2023 JJC Health Quarterly - Oct.

Health Quarterly

October 2023

A Special Supplement to the

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HEALTH QUARTERLY

Oct. 2023

What To Know About Breast Lumps

Breast cancer is a cause for concern for millions of women.

Each year about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Canadian Cancer Society indicates around 28,600 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Globally, data from the World Health Organization indicates roughly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.

One of the more notable symptoms of breast cancer is the presence of a lump in the breast. Though not all lumps are malignant, it’s important that women learn about breast anatomy and lumps as part of their preventive health care routines.

Mount Sinai says that breast lumps can occur at any age in both men and women. Hormonal changes can cause breast enlargement and lumps during puberty, and boys and girls may even be born with lumps from the estrogen received from their mothers.

It is important to note that the vast majority of breast lumps are benign. The National Institutes of Health says 60 to 80 percent of all breast lumps are noncancerous. The most common causes of breast lumps are fibroadenomas and fibrocystic changes.

Fibroademomas are small, smooth, moveable, painless round lumps that usually affect women who are at an age to have children, indicates the Merck

Manual. They are noncancerous and feel rubbery.

Fibrocystic changes are painful, lumpy breasts. This benign condition does not increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Symptoms often are worse right before one’s menstrual period, and then improve after the

period begins.

Additional factors can contribute to the formation of lumps. Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that likely go away on their own or may be aspirated to relieve pain. Complex cysts may need to be removed surgically. Sometimes cysts

also may form in milk ducts throughout the breasts.

Lumps also may be the result of injury. Blood can collect under the skin and form a type of lump called a hematoma. Other lumps may be traced to lipomas, which is a collection of fatty tissue or breast abscesses,

which typically occur if a person is breastfeeding or has recently given birth.

Additional causes of lumps can be discussed with a doctor. Though the majority of lumps are not a cause for concern, it is important for people to regularly feel their breasts

to check for abnormalities.

Doctors may recommend annual mammograms to women age 40 and older.

In its earliest stages, breast cancer may produce little to no visible symptoms, but a mammogram may be able to catch something early on.

Oct. 2023

HEALTH QUARTERLY

Healthy habits that could help women reduce their breast cancer risk

Cancer is a formidable disease that the World Health Organization reports is the leading cause of death worldwide.

Women who live such a lifestyle are at elevated risk for breast cancer. The ACS notes that sedentary behavior such as sitting, lying down, watching television, or engaging with screen-based forms of entertainment that do not require physical activity can increase breast cancer risk, especially for women who spend most of their work day sitting down. A more physically active lifestyle that includes routine exercise can help women reduce their breast cancer risk.

Figures vary, but organizations such as the WHO and the American Cancer Society estimate that around 9.5 million people die from cancer every year.

No type of cancer causes more deaths in women across the globe than breast cancer. Though the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients has increased by a significant margin in recent decades, a 2019 study published in The Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention reported a significant increase in breast cancer mortality rate in the 25-year period preceding the study. The researchers behind the study theorized that the spike in mortality rate could be due to an increase in incidence and prevalence of breast cancer.

· Adopt a nutritious diet. Eating right is another way for women to

Like all cancers, breast cancer cannot be prevented. However, various healthy habits could help women reduce their risk for the disease. · Avoid alcohol. The ACS reports that alcohol consumption is a clear risk factor for breast cancer.

Risk increases with the amount of alcohol a woman consumes. For example, a woman who consumes one alcoholic drink per day has a 7 to 10 percent higher risk of getting breast cancer than a woman who abstains from alcohol. Drinking

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reduce their breast cancer risk. Vegetables, fiber-rich legumes such as beans and peas, fruits across the color spectrum, and whole grains are some components of a healthy, nutrient-rich diet that can help lower breast cancer risk. Women also can avoid certain foods, such as red and processed meats and refined grains, to lower their breast cancer risk.

Though there’s no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, women can embrace various healthy habits to lower their risk for the disease.

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two to three drinks per day could increase risk by around 20 percent. · Establish and maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases breast cancer risk, particularly among postmenopausal women. According to the ACS, after menopause

women get most of their estrogen from fat tissue. Fat tissue increases estrogen levels in the body, which in turn increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer.

Elevated levels of insulin in the body, which is common among individuals who are overweight, also has been linked to higher breast cancer risk. Establishing

and maintaining a healthy weight cannot prevent breast cancer, but it can help women reduce their risk for the disease. · Maintain a physically active lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle increases a person’s risk for various conditions and diseases.

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We now offer over-the-counter professionally evaluated and programmed to your specific listening needs and comfort.

