The Scariest Thing This October May Be Your Medicine Cabinet
We love October.
The changing of the season.
Apple cider.
And so many health awareness topics!
One we haven’t talked about yet is Menopause Awareness Month. With 1.3 million U.S. women going through the process from perimenopause to menopause each year, we all deserve more information and earlier. To that end, we encourage you to read Midi Health’s piece on what all women need to know about perimenopause.
Now onto the Tasting Menu topics for the week!
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
Breast Cancer Awareness Continued: Screening and Diagnostic
What You Need to Know About Osteoporosis
What’s Lurking in Your Medicine Cabinet?
Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnostics
Before we get into the specific screening and diagnostic tools for breast cancer, let’s talk about the difference between the two.
Screening tends to be routine testing for people regardless of symptoms
Diagnostics are tests for further investigation. This may be a follow-up to screening or in response to symptoms
In addition to doing breast self-exams and exams routinely done by your healthcare professional, clinical breast exam, there are two main screenings for breast health. Most people are familiar with the mammogram, which is an x-ray of your breast. There is also a radio wave test called a Breast MRI, which is largely done only for those with a high risk. A Breast MRI can also be used as a diagnostic follow-up from a mammogram.
If an issue is detected in one of those screenings, there are several follow-up diagnostic tests that may be ordered.
A biopsy, which is a sample of cells, is the only test that can confirm breast cancer. There are two main types a needle biopsy or a surgical biopsy. See the resources below for more information on each
A breast ultrasound can help determine if a lump is a cyst (liquid filled) or a solid mass
A diagnostic mammogram takes more x-rays than a screening mammogram to provide additional angles and the ability to look more closely at an area that showed up on the screening mammogram.
Here’s your action item - put a reminder on your calendar today to do a monthly self-breast exam. Get to know how your breasts feel and their shape.
Resources:
Susan G. Komen page on types of biopsies
Johns Hopkins information on breast ultrasound
Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Diagnosis
National Breast Cancer Foundation Diagnosis page
What You Need to Know About Osteoporosis
The most we ever learned about osteoporosis growing up was that 1) it means you have weak bones and 2) you should drink milk so you’re less likely to get it. At least that’s what I remember.
Now, that we’re a bit older and have done some more research, we know that osteoporosis is actually a disease of the bone that makes them weak and more likely to break. It's different than just having “low bone density”, which can also lead to more fragile bones as you age.
It’s important for women to understand osteoporosis, even at younger ages, because out of the 10 million Americans diagnosed with osteoporosis, 8 million – yes 80 PERCENT – are women. This is because:
Women generally have less dense bones than men
We tend to live longer than men and as we get older our bones naturally lose density
Post-menopause we don’t generate as much estrogen, which is what helps protect our bone density
Other risk factors include: family history, thyroid issues, alcohol consumption, leading a sedentary lifecycle, or being diagnosed with Celiac disease, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome – and a whole host of others. Long story short, osteoporosis is a common disease that we should be concerned of, especially as we age. Once you’re over the age of 50 (or for women when you enter menopause) is when you’re most at risk.
Now that we have the facts, what steps can we take to lower our risk in the future?
Eat your fruits and veggies – we should eat 4.5 cups of fruits and vegetables each day (::makes a note to add more veggies to grocery list::)
Make sure you’re getting enough calcium and vitamin D. And there are plenty of ways to get the appropriate amount of calcium that isn’t milk
Keep up with physical activity! Bones get stronger when they have to work harder
Stop smoking and limit alcohol
Osteoporosis may seem like it's inevitable, but by making consistent healthy choices throughout your life you can either prevent or better manage, the disease.
What’s lurking in your medicine cabinet?
If you open your medicine cabinet or wherever you keep prescription medications, is everything in there something you are currently taking? Is any of it expired?
Twice a year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency encourages us to properly dispose of medication through National Prescription Drug Take-Back days. In a 2021 survey, more than half of people didn’t know what they should do with old medications.
The next one is on October 29th.
If you are looking for a collection site, Take Back Day has you covered. You can search for collection sites in your area.
If there isn’t a collection site near you or you can’t get to it that day, the FDA has some handy guides to disposing of them.
A flush list of medications that can and should be flushed down the toilet.
Steps to take if the medication isn’t on the list and you want to dispose of it safely.
And a handy frequently asked questions list.
While we’re on the topic, did you know that the bathroom isn’t the safest place in the house to store medication? Heat and humidity can affect medication. Medline Plus provides guidance on medication storage.
Medical Term of the Week
Bone Density Testing measures the amount of certain minerals in your bones. The x-ray test not only shows if osteoporosis is present but also how likely it is you will break a bone in the future or if you have low bone density, which can lead to osteoporosis if you don’t take certain steps.
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