October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chiropractic Month

October is the month to pay attention to two serious health issues: breast cancer & obesity. I will try to keep things brief since these are two big topics. The ACA or American Chiropractic Association is promoting obesity awareness for all age groups. Obesity is a leading cause of health risks according to the CDC such as:

Coronary heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
Stroke
Liver and Gallbladder disease
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

The NIH recommends the following for losing weight:

Choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods
Eating smaller portions
Drinking water instead of sugary drinks
Being physically active


To prevent breast cancer, obesity is also a risk factor. Here are 10 tips from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center:

10 Tips For Breast Cancer Prevention

1. Avoid becoming overweight. Obesity raises the risk of breast cancer after menopause, the time of life when breast cancer most often occurs. Avoid gaining weight over time, and try to maintain a body-mass index under 25 (calculators can be found online).
2. Eat healthy to avoid tipping the scale. Embrace a diet high in vegetables and fruit and low in sugared drinks, refined carbohydrates and fatty foods. Eat lean protein such as fish or chicken breast and eat red meat in moderation, if at all. Eat whole grains. Choose vegetable oils over animal fats.
3. Keep physically active. Research suggests that increased physical activity, even when begun later in life, reduces overall breast-cancer risk by about 10 percent to 30 percent. All it takes is moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five days a week to get this protective effect.
4. Drink little or no alcohol. Alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Women should limit intake to no more than one drink per day, regardless of the type of alcohol.
5. Avoid hormone replacement therapy. Menopausal hormone therapy increases risk for breast cancer. If you must take hormones to manage menopausal symptoms, avoid those that contain progesterone and limit their use to less than three years. "Bioidentical hormones" and hormonal creams and gels are no safer than prescription hormones and should also be avoided.
6. Consider taking an estrogen-blocking drug. Women with a family history of breast cancer or who are over age 60 should talk to their doctor about the pros and cons of estrogen-blocking drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene.
7. Don't smoke. Research suggests that long-term smoking is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in some women. Need help quitting? Consider participating in WebQuit, the Hutchinson Center's online smoking-cessation study. http://www.webquit.com/
8. Breast-feed your babies for as long as possible. Women who breast-feed their babies for at least a year in total have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer later.
9. Participate in a research study. The Hutchinson Center is home to several studies that are looking at ways to reduce the risk for breast cancer. Check our website periodically for studies that might be appropriate for you. Just go to http://www.fhcrc.org/ and click on "How You Can Help."
10. Get fit and support breast cancer research at the same time. Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. Ascend some of the world's most breathtaking peaks while raising vital funds for and awareness of breast cancer research by participating in the Hutchinson Center's annual Climb to Fight Breast Cancer. For more information, visit www.fhcrc.org/climb/.

The National Cancer Institute has the following tips:
Avoid risk factors such as obesity, alcohol and smoking. Exercise and eating healthy has protective effects. Combination HRT/HT is a possible risk factor. Talk to your MD about your prescription and do not make any changes without supervision. Radiation therapy increases one's risk and x-rays before age 20. Check if you have the genes BRCA1 & BRCA2. Decreased estrogen exposure such as pregnancy and breast feeding is thought to have reduce cancer risks. Fenretinide, a form of vitamin A or retinol, may lower risk in premenopausal women.


References:
http://www.acatoday.org/
http://www.acatoday.org/NCHM/
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/health.html
http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/obesity-health-risks
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/weightcontrol.html
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/10-tips-for-breast-cancer-prevention-104167558.html
http://www.fhcrc.org/
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/breast/Patient/page3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month
http://pinkforoctober.org/
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

ChiroWorks Care Center
Anthony Tsai, D.C.
Chiropractor in San Jose, CA
ChiroWorksCareCenter.com
Graston Technique Certified
FAKTR-PM Completed

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