Quitting smoking cuts bladder cancer risk in women

Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of bladder cancer in older women, says a study, adding that the most significant reduction in risk occurred in the first 10 years after quitting.

The researchers used various statistical models to analyse the association between the years since quitting smoking and the risk of bladder cancer.
 

For the study, the researchers included data from 143,279 women, all of whom had supplied information on whether they had ever smoked cigarettes, how much they had smoked and whether they were current smokers.

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The study found that 52.7 per cent of the women were categorised as "never smokers," 40.2 per cent as former smokers, and 7.1 per cent as current smokers.

"Although bladder cancer is a fairly rare cancer type, representing an estimated 4.6 per cent of new cancer cases in 2019, it is the most common malignancy of the urinary system, with high recurrence rate and significant mortality," said a researcher.

"Smoking is a well-established risk factor for bladder cancer, but findings on the relationship between duration of smoking cessation and the reduction in bladder cancer risk are inconsistent," she added.

The study found that the steepest reduction in risk occurred in the first 10 years after quitting smoking, with a 25 per cent drop. The risk continued to decrease after 10 years of quitting.

"Our study emphasizes the importance of primary prevention (by not beginning to smoke) and secondary prevention (through smoking cessation) in the prevention of bladder cancer among postmenopausal women," she said.

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Tooth loss linked to high Blood Pressure in older women

A recent study was conducted to find if there is any relationship between periodontal disease and tooth loss with hypertension. The findings, suggest that older women who suffer tooth loss are more likely to develop high blood pressure (BP). 

The study observed a positive association between tooth loss and hypertension risk among postmenopausal women. Specifically, these women had approximately 20 per cent higher risk of developing hypertension during follow-up compared to other women. The association was stronger among younger women and those with lower BMI.

There are several possible reasons for the observed association. One possible explanation is that as people lose teeth, they may change their diets to softer and more processed foods. These changes in dietary patterns could be associated with higher risk of hypertension. There was no association found between periodontal disease and hypertension.

The study suggests that older postmenopausal women who are losing their teeth may represent a group with a higher risk of developing hypertension. As such, the researchers involved in the study believe that improved dental hygiene among those at risk for tooth loss as well as preventive measures such as closer blood pressure monitoring, dietary modification, physical activity, and weight loss may reduce the risk of hypertension. The findings also suggest that tooth loss may serve as a clinical warning sign for increased hypertension risk.

"These findings suggest tooth loss may be an important factor in the development of hypertension," said the paper's senior author. "Further research may help us to determine the underlying mechanisms by which these two common diseases are associated." 

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Can a Broken Heart Kill You?

 If you've ever been dumped by somebody who you loved intensely, you should know the unmistakable feeling of heartbreak all too well. Sometimes the pain goes away for a while before another wave of sadness comes crashing into you just a while later. When it may feel like too much to bear, many have often wondered whether you can actually die of a broken heart. Keep reading and find out...

1. Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy

Well, the simple answer is, unfortunately, yes. It is known by doctors as “stress-induced cardiomyopathy,” in which the stress that your suffering is placing on your heart becomes so intense that it stops beating.
According to a heart surgeon, "for some people, the stress of losing a loved one, or any kind of stressful event in your life, does precipitate a whole bunch of reactions in the physical body as well as in your mind that can cause disease and sometimes cause someone to pass away.”
The Dr. also said that it does "things like, increase your heart rate and blood pressure, makes your heart work faster, makes your blood sticky, and ruins your immune system.”

2. Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

When professionals speak of dying from a broken heart, they are typically referring to a very rare condition known as 'takotsubo cardiomyopathy.'
According to the Dr., "what happens is in an acutely stressful event … there is a massive rush of adrenaline and it causes something similar to a heart attack," and that “when it comes to takotsubo, we do actually see all of the tests that point to a heart attack.”

3. Older Women Are Most Vulnerable

Recent studies have shown that 90% of reported takotsubo cases occur for women aged between 58 and 75. However, most physical sufferers were healed within a month, and only 5% of women who die from cardiac arrest have been diagnosed with the disorder.
This syndrome is supposedly the reason why studies have shown your risk of death increases in the first month after losing a loved one. It is also the reason why you hear so many tales of people who have been together for a very long time passing on within a very short time-frame of each other.

