many circumstances also overall survival. Some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones such as estrogen and/or progesterone, which makes it possible to treat them by blocking the effects of these hormones.
Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 22.9% of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) in women. In 2008, breast cancer caused 458,503 deaths worldwide (13.7% of cancer deaths in women). Breast cancer is more than 100 times more common in women than in men, although men tend to have poorer outcomes due to delays in diagnosis.
Prognosis and survival rates for breast cancer vary greatly depending on the cancer type, stage, treatment, and geographical location of the patient. Survival rates in the Western world are high; for example, more than 8 out of 10 women (84%) in England diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least 5 years. In developing countries, however, survival rates are much poorer.
Do you hop into bed still wearing your makeup? Have you tried out every new skin product to hit the shelves? These common mistakes may not seem like a big deal, but over time they can take a toll on your skin and leave you looking prematurely aged.
Don’t worry, You can break your bad skin habits and avoid them a lot easier. While looking 10 years younger!
Skipping sunscreen
The No. 1 way you’re aging your skin? Not wearing sunscreen daily.The sun is the primary cause of skin aging, the sun can reach you on cloudy, rainy, or snowy days as well. Plus, skin-damaging UV rays can penetrate through glass, so you need to apply sun protection even indoors.
Doctors suggests choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which blocks both types of UV rays, UVA and UVB, with an SPF of at least 30. Antioxidant-fortified formulas containing ingredients such as resveratrol, vitamin C, idebenone, or coffee berry can offer additional protection.
Neglecting your hands and neck
Your face isn't the only area that needs a little TLC. Overexposure to sun affects your hands and neck just as much as your complexion. These areas show signs of aging, like dark spots, dryness, and loss of firmness.
Treat your neck and the backs of your hands as you would your face by generously applying moisturizer and sunscreen. While you can buy body-specific products, they aren't necessary. Those formulated for your face will work just fine.
Spot treating pimples
Because of fluctuating hormones, women over 40 routinely experience acne problems. But using a spot treatment to relieve red spots will only dry out the skin, leaving a raw and irritated area—and it won’t help heal the pimple either.
Instead, treat your entire face with an acne-fighting cleanser or moisturizer once a day. It’s your best bet for preventing future breakouts.
Going to bed without removing your makeup
You may find it tempting to fall into bed after a busy day—or a late night on the town—without cleaning your face. But skipping a cleanser at night can lead to breakouts later.
During the day, environmental toxins (like dirt and pollution) build up on skin and invade pores, which can cause complexion problems. So don’t hit the sack before you wash. Use a good cleanser and save your skin. Keep a box of cleansing towelettes bedside for added convenience—simply swipe and sleep.
Using too many products at once
If a new moisturizer is good, then the combination of a new serum, toner, and night cream must be better, right?
Wrong!. If your skin gets irritated after you use a handful of new products, you won’t know what’s causing the problem and assume they’re all irritating. Instead, start with one at a time, and integrate a new product every two weeks. That way, you’ll be better able to identify what’s aggravating you, or know what combination of them makes your skin go haywire. Plus, you’ll also save some cash by buying only what you need.
Skimping on sleep
Getting insufficient shut-eye can age skin prematurely—and, in the short run, result in dark circles and a lackluster complexion. During the day, our skin cells are battling against an onslaught of stressors, like UV rays and pollution. Sleep is vital because stress hormones drop to normal levels at night, giving cells time to repair and rejuvenate.
Plus, stress raises the levels of the hormone cortisol, which increases oil production and can lead to bouts of acne. So make sure you’re not depriving yourself of the sleep you need.
For more information regarding Healthy Skin and Beauty related questions go HERE!
Looking for a health "elixir" that will keep your body as young as your spirit? You may already be drinking it.
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that elderly adults who regularly sip green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers as they age.
Researchers at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan followed nearly 14,000 people aged 65 or older for three years and found that those who drank at least five cups of green tea daily were one-third less likely to develop “functional disability,” or problems with routine tasks and activities, than those who drank less than one cup daily. Only seven percent of adults who drank the most tea became disabled, compared with 13 percent of those who drank the least.
This difference was evident even after accounting for other factors such as the finding that green-tea drinkers generally had healthier diets, more education, lower smoking rates, better heart health, greater mental sharpness, more active social lives, and stronger support networks. It also applied to a lesser extent to tea-lovers who averaged three to four cups a day. (They were 25 percent less likely to develop age-related difficulties.)
Researchers aren't sure exactly how green tea protects against frailty and disability, but they note that previous studies have shown a boost in leg-muscle strength from green tea extracts. They also point out that green tea is rich in antioxidants that may help ward off disease.
