Health Quarterly October 2024
A Special Supplement to the
Your Healthy Hearing Check-up
article submitted by: central il Hearing
This time of year, we are reminded to turn our clocks back, replace smoke alarm batteries, etc. but it is also a good time to consider a hearing health check-up as well, which is an important part of good hearing healthcare. Especially if you are a hearing user. Your hearing checkup should include the following:
1. Ear canal examination. Ear wax is one of the most common causes of hearing aid feedback or “whistling”. Ear wax can also diminish the performance of hearing aids as wax impedes the sound from reaching the eardrum.
2. Hearing test. While not necessarily recommended every year. If a baseline audiogram reveals a hearing loss it is recommended to have a repeat hearing test every 2-3 years and have those results compared to your previous audiograms. If we find a change, we can recommend treatment or adjust your hearing aids to compensate for any further decrease. Routine hearing tests are covered by most insurance plans.
3. Re-program your hearing aids. As mentioned above, hearing aids can be reprogrammed to increase audibility due to further hearing loss. Also continued hearing
Roughly five percent of adults between the ages of 45 and 54 have disabling hearing loss and one in two over the age of 85 has hearing loss.
aid use can result in changes to the auditory cortex of the brain. These changes can result in acceptance of increased volume. If your hearing aids are paired to your smartphone, any change you make routinely on your aids can made permanent with an inoffice visit.
4. Clean your hearing aids. Ear wax is the most common culprit of hearing aid malfunction the receiver can get clogged with wax significantly reducing their performance. Mos aids have wax filters, similar to air filters in your furnace and need to be replace periodically. Moisture and perspiration are also agents that can weaken a hearing aid’s performance. Don’t forget to change your air filters!
How to protect your hearing over the long haul
Hearing loss is often seen as an inevitable part of aging. However, data from the National Institutes of Health indicates one in two people over the age of 85 has hearing loss, which suggests half of all individuals in that age bracket have no such issue. That should be encouraging to individuals concerned by the prospect of losing their hearing in their golden years.
The American Academy of Audiology notes that age-related hearing loss is known as presbycusis. Presbycusis can develop due to a combination of variables, including changes to blood flow
and the structures of the inner ear as the body ages and shifts in how the brain processes speech and sounds. Certain medications and medical issues, including diabetes and poor circulation, also can exacerbate age-related hearing loss.
Though some hearing loss as individuals grow older may be related to age, Father Time cannot bear all the blame when individuals begin to lose their hearing. In fact, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, using data from the 20152020 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey, notes that roughly 5 percent of adults between the ages of 45 and 54 have disabling hearing loss. Such losses are unlikely to be a byproduct of aging, and more likely indicative that individual behaviors can affect the degree to which a person loses or maintains his or her hearing.
Preventive health care is vital to protecting the body long-term, and such maintenance can include steps to safeguard hearing over the long haul. The Hearing Health Foundation notes the following are some simple ways individuals can protect their hearing in the years to come.
• Keep the volume down. The HHF advises individuals listen to personal audio devices at 50 to 60 percent of maximum audio level. Some smartphones are pre-programmed to alert users when they attempt to exceed these levels, and users are urged to heed these warnings when adjusting the volume on their devices.
• Lower the volume the longer you listen. Prolonged listening at high volumes can be especially harmful to hearing, even if users
Issues that can arise from poor dental hygiene
The importance of maintaining dental hygiene is emphasized from the time most people are small children. Indeed, parents start early by cleaning kids’ teeth the moment the first one pushes its way through a baby’s gums, and that hopefully kick-starts a lifelong devotion to dental care.
Appearance may be the main reason why many people prioritize dental hygiene, and few things set as strong an impression as a set of pearly whites. But health is another notable reason to make dental hygiene a priority. It goes without saying that dental health is adversely affected by poor dental hygiene habits, but the rest of the body also can suffer when individuals don’t take time to care for their teeth.
• Cardiovascular disease: The American Academy for Oral & Systemic Health reports that poor dental hygiene and inflammation of the arteries are directly linked. That’s because bacteria from the mouth
enters the bloodstream and causes the arteries to harden, thus increasing a person’s risk for stroke or heart attack. The AAOSH also notes that poor oral health has been linked to high blood pressure and elevated levels of “bad” cholesterol, each of which pose a threat to cardiovascular health.