4. It's All in Your Head

When it comes to breakups, the root of the problem is located in your mind and not in your heart. In fact, many have often made connections between the mind of a drug addict and the mind of a person in love.
Since romantic love stimulates the brain's pleasure receptors in a similar way to a drug high, people in love will feel euphoric when in the presence of the object of their affection, while suffering from separation anxiety and intense cravings when they're apart.
This also means that a person who has been abandoned by someone they love will suffer from the same sort of terrible withdrawal symptoms that a heroin addict will go through when trying to wean themselves off of the drug.

5. Time Is the Best Healer

The best piece of news is that scientists have found that time does physically heal such wounds. In fact, they found that the more time that passes after the breakup, the less activity related to the attachment is found in the brain.
According to a biological anthropologist and author, the best thing to do while waiting for time to heal your wounds is to reflect upon the breakup instead of distracting yourself.
She says that "it seems to be healthy for the brain, to instead of just wallowing in despair, to think about the situation more actively and try to work out how you’re going to handle it,” she said. So, if ever you feel like you're never going to get better after experiencing heartbreak, remember that this too shall pass.

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Everything you want to know about ovarian cancer

Recently the news was abuzz with a famous actress' surgery to remove her Ovarian cancer. The star power attached to the condition has given the disease  some much needed exposure, but the prevalence of this condition is growing  the world over with India not lagging behind. Cancer of the ovaries or Ovarian Cancer is the 5^th leading cause of death among women world over. This makes it a topic which is very relevant to today’s day and age.

Ovarian cancer is a term used to represent a group of tumors that arise from different tissues within the ovaries (A female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced). Though most cases are benign (less dangerous form which doesn’t spread), some of them may be malignant (spreading to other parts of the body).

Who is at risk?
Although experts have not been able to identify what causes ovarian cancer, there are some factors that may put one person at a higher risk of developing the condition:

1. Family history: Women who have one or more family members who have suffered from ovarian cancer, breast cancer or colon cancer are at a greater risk of developing the condition. Experts have found that specific genes such as BRCA 1 and 2 – if inherited – can cause the condition.
2. Age: Women over the age of 50 are more likely when compared to their younger counterparts to develop ovarian cancer. The risk doubles in women above the age of 60.
3. Childbearing and Menstruation: Studies have found that women who have never given birth are more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who have children. The study also suggested that the number of children a woman has directly correlates to the decrease in risk of ovarian cancer. Those women who reach puberty early (before age 12), have no children or had their first child after the age of 30, and experience menopause after 50 have a greater chance of developing ovarian cancer than others.
4. Oral contraceptives and hormonal therapy: While women who use oral contraceptives are less likely to develop ovarian cancer, women who have had hormonal therapy after menopause are at a greater risk of contracting the condition.
5. Obesity: An overweight or obese woman is more likely to develop ovarian cancer than her healthy counterparts.

Symptoms:
Traditionally, it was believed that ovarian cancer showed no symptoms until it has affected other organ systems; however in June 2007 the American Cancer Society released a list of possible early symptoms of ovarian cancer. The symptoms include:

• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Urgent or frequent urination
• Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly

If these symptoms persist or get worse, it is important that you visit your gynecologist for cancer screening. These symptoms do not necessarily mean that you have ovarian cancer; there are a number of harmless conditions that produce similar symptoms and are much more common than ovarian cancer.
Diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer:
There are no definitive screening tests for ovarian cancer, but there are ways that the condition can be diagnosed. If your doctor suspects that you might have the condition he/she is likely to perform the following tests:

• Pelvic exam coupled with ultrasound examination
• Blood test for cancer related markers
• Biopsy is usually done by a gynaecologic oncologist. The doctor takes a sample of the suspected ovary and the stage or presence of the condition is then analysed by a pathologist.