Among the many other possible benefits associated with tea consumption are: lower cholesterol, greater bone density, improved memory, higher energy levels, and reduced cancer risk.
There is a downside, though. While green tea is considered safe in small amounts, it does contain caffeine and some vitamin K, which could interfere with clot-busting drugs such as warfarin. If you’re taking this or another medication, talk with your doctor before you tea up.
To keep with the "theme" of Diabetes, here is another post regarding Type 2 Diabetes specifically. Infection with a common virus may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults, a new study from the Netherlands suggests.
In the study, adults ages 85 and over who were infected with cytomegalovirus (common virus) were about twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes compared with those not infected.
Cytomegalovirus is a type of herpes virus found in 50 to 80 percent of adults over age 40; most people experience no symptoms of the infection.
The findings suggest that cytomegalovirus infection plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes in the elderly, the researchers said. However, the study found an association, not a cause-effect link.
While the findings are interesting, researchers need studies that follow people forward in time to find out whether the virus could cause Type 2 diabetes. In addition, because the study was conducted in elderly people, the findings may not apply to other populations.
For now, well-established risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and lack of exercise should be considered the primary causes of type 2 diabetes.
Linking diabetes and infection
Previous studies have linked cytomegalovirus and type 1 diabetes, but studies looking at the virus and type 2 diabetes have had inconsistent results. One previous study looked at a generally younger group of adults than the new study — between ages 45 and 84 — and found no link between cytomegalovirus infection and type 2 diabetes.
In the new study, the researcher analyzed information from 549 elderly adults in the Netherlands.
About 80 percent were infected with cytomegalovirus, and 15 percent had type 2 diabetes.
About 17 percent of those infected with cytomegalovirus had type 2 diabetes, whereas 7.9 percent of those without the virus had diabetes.
The findings held even after the researchers took into account factors that could affect the results, including participants' gender, income, education, smoking status and number of medications.
Behind the link
The researchers speculated that cytomegalovirus may predispose people to diabetes by harming cells of the pancreas. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that is critical for getting sugar (glucose) into cells. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes desensitized to insulin, and the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to compensate.
It's also possible that type 2 diabetes impairs the immune system, and as a result, makes individuals vulnerable to cytomegalovirus infection. However, this explanation is not as likely, because people are often infected with cytomegalovirus in childhood, the researchers said.
It may be that cytomegalovirus infection increases diabetes risk only after years of infection, which could explain why earlier studies in younger adults did not find a link, the researchers said.
The study was published Aug. 27 in the journal Immunity and Aging. HERE
Diabetes is a serious and lifelong condition, typically associated with abnormally high levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. Although there are numerous similarities between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, it's important to note that they are two very distinct conditions, each with its own symptoms and treatments. By understanding these differences and learning the correct treatment strategies for your specific condition, you should be able to manage it more effectively. Here are the main differences between the two most common forms of diabetes.
Causes
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic illness in which the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, a hormone that enables cells to absorb sugar and convert it into energy. Although it can occur at any age, type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in younger people. The disease can be caused by a range of factors, including genetics and contact with certain viruses.
Similar to type 1, type 2 diabetes is related to the body's inability to use insulin effectively. Individuals with type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but it is either resisted by the body or produced at insufficient levels. This is, by far, the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 95 percent of all diabetes cases, according to the American Diabetes Association. Although the exact cause is unknown, excess weight and poor diet are thought to contribute to its development.
Symptoms
While both types of diabetes exhibit similar symptoms, there are a few small, noticeable differences. Like those with type 1 diabetes, type 2 sufferers may experience increased thirst, hunger and frequent urination, as well as weight loss, fatigue and blurred vision. However, while these symptoms often develop very quickly with type 1 diabetes, many individuals can live with type 2 diabetes for years before it is diagnosed. Sufferers of type 2 diabetes may also notice telltale dark patches on the skin around the folds of the body, such as the armpits. If you suspect that you may have diabetes, ask your doctor about getting a blood test.
Treatment
Unfortunately, both types of diabetes are chronic, lifelong conditions. However, by closely monitoring and managing your blood sugar levels, you can keep the effects of diabetes to a minimum. Since type 1 sufferers are unable to produce insulin properly, they require regular insulin therapy. Insulin levels are generally managed using a combination of rapid-acting and long-acting insulin, in conjunction with intermediate treatments.
Managing type 2 diabetes can be less demanding, though it still requires plenty of discipline and determination. Monitoring your glucose levels regularly is essential to preventing dangerous fluctuations. You should be vigilant about eating a healthy diet and trying to exercise regularly. Over time, you should begin to learn how your body responds to specific foods and activities, which will enable you to treat your glucose levels accordingly.
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