family history
Early Detection is the Key to Beating Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is a serious health concern that can affect women of all ages. In some rare cases it has even been diagnosed in female children. However, if it is detected in the very early stages, there is a high chance of a full recovery. The longer the cancer is present without treatment, the easier it is going to be for it to spread to other parts of the body.
Cervical cancer allows the tissues of the cervix to be affected by the cancer cells. The cervix is hollow so the cancer cells are able to grow rapidly there. There are many risk factors that have been identified with this type of cancer. These risks include having lots of children, having many partners for sexual activities, early age of sexual activity, smoking, and an immune system that is weak.
The biggest problem with early detection is that there are often no symptoms for a female with cervical cancer. That is why routine checkups have to be done in order to make sure that the cancer cells aren’t present.
Getting a Pap Smear annually is the best way to stay on top of checking for cervical cancer. If you have a family history of this type of cancer, it is recommended that you have one done every six months. If you have recovered from cervical cancer then you should also be having them done at six month intervals.
A Pap Smear is a very quick and effective way to look for cancer cells in the cervix. A swab of cells is taken from the cervical wall and then checked. If the results are inconclusive then you need to be rechecked. Some women do experience symptoms of cervical cancer. If any of them do occur you need to schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
These symptoms include:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Discharge from the vagina that is unusual
- Pain in the vaginal area
- Painful intercourse
If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, there are various treatment options. The size of the tumor and the spread of the cancer has to be looked at. For women that want to have children, the treatment can be more difficult. For those women who don’t want to have more children, the removal of the cervix may be what occurs to successfully eliminate the cancer.
All women are at risk of cervical cancer so routine check ups are important. Approximately 12,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. The average woman diagnosed with the condition is over 30 but it can occur at younger ages. You will likely be referred to a specialist in the area of cervical cancer to help you evaluate options and to pursue successful treatment.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/cervical/Patient
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/pdf/Cervical_FS_0510.pdf
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cervical_cancer/page8_em.htm#Medical%20Treatment
Clues to Diagnosing Kidney Disease May All be in the Heart
Kidney disease is a very serious type of health problem due to the fact that the kidneys have a huge responsibility. The kidneys have to remove the various wastes and toxins from the body. When they don’t work like they should, it contributes to an array of very serious health problems. Many studies show that the heart may be the ticket to early diagnosis of kidney disease.
That is very important, because the sooner kidney disease can be identified, the faster treatment can begin. This will prevent the disease from progressing to more serious stages later on. There are studies that show that the actual heartbeat of someone can be an indicator of their risk of kidney disease. Those with a faster heartbeat seem to have a higher rate of problems with their kidneys.
When your kidneys don’t work like they should, you can develop serious health problems including high blood pressure, too much acid in the body, high cholesterol, and even heart disease. You should do all you can to reduce the chances of that occurring. If you are concerned about or are at risk for kidney disease, it is a good idea to ask your doctor to perform various tests to see what your heart rate is and to determine the level of potential of kidney disease in your health profile.
If you have a family history of kidney disease, it is even more important that you get early intervention. Talking to your doctor beforehand can be a valuable means of preventing kidney disease. You may want to talk to a specialist, too, as some doctors focus only on the heart. They know what it should sound like, what a normal heart rate should be, and even how you should go about attempting to reduce your overall resting heartbeat rate.
The use of such testing to determine kidney disease is fairly new. However, it involves the processes of the autonomic system. New technology has allowed us to explore this system in great detail. As a result, we have information about the heart and the link to kidney disease that we didn’t have before.
Being able to predict future kidney problems may be a way for many patients to have a better overall life, as the function of their kidneys may be able to be saved from permanent damage.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_100852.html
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/chronic_kidney_disease/article_em.htm
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=listening-to-the-heart-heartbeat-ma-2010-07-08
The Importance of a Routine Pap Smear for Women
Getting a pap smear isn’t a pleasant process, but it is something that a woman should be doing annually. This particular check up can help to identify signs that there is something wrong. It could be something minor or the onset of cervical cancer. Many women are embarrassed by the process of a pap smear but keep in mind that the medical staff involved are all professionals.
