The Healthy Report

Linda Ronstadt: I Have Parkinson's Disease

2014-09-13T17:43:00.000-04:00

Image by lamnee at freedigitalphotos.net

Linda Ronstadt has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The 67-year-old singer of such classic 1970s hits as “When Will I be Loved” and “You’re no Good” got the bad news eight months ago but may have been exhibiting symptoms for the past eight years.

Although she had experienced common symptoms of Parkinson’s for awhile, such as trembling hands, she became seriously concerned when she couldn’t sing. In an interview with AARP’s Alanna Nash, Ronstadt said:

‘“I couldn’t sing…and I couldn’t figure out why. I knew it was mechanical. I knew it had to do with the muscles, but I thought it might have also had something to do with the tick disease that I had. And it didn’t occur to me to go to a neurologist.”’

When she finally did go to a neurologist and was diagnosed her with the disorder, she described her reaction as “completely shocked.” This is, perhaps, not an unusual response.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that develops slowly, so it’s not uncommon to experience symptoms for many years, as Ronstadt did, before suspecting a serious problem. According to the Mayo Clinic, it often starts “with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand.” Other early symptoms include a lack of expression of the face, slurred speech, and slowed movements. Eventually, tremors typically spread to the limbs, face, and jaw. These and other neuromuscular symptoms of Parkinson’s worsen with time.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke points out, however, that the progression of this disease is unpredictable. It can lead to total incapacity for some, yet others may experience only minor motor problems. It usually strikes people who are over the age of 50 but can also occur in younger individuals.

Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s, there are medications that may help to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Surgery may also be appropriate for some patients. Because the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are subtle in the beginning and could be caused by a host of other neurological disorders, individuals who experience any motor movement problems, such as tremors, slowed movements, a lack of coordination, and speech abnormalities are advised to seek medical advice and treatment.

Ronstadt is one of the 60,000 Americans who are diagnosed with this condition each year. Other celebrities who have Parkinson’s disease include actor Michael J. Fox, boxing champ Muhammad Ali, and legendary evangelist Billy Graham.

Follow Christine Mattice on Twitter @ChrisMattice

A Bing Drinking Student is a Happier Student, Study Shows

2014-09-02T15:51:00.000-04:00

Image by Nicholas Tarling at www.freedigitalphotos.net

It should come as no surprise that college students who drink alcohol at parties and popular campus hangouts have fun. But are binge drinking students actually happier than their non-binge drinking pals? The surprising answer, according to a study conducted by the American Sociological Association, is “Yes.”

During a survey of approximately 1,600 undergraduate students at a Northeastern liberal arts college, researchers not only established that binge drinkers are, indeed, happier, they also discovered why.

In her report of the findings, Carolyn L. Hsu, co-author of the 2009 study and an associate professor of psychology at Colgate University, writes:

“Binge drinking is a symbolic proxy for high status in college…It’s what the most powerful, wealthy, and happy students on campus do. This may explain why it’s such a desirable activity. When lower status student binge drink, they may be trying to tap into the benefits and the social satisfaction that those kids from high status groups enjoy. And, our findings seem to indicate that, to some extent, they succeed.”

Hsu’s analysis seems to indicate that binge drinking among college students is spurred by a need to fit in with the “popular crowd.” Unfortunately, the tragic fact is that, for many binge drinkers, what they “fit into” are their own coffins. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) attributes 1,700 college student deaths to excessive drinking.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some of the dangers of binge drinking include:

· Unintentional injuries such as falls, car crashes, burns, and drowning. (Binge drinkers are more likely to get behind the wheel of a car than casual drinkers.)

· Intentional injuries such as gunshot wounds to self or others

· Alcohol poisoning which can lead to death

· Neurological damage

· Cardiovascular disease

· Liver disease

· Sexually transmitted diseases

And it doesn’t take much alcohol to accomplish these harmful, sometimes fatal effects. The NIAAA defines binge drinking as consuming four drinks for women and five drinks for men within a two hour period.

The full results of this study were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association in Denver and published online.

For more information on the dangers of binge drinking, please visit the websites of the NIAAA or the CDC. If you or someone you know is a binge drinker, get help. You could be saving a life.

The Shocking Way Food Companies Make You Fat

2014-08-31T16:44:00.000-04:00

Image Courtesy of Sailom at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Dr. David Kessler, former head of the Food and Drug Administration, used to be a chronic overeater. He could not resist his favorite foods, nor could he regulate the amount of food that he ate. But not anymore.

