Tuesday 28 July 2009

How To Deal With The Major Killers - diseases in black women - Brief Article

YOU'RE a 40-year-old Black woman.



You think your health is pretty good, even though you haven't been to the doctor for five years, and you haven't stopped smoking and eating junk food, and you're not as active as you think you should be. If you're going to turn over a new leaf, you'd better do it fast because these characteristics are among the most important risk factors for the major killers of Black women--breast cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. While several of the diseases aren't entirely preventable, doctors say, there are ways you can protect yourself and improve your chances for survival should you be stricken by any of the conditions. In general, eat less and move more.

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, either by taking a brisk walk or stepping up to your gym's cardiovascular equipment. If you're a smoker, quit now. Smoking is the most preventable aspect of heart disease, lung cancer and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Eat a healthy, balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. Keep the junk food and the unhealthy snacks to a minimum. And go for annual doctors visits to maintain good health.

 Heart Disease ; Stroke Drink alcohol in moderation, and know your family's medical history. The risk factors for heart disease and stroke that cannot be controlled include increasing age, gender (men tend to have a greater risk), heredity and race (Black women are at a greater risk for heart disease and stroke than White women), and the occurrence of a previous heart attack or stroke. But there are several risk factors that Sisters can modify, treat or control by changing lifestyle habits. Smoking, again, is a major risk factor. Another risk factor is high blood cholesterol, which is a major factor in heart disease and indirectly increases the stroke risk. Read more HERE!

High blood pressure is the most important risk factor far stroke and a major factor in heart disease. Other risk factors include physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes. To combat these modifiable risk factors, exercise regularly, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and decrease your fat intake. 

Diabetes With the proper care, nutrition and treatment, diabetes doesn't have to be a daunting diagnosis, says Dr. Kimbra Bell, an internist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Bell says that with the proper diet and exercise, you can prevent the onset of diabetes. If you're overweight, drop the pounds; diabetes often strikes those with a sedentary lifestyle.

In addition, exercise at least 30 minutes each day to keep your body in good physical condition, and, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. Eat plenty of green vegetables and stay away from a lot of sweet foods as well as fried foods. If you have a family history of diabetes, are overweight, over 40, have a high cholesterol level with the common diabetic symptoms (increased thirst and urination), get tested immediately. The longer you wait, the more damage you can do and the more complications you can have. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, remember that the disease is entirely treatable with diet, medication and exercise, Dr. Bell says. "Diabetes [demands] a [new] lifestyle," she says.

Lung Cancer The primary cause of lung cancer is the use of tobacco--smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, medical experts say. Harmful carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) in tobacco damage the cells in the lungs. Other causes include exposure to radon, asbestos, pollution, second-hand smoke and other lung diseases. Researchers say the best way to prevent lung cancer is to stop, or never start, smoking. If you're not a smoker and you want to stay clear of this disease, doctors also suggest limiting your exposure to environmental cancer-causers and second-hand smoke.

Breast Cancer Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery at the Howard University College of Medicine and chairman-elect of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, says that "as far as we know, there is no way to prevent breast cancer, but there are ways to prevent it from becoming invasive." Breast cancer specialists, such as Dr. Rogsbert F. Phillips of Metro Surgical Associates in Atlanta, say that early detection is the key. The earlier you're diagnosed, the lesser the chance that the cancer will become invasive.

 Doctors recommend annual mammograms for women over 40 years old. If you have a family history, you may want to have a baseline mammogram done at an earlier age. Some women even go so far as to be genetically tested for the disease. "Information is the key to controlling a lot of diseases," says Dr. Phillips. "If we don't educate the public, we're still behind the eight ball." "How To Deal With The Major Killers - diseases in black women

- Brief Article". Ebony. FindArticles.com. 28 Jul, 2009. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_12_56/ai_78919279/

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