Extra Weight Increases Cancer RiskWritten by Cecelia Poole RN, BSN
Next time you take another bite when you aren’t actually hungry, you might want to think about what else you might be opting for, besides an extra scrumptious morsel -perhaps it could be cancer.One of most important steps you can take to lower your risk of cancer is to maintain a healthy weight. Most of us have been hearing about genetic and environmental pollutants for so long that we think cancer is beyond our control, but in fact, more than 50 percent of all cancers can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle. While most people are aware that a healthy weight can reduce risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gall bladder disease, and sleep apnea, few realize that it can also lower risk of some of most common types of cancer, including breast, colon, and endometrial cancer. Are You a Healthy Weight? A healthy weight is defined by a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or lower. Higher than 30 is medical definition of obesity, which usually marks threshold researchers define as associated with increased risks. To find out yours, go to www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm Breast Cancer According to Harvard Nurse’s Health Study, women may be able to lower their risk of breast cancer by keeping their weight steady. Compared to women who gained less than five pounds during adulthood, those who gained more than 45 pounds had 40 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer after menopause. The more weight a woman puts on after menopause, more estrogen her body produces- and higher her risk of breast cancer. Overweight women are often diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage, when it is more difficult to treat.
| | How To Talk With Your Doctor And Get ResultsWritten by Cecelia Poole RN, BSN
Read this article and you’ll learn tips from a nurse who has worked in private practices, clinics, rural, and academic hospitals about how to get most out of a doctor visit.1. Appointment. If something is seriously wrong, BE CLEAR! Tell them if you need to be seen sooner than offered-you’ll probably be surprised, (if you have a real need). Still not satisfied? – Ask scheduler to check with nurse or doctor. Arrive early: don’t be late. (Inside scoop -never told to patients -it is not uncommon to schedule two patients at a time, earliest gets seen first). Avoid backlog by opting for first appointment of day, or first one after lunch. 2. Limit your chief complaint. Try to limit your reason to be seen to one issue; tell appointment scheduler if you intend to discuss issues requiring more time. Don’t try to discuss family planning or a cholesterol treatment plan when they’ve scheduled a brief time for your chief complaint of a sore throat. 3. Be your own detective: identify what is amiss. Be specific about what you perceive in your body and what evidence you have that something is wrong. Then, be prepared to state what, where, when, how long, what makes it worse, what makes it better, if you have had success treating it and what exact medicines you’ve taken. For example, “For three weeks I’ve had a burning pain, right here (pointing to soft space between lower rib cage) especially after I drink coffee, and it is worse when I lie down. It feels better for a little while when I eat or take antacids, and an empty stomach makes it worse.” There you just saved ten minutes of your allotted time and are more likely to receive satisfaction.
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