Kessler has discovered that the reason most people overeat is because of a state he calls "conditioned hypereating," and he has the science to prove it.

Kessler and his colleagues conducted research into the mechanisms of overeating and published the results in his book, The End of Overeating.

All of their research, says Kessler, indicates that overeating may be caused by the fat, sugar, and salt content in foods. In a process that resembles an addiction, these ingredients "condition" you to eat more of them, and to eat them more often.

The Proof is in the Pudding

Many studies have shown that foods high in both fat and sugar stimulate the brain's dopamine center. This is the same area-the brain's pleasure center-that drugs and alcohol stimulate to cause people to become addicted to them.

But, according to Kessler's study, sugar may be the major cause of "conditioned hypereating."

This study showed that rats, even ones that were not hungry, would work harder to get a drink of a vanilla milkshake if it contains a specific ratio of fat to sugar. But when researchers added even more sugar to the mix, the rats drank more of the milkshake.

Kessler and his team then analyzed the behaviors of "conditioned hypereaters," those who characterized themselves as having no control over their eating habits, were always hungry, and frequently thought about food. Of the people with those behaviors, Kessler said, 42 percent were obese. Conversely, only 18 percent of the people who did not exhibit these behaviors were obese.

Kessler and his colleagues then considered the results of a study conducted by Dana Small, a neuroscientist at Yale University. Small put hyper-eaters inside an MRI machine, then allowed them to smell and taste a chocolate milkshake. The brain scans showed that the longer the hypereaters were exposed to the smell of the chocolate milkshake, the more desirable the smell became to them. This is not normal, as constant exposure to a scent should dull the desire for it. Further, even being allowed to drink the milkshake did not stop their cravings for it.

But hypereaters are not at the mercy of their dopamine conditioning, Kessler stresses; indeed, many conditioned hypereaters are thin. All you need to do is reprogram your mind.

Change the Conditioning

Kessler offers the following advice for those seeking to reverse their conditioned hypereating:

· Instead of thinking how delicious a certain food will be, tell yourself how much you will hate yourself if you eat it. Then replace your desire for that particular food, or foods, with an enjoyable alternative, either a lower calorie food or a physical activity.

· Before going to a place where you know they'll be fattening food, tell yourself that you will not be tempted by it.

· Avoid those "habitual-eating" situations of the past.

Kessler took his own advice, and now chronic hypereating is not much of a problem for him. Hopefully, his book will encourage others to follow his lead.

SOURCES

http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm?xmlFile=ap_2009_04_20_ap.online.all_D97MHP202_news_ap_org.anpa.ew.xml&provider=

Arsenic in Fruit Juice: Was Dr. Oz Right?

2011-12-01T14:59:00.001-05:00

Photo credit: Ove Tøpfer

A few months ago, Dr. Mehmet Oz was blasted by the media for stating that there were “troubling” levels of arsenic in apple juice. The juice industry jumped on him. The FDA condemned him. But Dr. Oz stood his ground. Now the popular medical expert from Fox TV may be getting the last laugh.

Consumer Reports did its own test on the levels of arsenic in apple juice and in grape juice and what they found is truly troubling.

According to Newser:

“The study of 88 samples of fruit juice bought in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut found that 10% had arsenic levels that exceeded standards set for federal drinking water. In addition, 25% exceeded the levels of lead deemed safe for bottled water.”

What this means for children, the major consumers of apple and grape juice, is an increased risk of cancer.

The FDA, meanwhile, remains steadfast that these juices are totally safe for your children to drink. Do you agree? Do you plan to limit your children’s consumption of these juices until more information is known?

Ads for Sugary Drinks Target Kids, Study Says

2011-11-01T22:02:00.000-04:00

A new study is attacking the advertising tactics of the makers of sugary drinks. Their complaint? These companies target kids through strategic product placement, reward marketing, and cause-related marketing as well as on TV ads, the Internet and Facebook.

The study is complaining about such products as soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, and energy drinks.

To come to these conclusions, the researchers looked at the way 14 companies marketed nearly 600 products. Most of what they found was not surprising, in my opinion. After all, the makers of sugary drinks, like sodas, have long marketed to children.

But what did surprise me, as it did the researchers, was that most of these manufactures claim health benefits of their products on the packaging. For instance, claims of “natural ingredients” or “real ingredients,” persuade even parents that these drinks are healthy.

In addition, many fruit drinks and energy drinks contain as much sugar as full calorie soda. Yet these companies lead children and parents to believe that these are healthy alternatives to sugary sodas.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.

