Let’s Hear it for the Girls!

Let’s Hear it for the Girls!

Health and wellness are sometimes overlooked in our busy lives. But it is time to make your health a priority with prevention, care, and well-being. Here are three areas that oftentimes become overlooked in our lives.

Heart Disease

Despite the increase in awareness over the last few decades, not enough women recognize that heart disease is their leading cause of death in the United States. Here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of heart disease. Stay active! Get about 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Manage stress levels, know your blood pressure, get your cholesterol and triglycerides checked, make healthy food choices, limit alcohol consumption, and quit smoking.

Equally important is knowing the signs of a cardiac event. You could experience dull or heavy chest discomfort or aching, pain down one or both arms, or pain in the center of your chest. Women tend to experience other symptoms that are typically less associated with heart attack, such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, pain in the neck, stomach, or pain in the upper abdomen, back or jaw pain. These symptoms may happen when you’re resting or active.

Breast Health

Breast awareness involves getting a sense of what's typical for you. Becoming familiar with how your breasts typically feel makes it easier to detect when there's a change. Over time, you'll discover it isn’t uncommon for your breasts to change in sensitivity and texture at different times depending on things like your menstrual cycle and age. No breast is typical. What is normal for you may not be normal for another woman.

Some warning signs that warrant a discussion with your healthcare provider are a new lump in the breast or armpit, thickening or swelling of part of the breast, irritation or dimpling of breast skin, redness or flaky skin on the breast or in the nipple area, pain in any area of the breast, and any change in the size or the shape of the breast.

Early detection is key. Performing self-exams at home is crucial! Make these 5 steps part of your routine every month, looking for any of the changes noted above:

• Examine Your Breasts in a Mirror With Hands-on Hips

• Raise your Arms and Examine Your Breasts

• Look for Signs of Breast Fluid

• Feel for Breast Lumps While Lying Down

• Feel for Breast Lumps While Standing in the Shower

Thyroid Health

As many as 20 million Americans have a thyroid disorder. More than half of those afflicted are unaware of their condition. It is estimated that women are 8 times more likely to be affected by thyroid issues. Becoming familiar with the thyroid's function is key to detecting an issue. If left untreated, women can face increased risks of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, infertility issues, and an improperly functioning endocrine system.

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in your neck, just above your collarbone. The gland is part of the endocrine system, which directly affects almost every single organ. It is responsible for regulating skin integrity, menstrual cycles, calcium levels, heart and cholesterol levels, and the nervous system. In addition, it controls brain development, body temperature, respiration, metabolism, and fat production.

If you experience a racing heart rate, heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, weight loss with increased appetite, excessive sweating or heat intolerance, and muscle weakness you could be experiencing an overactive thyroid. With an underactive thyroid, you can feel fatigued or sluggish, physical or mental, cold intolerance, constipation, hair loss, weight gain, or depression. If you note an unusual lump or swelling in the neck, a new persistent cough, hoarseness, or swollen glands this could be a sign of thyroid nodules or cancer. The only way to know for sure if you have thyroid disease of any type is to have a blood test that measures your thyroid hormone levels. It is important to report any of the aforementioned signs and symptoms to your healthcare provider for early detection.

We only have one body! Make it a priority to understand the diseases and disorders common to women. Place prevention, detection, and well-being at the top of your to-do list.

Emily Giddings, RN