Page 25 - Florida Sentinel 2-19-16 Edition

Health
Facts About Fibroid Tumor
Happiness And Health... Hand-In-Hand
Zika Virus Information Hotline Available For FL Residents
Last week, Governor Rick Scott directed State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong to activate a Zika Virus Information Hot- line for Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future.
The hotline will be man- aged by the Florida Depart- ment of Health, and will answer questions on the Zika virus and the state’s pre- paredness efforts.
The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 855-622-6735.
Florida currently has twenty confirmed Zika cases: Hillsborough (3 cases), Miami-Dade (7 cases), Lee (3 cases) Santa Rosa (1 case), Broward (3 cases), St. Johns (1 case), Osceola (1 case), and Alachua (1 case). All of the cases in Florida are travel-re- lated and none involve preg- nant women.
The Florida Department of Health is also issuing a daily update regarding the status of the Zika virus in Florida.
Here are all the nitty-gritty de- tails you need to know:
1. Uterine Fibroids Are Common. Also known as leiomy- omas or myomas, these are the most common uterine tumors. You’re most likely to see them in your 40s and early 50s.
2. Fibroids Aren’t Cancer.
Fibroids are benign, non-cancer- ous tumors—but uterine fibroids can have similar symptoms to a rare form of cancer called uterine sarcoma. Scientists don’t have a way to detect sarcoma except when doing surgery to remove fi- broids.
3. Black Women Are More Likely to Get Fibroids. They’re 2-3 times more likely, in fact. These fibroids also typically de- velop at a younger age, grow larger, and cause more severe symptoms. You may also have an increased risk of fibroids if you have never been pregnant, are se- verely overweight, or have a family member who has fibroids.
4. Many Women Have No Symptoms and Require No Treatment. Fibroids only require treatment if they are causing you symptoms—and most women with fibroids are symptom-free, says Antonio Pizarro, M.D., board- certified doctor in obstetrics and gynecology, female pelvic medi- cine, and reconstructive surgery.
5. They Are the Leading Cause of Hysterectomies. Over 200,000 hysterectomies are done each year for uterine fibroids in the U. S.. Along with making
you infertile, the procedure also carries its own risks, so doctors only recommend it when fibroids are extremely painful or have not responded to treatment.
6. But a Hysterectomy Isn’t the Only Option Anymore. There are now a number of med- ical therapies that can be used to shrink or slow the growth of fi- broids.
7. The Most Common Symptom Is a Heavy Men- strual Flow. Like, really heavy- maybe even with blood clots. Fibroids can also cause bleeding between periods, the need to uri- nate, pelvic cramping, a bloated abdomen, or painful sex.
8. You Can Still Get Preg- nant—but May Have Difficul- ties. Most women with fibroids have issue-free pregnancies, but they can cause some complica- tions.
9. Scientists Don’t Know What Causes Them. Research leans towards the impact of hor- mones (estrogen and proges- terone) since tumors rarely appear before a women’s first period and decrease after menopause. Stress, diet, and environmental factors may also play a role in fibroid development.
Here are a few things you can do to increase your happiness and your health.
Increase Joy With Fruity Snacks
Fruits are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other micronutrients that in- crease activity in the brain areas that regulate mood.
Each fruit has different hap- piness-triggering compounds, so the more you vary the fruits you eat, the better you’ll feel.
Bonus:
Hibiscus
Tea helps,
too. The
phytochemi-
cals in this
tea raises
your brain’s levels of serotonin and another mood-lifting hor- mone, dopamine.
Get More Energy With Peppermint
Peppermint is rich in revital- izing compounds (menthol) that increases activity in the area of the brain that controls alertness. If you don’t like the taste of pep- permint, simply inhaling it works, too.
Bonus:
Dark Cocoa
helps, too.
the unique
antioxidants
in dark cocoa
send a surge of blood flow to the brain, upping alertness.
Ease Arthritis Aches With Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are packed with a unique fiber (sesamin lig- nans) that reduces inflamma- tion and protects joints from wear and tear.
Bonus:
Sunflower
Seeds work,
too. They are
a great
source of
magnesium,
a mineral
that reduces
swelling and
stiffness. Also try, almonds, oat- meal or cooked broccoli.
Look Radiant With Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes (and other root vegetables) stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid (a.k.a., nature’s moisturizer), a molecule that helps cells replen- ish and hold onto water.
Bonus: Sunflower and Saf- flower Oil work, too. These oils are full of Linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid that helps repair damaged skin cells so they retain water and don’t dry out.
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