What do you think of the results of this study? Will you now limit sodas, fruit drinks, and energy drinks from your children’s diet?

Halloween Candy and your Kids: Enough is TOO Much

2011-10-31T15:25:00.000-04:00

For most kids, Happy Halloween also means eating too much sugar. This can lead to many health problems for your kids, experts say.

Health Problems of Eating too Much Halloween Candy

Eating too much Halloween candy can cause:

- Severe stomachache

- Constipation

- Hyperactivity

- Obesity

- Tooth decay

The hyperactivity may be the worse health effect of eating too much candy. If your kids fill up on candy, the sugar goes straight to the bloodstream. This makes them bounce of the walls with too much energy. But this sugar is also empty calories, which makes them crash as soon as the sugar high abates.

Protecting your Children’s Health this Halloween

Although you needn’t (and shouldn’t) totally deprive your children of their hard-earned Halloween candy, there are some easy steps you can take to minimize negative health effects.

- Make sure your children eat a balanced meal before eating Halloween candy.

- Set limits on how much candy your children can collect. For instance, only allow them to visit a set number of houses when trick-or-treating.

- Ration out their Halloween candy.

- Have your children pick which candy they want to keep and either give the unwanted pieces to other trick-or-treaters or bring it to work for your coworkers.

These are some great ways to limit your kid’s consumption of Halloween candy. Experts caution, however, that you do not add this one to the list: letting your kids binge on candy for 2 days until it’s all gone. This can cause your children to develop eating habits that may eventually lead to obesity.

Listeria Outbreak from Cantaloupe Kills 21

2011-10-10T17:56:00.000-04:00

Deaths from the recent Listeria outbreak has reached 21, according to the CDC. This runaway killer, thought to be caused by Listeria-infected cantaloupe, has been raging since early September.

So far, the Listeria infection has spread to 24 states and has sickened more than 100 people. Health officials believe that the infected cantaloupes were grown at Jensen Farms in Colorado. The first recall for these cantaloupes was issued on September 14 by Jensen Farms.
Unfortunately, the problem had spread far beyond Colorado.

A second recall was issued by September 23 by Carol’s Cuts LLC in Kansas, who had sold products made from Jensen Farm’s cantaloupes. Still a third recall was issued by Fresh Fruit Up in New York, who had shipped out fruit that included Jensen Farm’s cantaloupes.

More recalls will probably be forthcoming.

And how, exactly, did those cantaloupes pick up listeria?

According to Medline Plus, Listeria is a “foodborne illness” caused by bacteria in water and soil. Unlike other bacterias, Listeria monocytogenes grows even during refrigeration.

Yes, but what did Jensen Farms do (or not do) with their cantaloupe to cause this Listeria outbreak? I would really like to know.

In the meantime, I’m really glad that I hate cantaloupe!

The Dangers of Energy Drinks

2011-09-18T15:11:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Thomas Wulke

The ads are exciting. The names are enticing. Red Bull. Adrenaline Rush. Whoopass. They are part of an ever-growing list of popular energy drinks marketed to the under thirties crowd, a market that used to belong to soft drink companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. How did they do it?

By being anything but "soft," that's how

Energy drinks give you, well...energy

Duh.

In fact, the energy claims they make for their products are truly outstanding Adrenaline Rush says that its drink will "elevate your game with high performance energy for your mind and body" Red Bull goes even further. It claims that its product:

Improves Performance

Increases Concentration and Reaction Speed

Increases Endurance

Stimulates Metabolism

WOW. It sounds like drinking Red Bull is like eating your veggies and popping speed at the same time!

Unfortunately, if you take away the veggies in this equation, that's exactly what you get when you drink most energy drinks-legal speed in a can.

Though most energy drinks imply that their stimulating properties come from such exotic-sounding ingredients as taurine, ginseng, and guarana, Dr. Roland Griffiths, Professor of behavioral biology at John Hopkins University disagrees with this hype. On Web MD, Griffiths says that, "the effects of these drinks are largely due to the presence of added caffeine, and the magnitude of the effect is completely caffeine-dose dependant."

Though most people don't consider it as such, caffeine is a drug. Yes, it can boost energy and alertness, as the energy drinks claim, but it can also cause "jitters," abnormal heart rhythms, irritability and anxiousness, among many other disturbing, and potentially dangerous, symptoms.

