OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year. An estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2011 alone. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in one or both of the breasts. Breast cancer usually develops in the ducts or lobules, also know as the milk-producing areas of the breast.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women(after lung cancer). Although African-American women have a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer after age 40 than Caucasian women, they have a slightly higher incidence rate of breast cancer before age 40. However, African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. Breast cancer is much less common in males: by comparison, the disease is about 100 times more common among women. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among men in the United States in 2011.


source: http://www.nbcam.org/

WORLD HEART DAY 2011

World Heart Day is a day to spread the word that the leading cause of death in the world are heart disease and stroke, and that most of the deaths could be prevented. Over 17.1 million lives are claimed each year due to cardiovascular diseases. This year the theme for World Heart Day is "One World, One Home, One Heart." It is a call for everyone to adopt more heart-healthy behaviors and lifestyle, in order to benefit ourselves and reduce our vulnerability to heart disease and stroke.

source: http://www.daily.bhaskar.com/

FIX YOUR HEART BEFORE IT BREAKS

More women are taken out by heart disease than by any other illness. And yet, 80 percent of cardiac problems are preventable. Here are three lifestyle tweaks that will safeguard your ticker, from the September issue of Women's Health.

DRINK WINE WITH DINNER: Yes, you read that right. In moderation, alcohol can actually benefit your heart. Drinking one - and only one - glass of red or white wine a day can decrease the chance of dying from heart disease by 25 percent.

SKIP THE SALT: Despite conflicting headlines, you should still bypass most salt shakers. Your body counteracts sodium intake by releasing extra water into the blood, leading to increased blood volume and a seriously overworked heart.

SNAG ENOUGH SLEEP: Frequently missing out on sleep can take a toll on your heart in the form of high blood pressure, and that doesn't just apply to older folks. Nearly 20 percent of people from 24 to 32 years old already have the problem, which has few symptoms but can eventually lead to heart failure, according to a new study. Aim for around seven to eight hours of sleep a night.





source: http://www.kansascity.com/

WHEN IS IT TIME TO HANG UP THE KEYS?

One of the most sensitive issues involving senior citizens is driving. While it is primarily a safety issue, most seniors think of it as one about independence. As we age, our vision, hearing and reflexes decline. Sometimes memory, range of motion and temperament are affected as well. While this may be a result of the natural aging processor due to health problems, the hazards must be considered. At some point, it may no longer be safe to operate a vehicle. Safety for passengers and other drivers is important. It might be time to consider handing over the keys if you or a loved one has had more than one of the following happen recently:

• Getting Lost: Forgetting where you are going is a warning sign. No longer knowing how to get somewhere you may have been many times is another.





• Close Calls: Take a look at the car. Are there dings, dents and scrapes? Cutting it close while parking is one sign that the driver is not capable of safely operating the vehicle. Coming close to your mailbox may be a symptom of judgment impairment or lacking peripheral vision. The bigger problem may not be hitting the mailbox, but whether the car is crossing the yellow line while going down the road.





• Tickets: If you or the driver in question has received a ticket or been in an accident recently, this is most likely a warning sign. Whose fault was it? Did you run a light because it could not be seen? Was the speed limit seen and followed? Did you not stop in time because it takes longer to move your foot from the gas pedal to the brakes?

If any of the safety symptoms ring a bell, consider asking your doctor what his or her recommendations are. Some states require a driving test for anyone over a certain age. Rather than having to make a decision, it may be made for you by a third party. If it is time to hang up the keys, it may seem a little strange being in the passenger's seat. Ultimately, it will be a win-win situation for both the driver and those who care. After all, it's about keeping everyone safe.

source: http://www.interimhealth.com/

HAPPY 1ST DAY OF AUTUMN FROM HARBOR HEALTH HOME CARE

LIVING WITH INSOMNIA: GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

Most people know the dangers of drinking an driving, but think nothing of getting behind the wheel after a sleepless night. The daytime effect of no sleep can hinder your driving skills to the point where you're impaired the same as if you've had too much to drink. According to experts, chronic insomnia affects one in 10 people. While insomnia can affect your safety and the quality of life during the hours you're awake, it can also increase your risk for a variety of other health problems. In addition to causing daytime fatigue, insomnia increases your risk for other health problems, including:

HEART DISEASE

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

INFECTIONS

OBESITY

DIABETES

DEPRESSION

PAIN

INTESTINAL PROBLEMS

EARLY DEATH

People with insomnia are twice as likely as well-rested people to have a car crash due to fatigue. They're eight times more likely to have an accident at work. If they have an injury, insomnia can slow their recovery. In addition, people with insomnia are more likely to:

MISS WORK

MAKE BAD DECISIONS

TAKE MORE RISKS

HAVE TROUBLE CONCENTRATING

BE IRRITABLE

BE DEPRESSED

EAT FOODS HIGH IN CALORIES

Sleep affects our ability to think, react, remember, and solve problems. The catch is that we may develop some tolerance to lack of sleep and aren't aware how much our alertness and performance is really suffering. Make an appointment with your doctor so that he or she can assess your symptoms. If you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, tell the doctor. There are effective treatments for insomnia including cognitive behavioral therapy and medication. These can greatly improve how you feel and function during the day.

source: http://www.webmd.com/

CHOLESTEROL EVALUATION MONTH


Your blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. A risk factor is a condition that increases your chance of getting a disease. In fact, the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States. Each year, more than a million Americans have heart attacks, and about a half million people die from heart disease.


When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes "hardening of the arteries" so that arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen t the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.


High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. It is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease, even if you already have it. Cholesterol lowering is important for everyone - younger, middle age, and older adults: women and men: and people with or without heart disease.