• Diabetes: The American Diabetes Association notes that periodontal disease causes inflammation in the gums. That’s a notable link, as the ADA points out that inflammation in the body can cause high blood sugar levels, which is a known risk factor for diabetes. Simple oral hygiene practices like daily brushing and flossing can protect against gum disease that can increase the risk for diabetes.
• High-risk pregnancy: Women should know that taking care of their teeth could be a notable way to protect their unborn children. A 2021
The basics of diabetic eye disease
Diabetes is a serious condition that can adversely affect a person’s quality of life. That’s a reality well-known to the hundreds of millions of individuals across the globe who are living with diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation Atlas, 10.5 percent of the global adult population between the ages of 20 and 79 has diabetes, and those figures are expected to increase to roughly 12 percent by 2045.
and some with the disease may experience diabetic eye disease, the mention of which may prompt questions among patients and their families.
What is diabetic eye disease?
What are some conditions that fall under the umbrella of diabetic eye disease?
study published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth found that periodontal disease is strongly associated with premature birth. Authors of the study note that premature birth is associated with a host of negative outcomes, including perinatal mortality, immature lung development, reduced feeding ability, and inferior weight gain.
• Respiratory issues: The mouth is vulnerable to bacteria growth, which is one reason why daily measures like brushing and flossing are so important. The AAOSH notes that once bacteria reaches the lungs, an individual’s risk for infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory issues increases.
Dental hygiene practices like brushing and flossing are simple measures, but they can have a profound effect on individuals’ overall health.
The side effects of diabetes are wide-ranging, which explains why life with the disease can be so challenging. Diabetes can even affect vision,
The term “diabetic eye disease” is something of a misnomer, as it actually refers to a group of eye issues that can affect people with diabetes. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, diabetes can damage the eyes over time, potentially leading to poor vision and possibly blindness.
Diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma are some examples of diabetic eye disease. Each of these conditions is different.
• Diabetic retinopathy:
The Mayo Clinic notes that diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina. Individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, which can
3 strategies that can lower breast cancer risk
Breast cancer affects millions of individuals each year. The World Cancer Research Fund International reports that breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women across the globe, affecting roughly 2.3 million women each year. Despite the global prevalence of breast cancer, various organizations report high five-year survival rates, particularly among women whose cancers are detected in the earliest stages of the disease. In fact, a 2023 study published in the journal BMJ found that the risk for dying from breast cancer in the five years after an early-stage diagnosis fell to 5 percent in recent years, a notable improvement from the 14 percent risk of death that was reported in the 1990s.
Increased survival rates for breast cancer are welcome news for women and their families.
The higher survival rates are a byproduct of the tireless efforts of cancer researchers, who also have discovered links between the disease and certain lifestyle factors. Though there’s no way to eliminate one’s risk for breast cancer entirely, the American Cancer Society notes certain variables are within women’s control. With that in mind, women can consider these three strategies that can lead to improved overall health and might help women lower their risk for breast cancer as well.
1. Reach and maintain a healthy weight. The benefits of maintaining a healthy weight include a lower risk for heart disease and stroke, and women should know that weight and breast cancer risk are linked as well.
According to the ACS, increased body weight
and weight gain as an adult are linked to a higher risk of developing breast cancer. That’s particularly so among post-menopausal women. A 2023 study published in the journal BMC Women’s Health found that the chances of developing breast cancer increase among post-menopausal women who are obese.
2. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise is one of the ways to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, so it makes sense that being physically active can reduce breast cancer risk. The National Cancer Institute reports that a 2016 metaanalysis of 38 cohort studies found that the most physically active women had between a 12 and 21 percent lower risk for breast cancer than women who were the
least physically active. The NCI also notes that additional studies have found that women who become more physically active after menopause also have a lower risk for breast cancer than those who do not.
