Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 10-9-15 Edition

Health
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
3 Breast Cancer Organizations Every Black Woman Should Know About
Last year, a woman was di- agnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes, according to Susan G. Komen. This year? Every 2 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
Want to know what’s even scarier? Although African- American women tend to be diagnosed with breast cancer less often than caucasian women, we’re more likely to die from the disease. In fact, the five-year relative survival rate for Black women is 78% compared to 90% among Cau- casian women. The following organizations are working to change that.
1. Sisters Network, Inc. - Twenty years ago Sisters Network Inc., was established by founder Karen E. Jack- son, an 18-year breast cancer survivor. It was her mission to create a space where Black women can go to receive the education, emotional and fi- nancial support, and any other resources they may need dur- ing their journeys.
To learn more about Sisters Network, Inc., visit www.sis- tersnetworkinc.org.
2. Black Women’s Health Imperative - Estab- lished in 1983, the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) not only focuses on breast cancer, they also take
ona
range of
other
health
issues,
including
cervical cancer, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS that af- fect Black women and their families.
BWHI encourages Black women to make their health a priority by doing 3 things: 1) Get into the routine of per- forming monthly breast self- examinations, 2) See your doctor for a clinical breast ex- amination at least once a year, and 3) Start having regular mammograms once you hit the age 40. Why? Because early detection can save lives.
To learn more about the Black Women’s Health Imper- ative, visit www.bwhi.org.
3. African-American Breast Cancer Alliance - African American Breast Can- cer Alliance (AABCA) organi- zation was founded in 1990 and is solely dedicated to the breast cancer crisis among Black women. The goal, essen- tially, is to empower, educate and inspire women to take control of their health.
To learn more about the African American Breast Can- cer Alliance, visit www.aab- cainc.org.
A Healthier Immune System
Help your immune system by maximizing every safe- guard you've got, from head to toe, and inside to outside.
YOUR SKIN - Your largest organ acts as a barrier against allergens and infectious or- ganisms.
Protect It - "Keeping your skin moisturized helps prevent cracks, which make it easy for bacteria and viruses to get into the bloodstream," Dr. Clark says. Apply lotion after bathing or showering for opti- mum protection.
YOUR WEIGHT - Main- taining a healthy weight re- duces your risk for illness.
Protect It - Fuel up with plenty of anti-inflammatory foods such as salmon, olive oil and leafy greens.
YOUR HEART - High lev- els of cholesterol inflame your arteries, triggering white blood cells to zoom in and gobble up the waxy substance. Over time, plaque may form, blocking blood flow and caus- ing a heart attack.
Protect It - Exercise, quit smoking, and eat a low fat, high-fiber diet.
YOUR BRAIN - A sense of optimism and feelings of gen- eral happiness are known to increase production of the mood-maximizing hormone serotonin, says Steven M. Tovian, Ph.D. People who are constantly stressed or suf- fer from untreated depression are more susceptible to infec- tion; unrelenting worry and anxiety decrease serotonin levels.
Protect It - Carve out time every day to do something that brings you joy.
YOUR GUT - "You might not think of your gastrointesti- nal tract as an immune super organ, but it houses 25% of the immune cells in your body," says Simin Nikbin Mey- dani, Ph.D. These cells com- bat dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, and they also prevent pathogens in the bloodstream from getting into your intestines.
Protect It - Your digestive tract is full of healthy bacteria and regularly consuming foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt and kefir will also help. Plus, eating fiber-rich plant foods, like whole grains and almonds, will give you a dose of prebiotics. Be sure to load up on both if you get an Rx for an antibiotic: The meds can kill the good bugs along with the bad, leading to tummy trouble.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-B