Phillips Health Care Newsletter

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer are—

New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).

Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.

Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.

Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.

Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.

Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.

Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.

Pain in any area of the breast.

Keep in mind that these symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer.

If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away.

Risk Factors That Can’t Be Changed.

Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older.

Other factors include family history of breast or ovarian cancer, early menstrual periods or late menopause, genetic mutations, dense breast tissue, having taken DES during pregnancy. 

Risk Factors That Can Be Changed:

Being physically inactive, being overweight or obese, taking hormones, having a first pregnancy after 30, not breast feeing, never having a full term 

pregnancy and drinking an excess amount of alcohol are all risk factors 

that can be changed.

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may have a high risk of getting breast cancer. You may also have a high risk for ovarian cancer. Talk to your Philips Clinic provider about ways to reduce your risk,

Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk,

FOOD SAFETY IN YOUR KITCHEN

When you prepare meals and snacks for yourself, your family, and your friends, it is important to follow simple food safety tips to help prevent foodborne illness, also known as “food  poisoning.” 

Whether you are a home cook, a professional chef, or a recipe writer, there are some easy steps you can take to help keep your food safe all the way from the grocery store to the kitchen table. 

Food safety starts in your shopping cart! Keep produce separate from meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs in your shopping cart and in your grocery bags.

STEP 1: CLEAN

Lather up:  Before eating, wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Count to 20 slowly or sing the “Happy Birthday” song to yourself twice.

Eat clean:  Rinse fruits and veggies under running water. Slicing or dicing? Scrub ‘em anyway–germs can jump from rinds to the insides during cutting and peeling.

Rules for tools:   Wash cutting boards, knives, and other cooking utensils in hot, soapy water or the dishwasher after each use.

Create a safe cooking space

Wash countertops, cooking surfaces, and insides of the refrigerator, freezer, and microwave frequently with hot, soapy water.

Clean it before you crack it open

Wash food packaging, especially lids of cans and jars, before opening.

STEP 2: SEPARATE

No touching

Raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and flour should never come into contact with produce or any food that is ready-to-eat—keep them separate while shopping, storing, and cooking.

Put a lid on it

Place raw meats in sealed containers or plastic wrap on lower shelves of the fridge or freezer.

STEP 3: COOK

Heat it before you eat it

Use a food thermometer to check that your food has reached a safe temperature.

145 °F for seafood

145 °F with a 3-minute rest time for beef, pork, and ham

160 °F for ground meat, meat mixtures, and egg dishes

165 °F for poultry, microwaved foods, and reheated leftovers

STEP 4: CHILL

Keep your cool

Chill groceries, leftovers, and food delivery items within 2 hours, or 1 hour if exposed to 

temperatures above 90 °F. Use an appliance thermometer to set fridge to 40 °F or below and freezer at 0 °F or below.

Check the App

USDA FoodKeeper can tell you how long foods and drinks are safe to keep in the refrigerator or freezer.

Why do we need to stay hydrated?

Giving our bodies enough water helps our heart to pump blood easier and helps our muscles to work more efficiently. Every cell, organ, and tissue of our bodies needs water to function properly, and if you don’t provide your body with the water it needs it will lead to dehydration. Water helps your body to regulate your body temperature, your heart rate, & your blood pressure.

How much water do you need?

Every person is different. If you are highly active you are going to need much more water than someone who works indoors at a desk all day. We all need plenty of water but the exact amount varies from person to person depending on your lifestyle.

A reasonable goal for most people is to shoot for 48-64 oz of water per day, with more if you are very active or workout rigorously. Besides water, eating foods that are high in water content can help you to stay hydrated as well. Melons (watermelons are 90% water), oranges, & grapefruits great choices as well as celery, cucumbers, & romaine lettuce.

5 tips to help you stay hydrated:

1. Always keep a water bottle with you. Keeping a water bottle with me at all times is how I make sure to get enough water in each day. After my coffee in the morning, I don’t allow myself to drink anything but water until I’ve had my daily water intake for the day. Water bottles like the Brita Hard Sided Filtered 1L Bottle is a great choice because you only need to refill the bottle twice to have your recommended daily water intake.

2. Carry a reusable bottle you like. The Brita Hard Sides Filtered Bottles come in 3 different sizes and also in several colors and designs to choose from. Plus using a reusable bottle will save you some money. Also, filtered water tastes better!