A pap smear doesn’t hurt and if it does, let your doctor know. That can be a sign of an inflammation of the cervix. During the testing, cells from the cervix will be placed on slide so they can be looked at under a microscope. If you have a family history of cervical cancer, than you should make getting a regular pap smear a priority. Make sure you inform your doctor if you have anyone in your family with such a medical history.
Sometimes a pap smear will come back showing abnormal cells. If that is the case your doctor will ask you to come in for a second test. Based on those results, treatment may have to be looked at. Most of the time, the cells will be fine and there is nothing else that has to be done. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes but it can help you to be healthier so it is worth the time.
Getting a pap smear is something young girls should be doing if they are sexually active. Talk to your daughters about that and schedule an appointment for them. Make sure they understand what the procedure will be so that they aren’t anxious about it. For many women over 30, it may be fine to get a pap smear only every 3 years. However, this is only true if the results have been satisfactory in the past.
Women that have many sexual partners are at a greater risk of STDs. That can be determined during a pap smear as well. In fact, many women don’t have a clue they have an STD until they do such a test. In the meantime, they may be infecting other men due to taking part in unprotected intercourse.
A woman that has had a hysterectomy no longer needs to have pap smears. However, even older women that no longer take part in sexual activities need to continue getting them. There is always a chance of cancer cells forming or other health problems. They can go unnoticed until they are in advanced stages if the pap smears aren’t being conducted.
With so many women not having health insurance coverage, too often the length of time they between pap smears is very long. If you don’t have insurance, there are various clinics out there that offer sliding scale fees. The goal of these establishments is to make sure women are able to afford taking care of their health. Contact them to find out what they have available.
How Diet During Pregnancy Can Affect Genetic Birth Defect Risks
Studies show that birth defect risks can increase if the mother consumes a diet that is high in fat. This refers to what she eats during the pregnancy as well as before it. Most mothers-to-be are very dedicated to having a baby that is as healthy as can be. However, they don’t always have the right information to help make that happen.
It is believed that the fat in a diet can have an adverse effect on the genes that are formed to create the offspring. The risk is even higher in families where there are certain types of genetic health concerns already in place. Poor diet alone is a problem and so is a family history of genetic disorders. Therefore, it makes sense that when both of these issues are present, it could to have a significant impact on the health of baby.
A woman that has diabetes needs to be especially careful about her diet during the pregnancy. Consulting with the doctor and a dietician can help to reduce the chances of birth defect risks. Women with diabetes have an increased risk of their babies being born with congenital heart disease. This is a very serious health problem that can affect a person for their entire life. Some babies are so ill because of it that they require surgery at a very young age.
Some studies have discovered that some genes are turned on and others turned off during a pregnancy due to the diet a mother consumes. This can play a very serious role in birth defect risks occurring. It can also be a reason for a woman to eat right even when she is contemplating getting pregnant. Many of the genes that play a big role in the development of the baby will be in place very early on.
There is still more research that has to be done in order to define the full impact of diet during pregnancy and how that factor can affect genetic birth defect risks. However, there have been numerous tests that involve laboratory mice being subjected to a good diet and others to a poor diet. The results are that those that eat a better diet have a lower rate of babies born with genetic birth defects.
Some women worry a great deal about weight gain while they are pregnant. As a result they don’t eat as well as they should. Others don’t want to cook due to fatigue so they end up eating lots of take out which is often very high in fat. Understanding the need for the mother and the baby to have proper nutrition can help these women to be proactive about their diets and so have a healthier pregnancy.
Since diet during pregnancy can affect genetic birth defect risks, it is very important to eat well. Make sure you are aware of what foods you can eat and those that you need to avoid. By doing so, you will be able to help increase the chances that your child will be born healthy and ready to begin a happy life in your home.