Six Simple Ways To Stay Healthy Between Breast Center Visits

Six Simple Ways To Stay Healthy Between Breast Center Visits

More than ever, women are encouraged to be vigilant in the fight against breast cancer. Medical practices and technology have made monumental strides to this end, helping to save numerous lives and looking to save even more. Even so, it is just as important - if not more so - to safeguard mammary health in our everyday lives when we're not talking to the doctor. Take a look at a few ways you can improve your health and safeguard your pair between visits to your local breast center.

Breast Cancer

Stay Active

Regular exercise helps maintain health and fight cancer because fat cells produce excess estrogen, which has been linked to risk of cancer. Exercise routines can include yoga, which is helps maintain your body's hormone production. By working out consistently, not only can you burn fat and avoid obesity, but you also can dramatically lower your chances of getting cancer.

Eat Your Greens

It can be a struggle to eat the proper amount of fruits and vegetables, but staving off cancer can give you more motivation to up your intake. Cruciferous veggies should definitely be on your menu because they contain nutrients that combat estrogen-receptor-negative cancers. Fruits such as apples and pomegranates are also highly regarded cancer fighters. For the best results, eat these plant-based foods often.

Don't Light Up

Smoking is easily one of the worst things anyone can do to harm their health, and here it gains an extra black mark. Female smokers overall have a higher chance of developing cancer than their non-smoking counterparts. Younger women are at the highest risk due to their tissue still being in development.

Drink Less

Alcohol intake is another key factor in preventing breast cancer. Drinking changes the way a woman's body metabolizes and regulates estrogen, causing estrogen levels to rise. The higher your blood estrogen level, the higher your likelihood of developing breast cancer. Being very careful about how often you consume adult beverages can pay large dividends for your health.

Sleep Tight

Some people may find this surprising, but sleep is one of your best friends when it comes to keeping cancer at bay. Our bodies produce melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep patterns. Research also suggests that melatonin is related to estrogen control. Staying up late can expose you to more light, which can disrupt your body's melatonin production. It's a good idea to make sure you get plenty of sleep on a daily basis, even if it means missing that one show you always stay up late for.

Get To Know Yourself

Not to be overlooked in helping prevent cancer is performing self-exams, mainly during periods when your breasts are not swollen or sensitive. This can help you spot anything out of the ordinary that you may want to tell your doctor about before your next breast center visit. Be sure to check your family history. If you've had a close relative who had cancer, it is possible that you are also at risk.

Fighting breast cancer isn't done solely at your local breast center. It is something that you can contribute to every day with the right decisions and mindset.