3. Add fruit, vegetables, or herbs to your water. Adding fruit can give you a fun change in the taste without adding in any unnecessary calories. Try lemons, limes, or oranges, freeze chunks of watermelon and use them instead of ice. Or for a fresh flavor try cucumbers and mint. There are lots of fruit infused water recipes on pinterest as well.

4. Start small, set a goal, treat yourself. When I started being mindful of the water I was drinking I couldn’t go from drinking only pop and sweet tea to drinking 8 glasses of water per day. I set a goal to drink 1 bottle per day, then 2 bottles of water per day, then 3, and so on. Treat yourself with a different drink of choice at dinner if you met your goal of water for that day.

5. Try a water tracking app. Water Your Body is simple yet effective and you can set up alerts and notifications and track how much water you have downed and how much you still need to go for the day. 

About Viral Hepatitis Awareness

Hepatitis Awareness serves as a time to raise awareness about hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C while encouraging testing, vaccination, and timely treatment. Viral hepatitis is a major public health threat and worse, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States don't know they are infected. 

The CDC reminds everyone that hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented, and hepatitis C can be cured.

Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are vaccine preventable and hepatitis C can be cured.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A infection usually causes a mild, short-term illness. Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C

Most people with hepatitis B or hepatitis C do not look or feel sick. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have either virus and get treatment, which can prevent serious health problems including liver damage, liver cancer, and even death.

Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, treatments are available that can delay or reduce the risk of developing liver cancer.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, but curative treatments are available. Most people with hepatitis C can be cured with just 8–12 weeks of well-tolerated oral-only treatment. Testing is the first step.

Get the facts.

Hepatitis is the world’s deadliest virus, after COVID-19.

There are over 2 million new cases of hepatitis every year.

More than 300 million people are living with hepatitis.

Hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer.

We have everything we need to eliminate hepatitis by 2030 

JUNE IS MEN’S HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

WHAT BETTER TIME FOR  A MEN’S PHYSICAL?

According to Harvard Health, “Men are less likely than women to get  routine physical exams and screenings. A survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians found that 55% of men surveyed had not seen their doctor for a physical exam in the previous year, even though 40% of them had at least one chronic condition. 

Nearly one-fifth of men ages 55 and over said they had never undergone screening for colon cancer, and almost 30% said they "wait as long as possible" to seek medical attention when they are feeling sick or in pain.”

For all adults, scheduling regular check ups and physicals, can help catch health problems when they are manageable, to address and teat them at their earliest stages.

How Often Should You Get a Physical

If you’re in your 20’s… every five years.

If you’re in your 30’s… every three years.

If you’re in your 40’s... every two years.

50 and above… every year

Recommended Screenings for Men

Blood Pressure

Every man should have their blood pressure checked regularly, and patients with other cardiovascular risk factors should check their blood pressure more frequently. This can be performed at your doctor’s office. High blood pressure is the biggest risk for heart disease and a significant risk for other serious health conditions.

Blood Cholesterol

All men 35 or older should get their blood cholesterol levels checked regularly. Men who use tobacco; are overweight or obese; have a relative who had a heart attack before the age of 50; or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of heart disease should get their cholesterol checked much earlier, at the age of 20. There are several measures of cholesterol, and all are important in determining heart disease risk.

Colon Cancer

All men should get screened for colorectal (colon or rectal) cancer by age 50. People with a family history of colorectal cancer should get a colonoscopy even sooner. There are several different tests that can help detect colon cancer, but colonoscopy continues to be the gold standard.

Diabetes

Men who have high blood pressure or take medication to control their high blood pressure should get screened for diabetes (high blood sugar). Anyone experiencing symptoms of persistently severe thirst, frequent urination, unexpected weight loss, increased hunger, and tingling in the hands or feet also should talk to their doctor about getting tested. The preferred screening for diabetes is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the last three months.

Weight

Using a BMI calculator to determine your body mass index (BMI) is usually a reliable, but not conclusive, indicator of whether you’re at a healthy weight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 I

s considered healthy, a BMI above 25 is overweight, and a BMI greater than 30 is obese. 

Prostate Exam

Because PSA screenings recommendation vary widely among health care professionals, talk to your provider about the benefits and risks of screening to determine what is best for you. 

Other Tests Include

EKG, STD, HIV & Hepatitis, blood tests and urinalysis. Some additional testing may be recommended for men 50 or over, or with family history of chronic disease