3. Limit or eliminate alcohol consumption. The ACS urges women who drink to consume no more than one alcoholic drink per day, noting that consumption of even small amounts of alcohol have been linked to an increased risk for breast cancer. Officials with the MD Anderson Cancer Center note that the link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk is low. However, the MDACC notes that alcohol can contribute to unwanted weight gain, thus increasing cancer risk. In addition, alcohol
Maintaining a commitment to a physically active lifestyle throughout life can help women lower their risk for breast cancer.
can increase levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with breast cancer.
It may be impossible to completely prevent breast cancer. However, women can embrace strategies that improve their overall health in ways that lower their risk for breast cancer.
Movember changes the face of men’s health
Studies have found that men might be more tightlipped about their health than women. According to Kaiser Permanente, men sometimes don’t talk about their health because of cultural attitudes, fear or pride. As a result, men may not be able to catch illnesses at their earliest stages, which can reduce
their life expectancy.
The Movember® movement was established as an effort to raise awareness about men’s health and wellness. Movember® gets men involved in their personal health in a fun way: by growing mustaches.
The Movember® movement began in 2003
as a way to champion men’s health. Since its inception, Movember® has helped fund more than 1,320 men’s health projects around the world, including changing the way health services reach and support men.
Travis Garone and Luke Slattery devised the idea for Movember® when they met up for a beer in their
native city of Melbourne, Australia. Since mustaches had all but disappeared from men’s grooming trends at the time, the two friends felt that growing a mustache would be a way to spark conversation. Thirty men took up the challenge to grow mustaches and
FDA requires patient notification of breast density -
What this means for you
about their breast density.
Nearly half of women age 40 and older have dense breasts, which can make mammograms harder to read. This increases the likelihood of missing cancer during screening.
Dense breasts are also an independent risk factor for breast cancer. To address this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires mammogram facilities to notify patients
ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BREAST DENSITY
What are dense breasts?
Breasts contain glandular tissue, fibrous connective tissue, and fatty breast tissue. Breast density is a term describing the relative amount of each type of breast tissue seen on a mammogram. Dense breast tissue has relatively high amounts of glandular tissue and fibrous connective
tissue and relatively low amounts of fatty breast tissue.
Are dense breasts common?
Yes, dense breasts are common. Nearly half of all women age 40 and older who get mammograms have dense breast tissue.
How is breast density categorized in a mammogram report?
Doctors use the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) to classify breast density.
This system, developed by the American College of Radiology, helps doctors interpret and report back mammogram findings. BI-RADS classifies breast density into four categories:
1. Entirely fatty breast tissue: The breast is almost all fatty tissue. It is found in about 10% of women.
2. Scattered fibroglandular breast tissue: There is mostly fatty tissue with some areas of dense glandular and fibrous
connective tissue. It is found in about 40% of women.
3. Heterogeneously dense breast tissue: There are many areas of dense glandular and fibrous connective tissue, with some areas of fatty tissue. It is found in about 40% of women.
4. Extremely dense breast tissue: There is almost all dense glandular and fibrous connective tissue. It is found in about 10% of women.
If your mammogram report letter says you have dense breasts, it means that you have either heterogeneously dense breast tissue or extremely dense breast tissue.
What factors influence breast density?
Breast density is often inherited, but other factors can influence it.
• Factors associated with higher breast density include using menopausal
promote men’s health in the initial Movember® effort. Today, Movember® has expanded exponentially and internationally. The main focus of Movember® — beyond growing a mustache — involves significant issues affecting men: mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Participants are urged to
be more physically active and host fundraising events to raise awareness about the effect these issues have on men. Much like Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October serves to spur more women to get mammograms and take breast health seriously, Movember® is a chance for men to make doctor’s appointments and discuss key issues like prostate health. In fact, the Prostate Cancer Foundation is an
official beneficiary partner with Movember® for their U.S. campaign. To date, Movember® has donated more than $56 million to PCF to support innovative prostate cancer research. From humble Australian beginnings, Movember® has grown into a global movement working with many different organizations united by a commitment to change the face of men’s health one mustache at a time.
HEARING
at least once every hour.
are listening at 50 to 60 percent of the maximum audio level. If you intend to listen for a long period of time, lower the volume even further.