The FDA has long recognized caffeine as a drug, that's why they regulated the caffeine content of carbonated soft drinks. Unfortunately, energy drinks and commercial coffee beverages do not fall within this category, so there are no illegal limits to their caffeine content

Apparently, energy drink manufacturers are taking full advantage of this fact. In 2006, Web MD reported that a group of Florida researchers tested the caffeine content of 10 best-selling energy drinks, 19 carbonated beverages, and seven best-selling commercial beverages. They found that, while most soft drinks they tested fell far below the FDA's caffeine regulations, most of the energy drinks they tested exceeded the maximum caffeine allowance for carbonated cola drinks.

This concerns experts who feel that these faddish, sweet, tasty beverages make it easy to consume dangerous amounts of caffeine and since, according to inteliheath.com, "young people already consume unhealthy amounts of caffeine, they don't need a product that raises that intake." Experts urge young people to drink these energy beverages with caution.

SOURCES

http://www.sobeadrenalinerush.com/

http://www.redbullusa.com/#page=ProductPage.Benefits

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20060316/caffeine-fuels-most-energy-drinks

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8015/344084.html

Binge Eating Disorder: When Overeating is the Norm

2011-09-17T17:09:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Byron Solomon

When eating disorders became news, I used to joke that I was a non-purge bulimic. (Unlike bulimics, who rid themselves of their totally uncontrollable overeating periods by vomiting, using laxatives, fasting, or performing strenuous exercise, I held onto mine.) Little did I know that binge eating was, indeed, a real eating disorder, one that is just as distressing (and dangerous to one's health) as is anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

And it is much more common, afflicting an estimated 4 million Americans (according to MedicineNet.)

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

But this disorder is hard to diagnose because it is not necessarily present just because one frequently overeats. But there are a number of symptoms that, when combined, may indicate that one suffers from this condition. (By the way, I have decided that I don't have a full-blown binge eating disorder, but I do have a few of the symptoms). According to the Mayo Clinic, some of classic symptoms of a binge eating disorder include the following:

*Eating abnormally large amounts of food.

*Eating when not actually hungry (or even when full)

*Rapidly eating during a binge

*Feeling out-of-control of your eating habits

*Depression

*Hoarding Food

*Eating alone due to embarrassment at others' witnessing your unusually large food intake

*Feeling repulsed, angry and ashamed of your eating habits

Causes of Binge Eating Disorder

Like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, the exact causes of binge eating disorder are unknown. There is some evidence, however, that binge eating (in those with this condition) is triggered by an inability to handle emotions such as stress, anger, worry, depression or boredom.

In addition, there are several personality and behavioral traits that seem to be common among sufferers of this condition. Some of these characteristics include the following:

*Impulsive behavior

*Frequently feeling "out of control" of their lives

*Repressing and not expressing their true feelings

Dangers of Binge Eating

Besides obesity (which can cause a number of serious health problems such as Diabetes and high blood pressure), some of the dangers of binge eating disorder include the following:

*Low self esteem

*Insomnia

*Suicidal thoughts

*Shame

*Stress

Getting Help

The good news is that people with this disorder do not have to suffer in silence. They can get help and become relatively freed from this condition. If you think that you may have this condition, MedicineNet recommends that you seek a proper diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional.

Cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, and antidepressant medications have been proven to be effective treatment options for binge eating disorder - but you have to reach out for it.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/binge-eating-disorder/DS00608

http://www.medicinenet.com/binge_eating_disorder/article.htm

Dr. Oz Finds Arsenic in Apple Juice. Will Scandal Poison his Reputation?

2011-09-15T20:40:00.000-04:00

Photo credit: Ove Tøpfer

Dr. Mehmet Oz, FOX TV’s phenomenally popular medical expert, may have just sunk his career. On Wednesday, Oz announced that a New Jersey lab found troubling levels of arsenic in apple juice. His announcement caused panic in his viewers and an immediate backlash from other medical experts and by the FDA.

The FDA released a statement that read:

“There is no evidence of any public health risk from drinking these juices. And FDA has been testing them for years.”

Why, then, did that New Jersey lab find such high traces of arsenic in the different brands of apple juice that they had tested?

Well, the FDA explained that there are two forms of arsenic—organic and inorganic. Organic arsenic will not hurt you. The inorganic arsenic, the type found in rat poison and pesticides—is deadly if you are exposed to too much over a long period of time. Apparently, we are exposed to both types every day. Traces of arsenic are present in our water, our air, our soil—and in our food. (This, by the way, is totally shocking to me).