Treatment :
If a woman is found to have ovarian cancer, the doctor usually uses a biopsy sample to determine the stage of the cancer and how far the cancer has spread. The stage of the cancer is determined by the following markers:
Stage I: When the cancer is confined to one or both the ovaries.
Stage II: If one or both ovaries are involved with spread to the uterus and/or the fallopian tubes or other places in the pelvis.
Stage III: If one or both the ovaries are involved and the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other sites within the abdomen.
Stage IV: If both the ovaries are involved and if the cancer has spread to organs outside the abdomen or the liver.
The treatment of ovarian cancer depends on the stage of the cancer, the type of cells involved, overall health and the age of the patient. There are mainly three types of treatment options for ovarian cancer and they may be used in combination:

1. Surgery: This is when the gynaecologic oncologist surgically removes the ovary and other tissues that may be affected by the cancer.
2. Chemotherapy: The oncologist uses drugs to kill the cancer cells.
3. Radiation treatment: This treatment involves the use of high energy ionizing radiation to kill the cancer cells.

Treatment of cancer is a long-drawn process with several stages. If you have been diagnosed with the condition, remember that it is not a death sentence; cancer is curable if caught early. Get your family or friends to support you through the procedure and if required get some counseling.

Indian women are among the last ones to visit the doctor when it comes to their own health. This coupled with lack of awareness has been the major driver for ovarian cancer cases to increase. Because this condition usually occurs during menopause, most women ignore the symptoms, and further delay the treatment process. Anything out of the ordinary should be checked by a trained physician and treated accordingly.


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Doing daily chores can help older women live longer

Completing the chores and errands of daily life may help older women, above the age of 65, in reducing their mortality risk, as older people expend more energy doing the same kinds of activities they did when younger, says a study.

The amount of physical activity older women undergo while performing daily tasks equates to 30 minutes of light physical exercises.

The study, noted that 30 minutes of light physical activity per day lowers the mortality risk by 12 per cent while an additional 30 minutes of moderate activities, such as bicycling at a leisurely pace or brisk walking, reduced the risk by 39 per cent. At the same time, it can also prevent the risk of chronic diseases.

“Every movement counts,” said a researcher.

“A lot of what we do on a daily basis is improving our health, such as walking to the mail box, strolling around the neighborhood, folding clothes and straightening up the house. Activities like these account for more than 55 per cent of how older individuals get their daily activity,” Dr. added.

The researchers followed 6,000 women, aged between 65 to 99 years, for a period of four and a half years. The women were recommended to wear a measuring device called an accelerometer on their hip around-the-clock for seven days while going about their daily activities.

The study found that women do not have to run marathons daily to stay healthy. But the paradigm needs to shift in terms of women staying physically fit.

“Older people expend more energy doing the same kinds of activities they did when younger, so their daily movement has to accommodate for this. Think of it as taking a pill (activity level) at different doses (amounts of time) depending on the age of the patient. It’s not one size fits all,” Dr.  noted.

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Breast cancer screening a must for older women

Growing older doesn’t cut down a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer and there should be cut-off age to stop breast cancer screening in older women well after menopause, show results of the largest-ever study of biopsy and mammography, the standard imaging exam for its screening. 

An analysis of nearly 5.6 million screening mammograms and biopsies done in the US between January 2008 and December 2014 showed higher cancer detection rate in mammograms and biopsies in women ages up to age 90 years.

The study, done by researchers from the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF), was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, adds support to guidelines that recommend screening decisions based on individual patients and their health status. 

With an estimated 1.1 lakh new cases each year, breast cancer has replaced cervical cancer as the leading cancer among women in India. The HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer, but screening and early detection and treatment is the only protection against breast cancer.

Controversy has surrounded international guidelines on how often and till when should women be screened for cancer. In 2009, the US released new guidelines that said there was not enough evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening mammography in women aged 75 years or older. 

“There has been a lot of controversy, debate and conversation regarding the different breast cancer screening guidelines, even among major national organisations, over the past few years,” said Cindy S. Lee, M.D., assistant professor in residence at UCSF. 

Her team analysed data from the US National Mammography Database of nearly 5.6 million screening mammograms performed over a 7-year period between January 2008 and December 2014 in 150 facilities across 31 states. A review of the patients’ demographics, screening mammography results and biopsy results showed a gradual upward trend in cancer detection.

The UCSF team recommends the decision whether or not to stop screening should be based on a person’s health history and preferences. “We now know that the risk of breast cancer increases with age,” Dr Lee said. “With the uncertainty and controversy about what age to stop breast cancer screening, we addressed this gap in knowledge and have collected enough data to make a conclusion.”

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