• Take listening breaks. The HHF recommends routine listening breaks from personal audio devices. Individuals who listen to personal devices throughout a workday are urged to take breaks
MOVEMBER® EYES
• Wear over-the-ear headphones. The HHF recommends individuals choose over-theear, noise-cancelling headphones over earbuds. Over-the-ear headphones are more effective at creating a seal that blocks out ambient sounds, which means users are less likely to turn up the volume on their headphones than they might be when using earbuds.
Routine hearing examinations are an effective way to monitor hearing, and individuals are urged to make them part of their preventive health care regimen. When measures are taken to protect long-term hearing, individuals may find it easier to manage agerelated hearing loss if they experience it.
lead to blindness.
• Diabetic macular edema (DME): The organization Prevent Blindness reports that DME may affect up to 10 percent of individuals with diabetes. DME is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the macula, which is the central portion of the retina. DME can make it hard to focus and may result in substantial vision loss.
• Cataracts: The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that cataracts occur when proteins in the natural lens of the eye
break down, causing things to look blurry, hazy or less colorful. The AAO notes normal eye changes that begin to occur after age 40 are the most common cause of cataracts. But diabetes also causes cataracts, and can do so even before a person reaches 40 years of age.
• Glaucoma: The Cleveland Clinic notes glaucoma is a general term used to describe various conditions that damage the optic nerve. Fluid buildup in the front part of the eye puts extra pressure on the eye, gradually damaging the optic nerve.
When should a doctor be consulted?
The NIDDK urges anyone with diabetes to contact a doctor right away if they notice sudden changes to their vision. Such changes may include flashes of light or more floaters (spots in the line of vision) than usual. Individuals who feel as though a curtain is being pulled over their eyes are also urged to see a doctor immediately.
Diabetic eye disease is a potential complication of diabetes that patients may be forced to confront at some point in time. More information is available at niddk.nih. gov.
BREASTS
hormone therapy and having a low body mass index.
• Factors associated with lower breast density include increasing age and having children. Are dense breasts a risk factor for breast cancer?
Dense breasts are not considered an abnormal breast condition or a disease. However, dense breasts are a risk factor for breast cancer. That is, women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with fatty breasts. This risk is separate from the effect of dense breasts on the ability to read a mammogram.
Should women with
dense breasts have additional screening for breast cancer?
The value of additional, or supplemental, imaging tests such as ultrasound or MRI to screen for breast cancer in women with dense breasts is not yet clear, according to the Recommendation Statement on Breast Cancer Screening by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Talk with your doctor or nurse to learn recommendations for you based on your personal medical history and family medical history.
How do I know if I have dense breasts?
You cannot feel dense breast tissue, such as during a breast self-exam. Only a radiologist looking at a mammogram can
tell if a woman has dense breasts. Dense breasts are sometimes called mammographically dense breasts.
Does having dense breast tissue affect a mammogram?
Dense breasts can make a mammogram more difficult to interpret. That’s because dense breast tissue and some abnormal breast changes, such as calcifications and tumors, both appear as white areas in the mammogram, whereas fatty tissue appears as dark areas.
As a result, mammography is less sensitive in women with dense breasts—that is, it is more likely to miss cancer. Women with dense breasts may be called back for follow-up testing more
often than women with fatty breasts.
Are patients with breast cancer who have dense breasts more likely to die from breast cancer?
No. Research has found that breast cancer patients who have dense breasts are no more likely to die from breast cancer than breast cancer patients who have fatty breasts, after accounting for other health factors and tumor characteristics.
What questions should I ask my provider to learn more about dense breasts and my risk for breast cancer?
• What are the dense breast-related findings in my recent mammogram?
• What is my overall personal risk of breast cancer, given my risk factors and protective factors?
When do I need to get a mammogram?
If you’ve never had a mammogram, and you’re over the age of 40, it’s time to schedule one with your provider.
How can I schedule an appointment to talk with a provider?
If you’re looking for comprehensive women’s health care, contact SIU Medicine Women’s Health Center at 217-243-8455 to schedule an appointment or find a provider who can answer your questions.
• Do you recommend additional screening or diagnostic tests for me?
