Simple Steps to Followed for Breast Self-Examination

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For a woman, it is very important to take care of her mental & physical health. So,

it becomes necessary to know about your physique and health-related issues linked to it. Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is one among the healthy techniques to know and diagnose breast-related issues, and ignorance could lead to Breast Cancer which is fatal in nature.

BSE helps women to detect changes in their breast such as palpable lumps, nipple discharge, bleeding, breast pain (rare in nature), discoloration etc. BSE is easy and would take only 15mins if done in routine once in every month. And, later in case of suspicion clinical methods like a mammogram, MRI, and ultrasound can be taken.

BSE can be done in a few simple steps

1. Strip-till waist and place your hands on your hips

The very first thing you need to do after finding some privacy is strip down till your waist while putting your hands on your hips in the front of the mirror. Observe the contour, shape, texture, and size of your breast, nipples and areolas. Look for any unusual change.

2. Pull your arms over your head

Next, you need to raise your arms over your head and see if your breasts move in the same way while you raise them. Observe the size, shape, symmetry, and drape. Moreover, notice any difference such as swelling in your armpit areas.

3. Observe your nipples with fingers

Now comes the nipples, lower you both arms and with your fingers check for any dimple, bump, or unusual discharge etc. Gently pull your nipples and see if there is any discharge such as green, yellow, white, or bloody red. Red and clear discharge calls for an immediate doctor’s visit while rest other colours indicate an infection or blocked milk ducts.

4. Stroke your breast while standing

You can use the stroke method in shower easily, as your wet skin has the least resistance to fingers and you can apply pressure to your armpit area and breasts. Start from stroking top to bottom or in a circular motion covering the entire breast area and observe the size, texture, and colour of the breast.

5. Recline and Stroke your breast

Lie down comfortably on a bed and put your arm behind your head while shoulders resting on a pillow. Stroke your breast and armpits and check the texture and size of your breasts long with any visible changes in them.

General Tips for BSE

Mark and update your calendar to remind yourself of BSE. This will help you to analyze and determine body changes while menstrual cycle.
Stay calm, relaxed and breathe normal as you do your BSE.
Do not panic if you find anything unusual or lump in your breast.
Consult or report your doctor, nurse practitioner if you have noticed some lump or unusual pain.
BSE is just a precaution; you need to have an annual clinical diagnosis such as a mammogram or MRI etc. after consulting your doctor.

Highlights

Heart attacks and strokes are responsible for twice as many deaths in women as all cancers combined.

Heart disease and stroke heart diseases affect men and women differently.

This is because different genders experience different things.

A sedentary lifestyle, stress, bad dietary practices, smoking, and consumption of oral contraceptives are major causes.

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Heart disease is not just a man’s problem. Cardiovascular Disease in women is the leading cause of death for women. Women are at greater risk than men of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other related diseases. Heart attacks and strokes are responsible for twice as many deaths in women as all cancers combined. On World Heart Day, let us look at how heart disease affects women.

“Although most women fear cancer, particularly breast cancer, they do not make the same efforts to safeguard themselves from heart disease, which is eminently preventable…We must strive to make women aware that to keep their hearts healthy, they need to eat smart, kick smoking, and move for health.”
Dr Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO Assistant Director-General, Noncommunicable Diseases, and Mental Health

Many people associate cardiovascular disease mainly with men, but in reality, CVD is one of the most common causes of death for both men and women. When it comes to risk factors, there are many similarities between the two sexes, but there are also some differences. Before men used to get heart diseases at 50 years but now even men in their late 20s develop cardiac ailments. World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29 to spread awareness about the importance of keeping the heart fit as it’s one of the most important organs.

Women have a substantial burden of heart disease and stroke heart diseases affect men and women differently. According to a media report, over one crore annual deaths are reported in India, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause 20.3% of deaths in men and 16.9 percent deaths in women. Despite having a lower mortality rate than men, reports have often suggested that women are more at risk of CVD-related deaths. Women also have a greater lifetime risk for stroke, which is why it’s important to take steps to reduce this risk, such as finding out your cholesterol level and other CVD risk factors.

The presence of higher levels of oxytocin in women enables the fairer sex to be better at coping with stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine, which together shoot up the blood pressure and sugar levels. Conversely, for men who lack oxytocin, the competitive advantage is being able to release more testosterone under stress, which can improve their performance on physical tasks.

Women deal with stress by being more emotional, including tender or befriending responses, whereas men typically respond to stress with fight or flight responses. However, in Indian culture, women take care of the family and women’s health is put on the back burner because of this responsibility. This is responsible for delayed medical consultation and diagnosis.

Symptoms of Heart Disease

Heart attack is when the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked. Cholesterol blockages or deposition of cholesterol in the arteries of the heart occurs more in the surface of the large arteries of the heart in men, whereas in women it occurs in smaller vessels. This creates false indications of a heart attack in women revealing that the major arteries are doing fine. But they may prove to be silent killers as symptoms may not be as pronounced as they are in the case of large arteries.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, the two most important risk factors for heart disease and stroke, are more common in women than in men. Some of the symptoms of heart disease are:

Heartburn
Chest Pain or Tightness
Shortness of Breath
Fainting or Blacking Out
Sudden Pain in the Arm, Shoulder or Jaw
Heart Attack
High Cholesterol when you’re young.

There are many symptoms of heart disease which are often not the same for men and women. This is because different genders experience different things. For example, men typically get chest pain on the left side while women are more likely to have discomfort in their shoulders, back, or neck. In addition, women are more likely to have a silent heart attack, which is a term that refers to a heart attack that does not cause any symptoms until it causes serious damage.

Treating Heart Disease

A sedentary lifestyle is a major cause to rise in heart disease at an early age, along with stress, bad dietary practices, smoking, and consumption of oral contraceptives. Lifestyle changes, along with medical attention can go a long way. Start with dietary changes and exercise. Focus on removing processed sugars and grains from the diet, replacing them with fruits and vegetables. Exercise regularly – first, by walking briskly for at least 30 minutes each day and then later by walking in time with your heart rate and then increasing the intensity of the exercise regimen gradually under expert supervision.

Stroke Prevention

Strokes are caused by clots in the brain. When blood flow to the brain is interrupted, parts of the brain cannot get the oxygen and nutrients needed to survive. Brain cells will die after about two hours of lack of oxygen. The sooner a stroke victim gets medical treatment, the better they’ll be able to recover.

Treatment for Strokes

The most important thing for stroke survivors is to get medical attention as soon as possible. It’s important that they be taken to the hospital or the emergency room, not do they need to go all the way to their doctor’s office. A stroke can happen at any time, but it is more likely to occur in people who are over the age of 65 and those who already have a history of cardiovascular disease.

This World Heart Day, get yourself a heart check-up done and pledge towards a healthier lifestyle.

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