When it comes to our breasts, there are several concerns. Many women worry about the appearance of their breasts, the signs of aging, and whether or not the bras they wear are actually giving them the support and comfort they need. Even more importantly, we worry about our health. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point. Our breast health is extremely important, and yet many women don’t know that there are factors they can actually control to reduce the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis. We call these the top tips for breast health.
For more information, visit the top breast cancer surgeon Austin has around.
The Top Tips for Breast Health
To give you a better understanding of what affects your breast health and what you can do to improve it, we have compiled a few tips for keeping your breasts healthy. Of course, none of them can guarantee that you will never develop cancer. You should continue to perform regular self-examinations and schedule your screenings at regular intervals to improve your chances of catching cancer early. Visit us for a safe and reliable mammogram Austin.
Keep an Eye on the Scale
More than two-thirds of the adult American population is medically overweight. It is a problem that can be linked to sedentary lifestyles and poor diet choices, and it can have a serious negative impact on health. Your breasts are no different. Not only can weight gain in the bust strain your back and contribute to premature sagging, but the extra weight could increase your risk of cancer.
When we gain weight, we do not create new fat cells. The existing fat cells grow. Fat cells produce estrogen, a naturally-occurring hormone that has been repeatedly linked to breast cancer. As the fat cells swell due to us consuming more calories than we use, the cells produce more estrogen. This increases the risk of developing cancer.
Now, no one is saying you have to obsess over your scale. Maintaining a healthy self-image and a positive relationship with food are vital to your mental and physical health. We each have an individual range where we feel good and our body is happy. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy weight range looks like for you based on your:
- Height
- Sex
- Body type
This will give you a realistic idea of where you should be to maintain your health.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Stuck inside in one of the weirdest years many of us have ever experienced, it can be really tempting to drink more than we normally would. However, experts generally agree that we should limit ourselves to just one drink per 24 hour period. Women who drink more are statistically 50% more likely to develop breast cancer over their lifetime. So it’s a good idea to swap that second glass of wine for a little dark chocolate, which may actually help to kill cancer cells.
Grab Some Spinach
Spinach may not give us super strength, but Popeye had the right idea. Spinach is a key source of folic acid, a necessary part of our diet that plays a role in repairing DNA. Given that damaged DNA has been repeatedly linked to cancer, it’s definitely worth mixing a bag of spinach into your favorite pasta or salad. However, if you’re really not a fan of spinach, then broccoli, brusselsprouts, and even kidney beans are other good sources of folic acid.
Breast Health and Checkups
These are just a few choices you can make that directly benefit the health of your breasts. By maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and regularly consuming foods rich in folic acid, you can personally reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in this life. Should you find a lump or receive an abnormal mammogram result, remember to stay calm and deal with the problem as rationally as you can. Breast Health Institute Austin will guide you every step of the way. So you can get back to enjoying your life cancer-free.