The FDA says that Dr. Oz and the New Jersey lab failed to break down the types of arsenic found in the brands of apple juice it tested. Consequently, the results were “misleading.”

So I guess it’s okay to give your children apple juice to drink. After all, they’re only drinking the good kind of arsenic. Right?

Diabetes is now a Global Epidemic

2011-09-13T15:13:00.000-04:00

The International Diabetes Federation released statistics today that are truly frightening. Diabetes has now reached epidemic proportions worldwide. There are approximately 366 million people worldwide who suffer from this disease, the federation said. To make their point even more frightening, they said that the result of this diabetes epidemic is that “one person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds.”

Health officials are looking into ways to diminish the diabetic risk. But it’s not easy. The aging population is a big risk factor as is obesity, which has also become an epidemic (at least in America).

The public needs to be educated about diabetes. The scientists need to do more research. The governments of the world need to devote more money to this research. There are too many “needs” here to make me comfortable that anything will be done about this diabetes epidemic.

Diabetes can lead to kidney disease, blindness, amputation, and heart disease. If you would like to help the diabetes epidemic, please donate to the American Diabetes Association.

Do you know anyone who has diabetes?

Pot Smokers Less Obese than Non-Pot Smokers, Study Finds

2011-09-12T20:39:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Matthew Maaskant

Guess what? Pot smokers don’t have to worry about packing on the pounds from the “munchies.” A recent study indicated, in fact, that pot smokers are less obese than their non-smoking counterparts.

The study, published in the September 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, was conducted by a research team in France.

The team, led by Yann Le Strat, a Psychiatrist at the Louis-Mourier Hospital in Colombes, studied the pot smoking habits (or lack therof) of some 50,000 U.S. adults from two separate studies. The researchers concluded that only 14% to 17% of pot smokers who smoked this illegal substance at least 3 days a week were obese. Conversely, 22% to 25% of the non-pot smokers in the study were obese.

Does this mean that pot smoking keeps you thin or makes you lose weight despite the munchies? Not so fast, say the researchers. This is only a preliminary study. The researchers, in fact, did not factor in the diet and exercise habits of the research subjects which could account for these findings.

So before you light up the weed to lose weight—and perhaps lose your freedom—you’d best wait for more research.

Flu Shots are Here, Come One Come All

2011-09-11T14:44:00.000-04:00

Photo credit :Rodrigo Valladares

Well, flu season is right around the corner, but flu shots are here now.

In Minnesota, Walgreen’s and Cub Foods have been offering flu shots since August. It’s a good thing, too. The fear of influenza vaccine shortages scared everyone last year. That part of Minnesota (Willmar) has seen a 3 percent rise in flu shots per year.

But is getting a yearly influenza vaccination really necessary?

Health official say yes, for some people more than for others. Generally, you should get an annual flu shot if you are:

· More than 65 years old

· A child who is more than 6-months but less than 5-years old

· Anyone with a weakened immune system

· Anyone with a chronic health condition, i.e. diabetes, asthma, etc.

· Women who may be pregnant during flu season

But I never get a flu shot. (Thankfully, I’m also not in any of the above health-vulnerable groups). Since I seem to have a natural immunity to the flu, I’m afraid that getting a flu shot will make me susceptible to the illness in the future.

What about you? Do you ever get a flu shot? Do you think they are really necessary or is this just a bunch of hype? Do you plan to get a flu shot this year?

9/11 Rescue Workers are Sick

2011-09-10T14:33:00.000-04:00

Many of the 9/11 rescue workers are hurt and angry. They have not only been disinvited from the 10-year memorial service of the biggest terrorist attack in U.S. history, but they are sick. Physically sick.

Dr. Iris G. Udasin, Director of the Clinical Center for Excellence for World Trade Center Responders, gives these numbers: around 50,000 9/11 rescue workers are sick as are another 100,000 residents who lived close to the ground zero area.

The majority of 9/11 rescue workers are sick with lung conditions, and the reason for this is not hard to understand. Those two gigantic World Trade Center towers collapsed into 5 to 10 million tons of dust on that fateful day on September 11, 2001.

According to USA Today:

“Most of the materials included gypsum, concrete and manmade fibers, such as glass. Contaminants in particles included quartz, chrysotile asbestos, zinc, iron and lead…The alkalinity, very large particles, thin fibers and gases were major contributors to what led to the World Trade Center cough and other health problems for workers who were there within first 12 to 72 hours after the collapse.”

