By Dr. Amanda Jennings, DC
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12 Oct, 2021
The month of OCTOBER has arrived! This month has been deemed Breast Cancer Awareness month, but it is much more then that! THINK PINK “About 1 in 8 U.S. women, and 1 in 1000 U.S. men will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, and being proactive in this fight is crucial.” # 1 Self Breast exams are to be done monthly and done about 10 days after the onset of a menstrual cycle or if you do not menstruate then choose a day of the month and continue to do it on the same day every month. # 2 Have your doctor examine your breast annually # 3 get a mammogram, this applies FOOD for Thought Women's health is more than just about being aware. It's about getting up and moving, taking responsibility and taking care of yourself . Many women fall into the habit of taking care of others’ health and wellness needs before they take care of their own. In 2017 according to the CDC, Heart Disease and cancer make up for almost 43% of the leading causes of death in women. FACTS: Women are 3x more likely than men to have migraines Respiratory disease affects 47% of women 1 in 3 women have gum disease 1 in 4 female deaths result from Heart Disease 1 in 3 women are obese Every hear 10 million women see a Dr. for Knee pain 71% of women won't seek help for their depression 59% of women ages 65 (+) have arthritis of one form or another The WHY: Women need health care more than men. This is due to their reproductive and sexual health needs. Women also have more chronic non-reproductive health issues such as mental illness, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Which are leading causes of death for women. Women's health issues should be an important focus due to the unique health care challenges and are more likely to be diagnosed with certain disease more than men. Statistics from CDC (2021) state that 2 out of every 3 caregivers in the United states are women. These women have a greater risk for poor physical and mental health. Including depression and anxiety. Maintaining health, managing stress and seeking support are very important for women's survival. Roughly 36 Million women in the USA are living with a condition whether it be a body or mind disability that makes certain activities harder for them to interact with the world around them. The most common disability that 44% of women 65 and older live with is arthritis. (i.e., Osteoarthritis, rheumatism, fibromyalgia and lupus) Tips and Tricks for healthy living: If you smoke: Stop Getting into a habit or a routine with annual wellness checks can increase the chances of early detection. “Even if you are feeling fine, regular wellness checks and health screenings can increase your chances of early detection of problems.” Don’t skimp on sleep: regular sleep promotes mental alertness, helps hormone balance and keeps stress levels in check. Sun Exposure: Between 10 am and 2 pm avoid the sun, wear SPF sunscreen 30 or higher when you do have to be outside Keep Moving: physical activity is a very important part of your life. Even 20 minutes of exercise a day is beneficial. Creating lifelong habits of regular activity will benefit your heart, weight management and stress levels. ACSM and CDC Recommendations of 150 minute of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week and 2 times per week-Muscle-Strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups Eat Right: Make nutrition a priority Women also need many other screens frequently or your physician may recommend a more frequent schedule if you have a family history of problems in these areas or other risk factors. Cholesterol and Blood Pressure, Pelvic Exams and Pap Smears, Osteoporosis Screenings, Colorectal Screenings, Skin Cancer and Diabetes. Being healthy has many components and modifying these components to what works for you should be a building block to build your health foundation. Final Thought “The worst or best thing that can happen is that you get checked and it turns out to be nothing. “ References BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH - October - National Day Calendar 7 Health Tips for Women | Guadalupe Regional Medical Center (grmedcenter.com) 2021(CDC Website)MORE REASONS Women's health is so Important--all needs to be reworded-----CDC Website/NCSL.org My recommendations: https://www.acsm.org/read-research/trending-topics-resource-pages/physical-activity-guidelines https://www.acatoday.org/Education-Events/National-Chiropractic-Health-Month Click To Paste