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Central Illinois Hearing: Better Health Through Better Communication.

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HEALTH QUARTERLY

Oct. 2023

“Why do I pee when I sneeze?”

It’s stress urinary incontinence, and SIU Medicine can help

Article Submitted By:

SIU Women’s Health Center Stress urinary incontinence, perhaps better recognized as “peeing a little when I sneeze” is a common concern that affects women and even some men.

Why it’s important to talk about stress incontinence

the pelvic floor muscles can withstand this change in pressure and prevent urine from exiting the bladder through the urethra.

However, if the pelvic floor muscles are weak or stretched out, they won’t be able to properly support the bladder or control the urethra, thus allowing urine to leak out.

Several factors can cause pelvic muscle weakness and laxity and increase the risk of stress urinary incontinence, including: • Pregnancy and childbirth If you unintentionally • Hormonal changes leak urine when you sneeze, associated with menopause laugh, jump, cough, pick • Chronic coughing (often something up or exercise, due to smoking or asthma) you might have stress • Obesity or overweight incontinence. It’s the most • Surgery or trauma in common kind of urinary the pelvic area incontinence, ahead of urge incontinence (the A many as 25 percent of sudden and urgent need to women develop a pelvic urinate, often before you floor disorder at some point can reach the bathroom) in their lives. And while and mixed incontinence (a not everyone with a pelvic muscle (urinary sphincter) combination of stress plus floor disorder has stress that controls the release of urge incontinence). incontinence, the presence urine. of stress incontinence Stress incontinence almost always indicates Other issues people begins when pressure some kind of problem may notice if they have inside the abdominal with the pelvic floor stress incontinence cavity increases, which musculature. consequently puts excess In addition to the pressure on the bladder Men can experience accidental loss of urine and downward pressure stress incontinence, too. In during activities that on the pelvic floor muscles men, stress incontinence increase pressure on the (which attach to your often develops after surgery pelvic floor, people with pelvic bones and form the for prostate cancer or stress incontinence may prostate enlargement, bottom of your “core”). which can weaken the Under normal conditions, also report:

While it might be frequently used for comedy in popular culture and mentioned in commercials advertising feminine hygiene products, unintentionally leaking urine isn’t a laughing matter. If the underlying cause of stress incontinence isn’t addressed, complications like urinary tract infections and skin irritation can develop.

If this is something you struggle with, keep reading to learn more about why it happens and what can be done about it.

• Pain during urination • Increased urinary frequency • Increased urinary urgency • Emotional distress • Social withdrawal • Changes in lifestyle habits associated with their symptoms (e.g., avoiding certain activities, purposefully going to the bathroom more often in an attempt to prevent leakage)

In addition, stress incontinence is routinely associated with emotional distress and impaired quality of life. Many women feel embarrassed and ashamed about their symptoms, and may even feel reluctant to speak with a health care provider about their concerns, despite the fact that many effective treatment options are available.

Some strategies that women use to try to compensate for stress incontinence—such as going to the bathroom before their bladder actually feels full—may actually teach the bladder to signal the need to go even when there’s not a lot of urine present. This can worsen issues like urinary frequency.

Finding relief from stress incontinence So, what does this all mean for you if you have stress incontinence? Ask a trusted health care provider for help!

A variety of interventions and techniques can alleviate symptoms and restore the strength and function of your pelvic floor muscles, which can prevent symptoms from coming back. Some techniques backed by research include: • Pelvic floor strengthening exercises • Pelvic floor physical therapy • Weight loss • Pessary (a comfortable, silicone vaginal insert that helps stop leaks and can be worn daily or just as needed) • Urethral bulking agents (minimally invasive procedure) • Surgery (urethral sling procedure) If you have stress incontinence, you don’t need to struggle alone. Reach out to the providers at SIU Women’s Health Center in Jacksonville or our SIU Medicine’s Pelvic Wellness Center in Springfield at 217.545.8000.

Oct. 2023

HEALTH QUARTERLY

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HEALTH QUARTERLY

Oct. 2023

Communication is a two-way street

Article Submitted By:

Central Illinois Hearing Jacksonville The sense of hearing is a vital link to the world, a source of pleasure and information and connection to others.

in the way people with hearing loss can function today. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that even the best technology does not eliminate the need for good communication skills.

Lipreading is often referred to as the “3rd When someone you know hearing aid”. You probably get help from lip reading has a hearing loss, you can even if you don’t know it. help make things easier.