Yes, there were some respirators available, but such equipment was bulky. Besides, this was an emergency. But the 9/11 rescue workers who responded immediately were not the only ones at risk for lung problems. Remember, the cleanup of the rubble lasted for a couple of months. None of these workers used respirators …they probably didn’t even use masks.

You see, just days after the Twin Tower’s collapse, a Christie Todd Whitman of the EPA went on TV and announced that the air was safe to breathe and that New Yorkers, and 9/11 workers, could return to business as usual.

Sigh…

I could comment here, like so many have commented, that the government was more eager for Wall Street to get back to business that it was Main Street to be healthy, but I won’t.

All I will say is this: no matter what the government or anyone else says, always wear protective gear (including respirators or at least masks) when you are going to be exposed to any questionable substances.

Evan Moss, 7, Raises $42,000 for Service Dogs

2011-09-10T13:23:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Stacey Bry

Here’s an uplifting story for you…

Evan Moss, 7, has raised $42,000 for service dogs, but he only needed $13,000. You see, Even suffers from epileptic seizures so severe that they could threaten his life. When his parents read that certain service dogs can be trained to detect upcoming seizures (and thus give the parents time to get the child to a safe place) they did some research about this program.

And then their hopes faded.

They would have to pay $13,000 to get such a dog for their son. They did not have nearly that much money. But Evan was not dissuaded. According to The Washington Post:

“So Evan had the idea to write a book, “My Seizure Dog,” about how the things he would do with such a dog. He illustrated it, his mother typed up the prose, and the family self-published it. Then, they ordered up 150 copies for a book signing at a coffee shop.”

But thanks to an article in the Washington Post, people from all over the country showed up to Evan’s book signing. Soon, all 150 copies were sold out. Evan had to take orders for more. Meanwhile, donations poured into Evan’s cause to raise money for his service dog.

Before long, Evan had raised $42,000, more than enough for his special dog. In fact, the rest of the money he raised will be used to buy service dogs for 7 more epileptic children! How cool is that?

Breast Cancer Awareness: Know your Risk Factors

2011-09-10T13:07:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Moi Cody

October may be Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but your chance of surviving breast cancer depends upon your awareness of this disease all year long.

Breast cancer claims the lives of approximately 39,520 women each year, according to figures released by the American Cancer Society. Further, breast cancer is the number 1 cancer for women, second only to non-melanoma skin cancer.

But the good news is that this type of cancer is survivable, as long as you catch the cancer early enough in its development. As millions of breast cancer survivors can attest, breast cancer awareness can, indeed, save your life.

The first step in surviving breast cancer is to know your risk factors.

Breast Cancer Awareness of Risk Factors

There are many risk factors that make it more likely that you may develop breast cancer. However, it’s important to understand that having one or more of the following risk factors does not guarantee that you will develop this disease. In fact, the Mayo Clinic says that, for many women who develop this disease, their only risk factor is being a woman.

That said, true breast cancer awareness means that you should be well-versed in the following risk factors:

Being a Woman. Although men can get breast cancer, women are far more likely to develop this disease.

Age. Like most cancers, breast cancer risk increases with age. For instance, a woman aged 20 is far less likely to develop this disease than a woman who is aged 50 and older.

Family History. If you have a first degree relative—mother, sister, or daughter—you have a greater chance of developing this disease. However, most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of this disease.

Personal History. If you have ever had cancer in one breast, your chance of developing cancer in your other breast is much greater.

Inherited Genes. Those up on breast cancer awareness have jumped on the relatively recent finding that there are certain gene mutations, such as BRCA1and BRCA2, that can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. But this risk factor, too, does not guarantee breast cancer (thank God).

Obesity. Experts believe that obesity may increase the risk of breast cancer because fatty tissue is an estrogen-producer, a hormone known to promote certain cancers.

Drinking Alcohol. Because drinking alcohol has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer, doctors recommend that women should drink no more than one alcoholic beverage per day.

Age of Certain Hormonal Events. The following hormonal events have been proven to increase the risk of breast cancer:

· Having your first period before the age of 12.

· Starting menopause after age 55.

· Having your first child after the age of 35

Hormone Therapy. Women who are treated by hormone replacement therapy—medications that combine estrogen and progesterone—to treat the symptoms of menopause are at a greater risk for breast cancer.

If you have any of the above risk factors, please see your doctor for the appropriate breast cancer screening options. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great time to make an appointment with your doctor to go over your options. Your life is too important to put this off!