Three Important Words Regarding Colorectal Cancer
Three Important Words Regarding Colorectal Cancer
Preventable. Treatable. Beatable.
In spite of the progress made in diagnosis and treatment, cancer – sometimes called the big “C” – continues to strike terror any time we hear it. Colorectal cancer is no exception and for good reason. It’s the second-leading cause of cancer deaths overall. That’s why you need to understand what steps to take so it doesn’t threaten your health.
When it comes to prevention, several screening tests are available to detect colorectal cancer early. Almost all colorectal cancers begin as abnormal growths known as polyps in the colon or rectum. Through screenings, these polyps can be found and removed before they turn into cancer.
Even if the polyps have turned cancerous, early detection finds them soon enough to remove and, if necessary, initiate follow-up treatment.
Here’s the good news.
It’s not uncommon for patients to beat this cancer completely when action takes place as soon as possible. The month of March is dedicated to Colorectal Cancer awareness. Find out how to take the fear out of colorectal cancer by clicking here.
Just remember – colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and most important…beatable.
“Brush And Clean In Between!”
Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness of good dental health in children and how this affects them later in life. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums when people are young does have lasting benefits. For one thing, it leads to fewer and shorter visits (and probably less tears!) to the dentist. It also produces prettier smiles!
Even more important, good oral health prevents more serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and respiratory infections. When kids establish good habits early on, they’re more likely to avoid these and other poor health conditions as adults.
Currently, thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers and educators lead the effort. This year the theme is “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile.” Through press releases and distribution of materials, the push is to promote good oral health to children, their caregivers and teachers across the country.
Getting the kids involved adds weight to the movement. To do this, fun activity sheets that include coloring and puzzles are available online. These sheets can be found at www.ada.org.
Do Heart Attack Symptoms Discriminate Between The Sexes?
When it comes to a pending heart attack, there’s not one warning signal that applies to everyone. Men and women share some symptoms like chest pain, indigestion and dizziness. Shortness of breath also applies to both sexes, but in men it often feels like one can’t get enough air even when resting.
However, there are some symptoms that appear to manifest differently by sex.
Symptoms common in men are:
- upper body discomfort or pain that includes arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw or stomach
- rapid or irregular heartbeat
- breaking out in a cold sweat
Symptoms more common to women are:
- anxiety
- sleep disturbances
- unusual fatigue lasting for several days or sudden severe fatigue
- jaw pain or pain that spreads up into one’s jaw
- upper back, shoulder or throat pain
The most important thing for you to know is what’s normal and abnormal for your body. Even if you’re not sure any of these symptoms are warnings, get emergency care right away. The best way to recover from a heart attack is early intervention, regardless of sex.
Cardiac Surgery – How Procedures Have Evolved From Scary To Routine
The evolution of cardiac surgery has dramatically lessened the risk of going under the knife. These days, some hospitals specialize in heart health only. However, it took a lot of steps to reach this point. Here’s a brief history…
1893 – The first successful surgery on the heart was performed in Chicago.
1925 – A young woman was successfully operated on when the surgeon opened a chamber and inserted a finger to find and feel her damaged valve.
1952 – A congenital heart defect was successfully corrected and the first cardiac surgery under local anesthesia was performed.
In 1967, the first human-to-human heart transplant was performed in South Africa by Dr. Christiaan Barnard.
By the early 1990s, surgeons began to perform off-pump coronary bypass. This means the heart continues to beat during the procedure but is stabilized to be almost still while bypass vessels are sown in.
Today numerous procedures can be performed with small incisions instead of wide openings that create that “zipper look” scar down the chest. It’s possible that in the future, the term “open-heart” will become obsolete.
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