When you use lipreading Communication is a twoskills your understanding way street, starting with a of speech improves by transmitter and a receiver. about 30%! For the hearing All too often, when I fit impaired, listening is patients with hearing aids, hard, even with hearing on return visits the spouse will inevitably say, “he/she aids. Here are some tips to improve communication. still doesn’t hear me”.

Advancements in hearing aid technology have made a huge impact

• Get their attention.

Hearing impaired persons expend a lot

pauses between phrases so the listener can digest what you are saying. Rephrase your thoughts if necessary.

• Try to reduce background noise. For someone who has a hearing loss the most difficult listening environment is background noise. Voices are difficult to hear because they are in competition with other noise. Turn off TV’s, appliances, car windows, anything that can reduce a person’s ability to understand conversation.

of concentration when listening to TV or radio and may not hear a voice coming from nowhere.

Call them by there name to shift their focus onto the speaker.

• Face the person you are talking to. Don’t try to converse from a different room or with your back turned. It is easier to hear what people say when you can see what they are saying. Visual cues like facial expressions and lip movements help listeners better understand your

words.

• Try not to talk while chewing or eating.

It makes it harder to understand what you are saying and almost impossible to see your mouth and face as you speak.

• Stand or sit where your face is well lit. It makes it easier to see your facial expressions and your mouth movements as you speak.

• Do not talk while

When I counsel patients in my practice, I feel reading the newspaper or like I am both hearing healthcare professional speak as you are looking and marriage counselor out the car window or lean on your check while talking and I hope I have saved a as this make speech reading few marriages through my work. The bottom line is, difficult for others.

Hearing aids can help, but they cannot fully restore • Speak at a natural hearing abilities. It requires pace. You do not need to shout. It is perfectly fine to a commitment from family members to understand speak at a normal tone of what it takes to help the voice as most hearing aids are programmed to amplify hearing impaired maximize their communication normal levels of speech. ability.

• Try not to talk too fast. Speak naturally, Dr David Groesch Au,D but try to pronounce your Central Illinois Hearing words more clearly, take /Jacksonville

Did you know?

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 250 million preschool children are vitamin A deficient. That’s a significant concern, as children who are not getting enough vitamin A are at greater risk for severe visual impairment and blindness. Vitamin A deficiency also increases a child’s risk of severe

illness, and even death, from common childhood infections, including diarrheal disease and measles. The WHO notes that breast milk is a natural source of vitamin A and urges mothers of infants to breastfeed to ensure children get ample amounts of vitamin A. Parents of older children can look

to various healthy foods to make sure youngsters are getting enough vitamin A. The National Institutes of Health notes that foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots and fortified cereals typically contain substantial amounts of vitamin A. The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that various animal

products, including meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products, also contain significant amounts of vitamin A. Parents can speak with their children’s pediatricians to determine the healthiest, most effective ways to ensure their youngsters are getting enough vitamin A.

Oct. 2023

HEALTH QUARTERLY

What is Movember?

If you think you’re seeing more moustaches lingering over mens’ upper lips as November unfolds, chances are your eyes are not deceiving you.

November has long been synonymous with Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season, but it’s also taken on a whole new persona in recent years, and moustaches are a significant part of that new identity.

Arguably as popular as ever, Movember® is a public health-focused effort designed to raise awareness of and support research into men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide. Men who participate in Movember typically begin growing moustaches on November 1 and keep them throughout the month.

The origins of Movember can be traced to 2003, when two men in Australia, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, met for a beer in Melbourne.

At that point in time, the popularity of moustaches had waned, but Garone and Slattery joked about restoring the stache to its once-lofty status. At the time, a friend’s mother was fundraising for breast cancer, and Garone and Slattery were inspired to combine their efforts to bring back the moustache with efforts to raise awareness about men’s health and prostate cancer.

In a testament to the two friends’ skills in the art of persuasion, they were

able to find 30 men willing to take up the challenge to grow a moustache. Those who accepted the challenge agreed to follow the rules of Movember, which included paying $10 to grow a moustache.

That initial campaign generated significant enthusiasm among the initial participants, so the following year a decision was made to formalize their efforts and officially support a worthy cause related to men’s health.

After some research, prostate cancer was chosen as the issue to formally support. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, though not an official men’s health

partner of Movember, agreed to accept any funds generated by the 2004 campaign. By that time, 450 men, including some in Spain and the United Kingdom, had agreed to take part, ultimately raising more than AUD $50,000.

Nearly 20 years later, the moustachioed movement to raise awareness about various men’s health issues is still going strong, having funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects since its inception. Individuals interested in learning more about Movember can visit us.movember.com.

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HEALTH QUARTERLY

Oct. 2023