11 Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin D deficiency leads to glucose intolerance and in rare cases multiple sclerosis. It is necessary to consume foods rich in Vitamin D if you start noticing the symptoms. But most times, we are so busy with our lives that we just tend to ignore Vitamin D deficiency symptoms. So here we have compiled a list of 11 major Vitamin D deficiency syndrome which will occur if your body had a deficiency of Vitamin D.

Often getting Sick or Infected

Vitamin D improves the immunity system of your body, hence helping your system to fight off harmful viruses and bacteria. But if your body is going through this Vitamin D deficiency symptom, then your immune system will become weak and you will get sick or infected more often.

Always feeling Tiredness and Fatigue

There can be many reasons for fatigue and tiredness. Normally, your body will feel tired after it does some work. But if the tiredness persists, then it can be Vitamin D deficiency fatigue. Often people ignore this fact, but one should keep this in mind and increase their Vitamin D intake.

Having pain in Bones

Since Vitamin D helps your body in the consumption of calcium, it thereby improves your bone health. But if you have a deficiency of Vitamin D in your body, then calcium will not get properly absorbed, and hence your bone health may suffer, making you feel pain the bones.

Going through Depression

In the latest study, it has been discovered by the researchers that a deficiency of Vitamin D can increase depression levels, especially in adults. In the research, most people who were going through Vitamin D deficiency depression were found to have a deficiency of Vitamin D in their body. Also, supplementing Vitamin D to these people considerably improved their mood.

Hair Loss

Although hair loss has been associated with increased stress levels, if the hair loss is severe, then it will certainly be due to a disease or nutrient deficiency. The most probable cause is the deficiency of Vitamin D. Especially for women, excessive hair loss can be directly related to Vitamin D deficiency hair loss, as this is one of the common Vitamin D deficiency symptoms in women.

Pain in Muscles

Muscle Pain can be due to a lot of reasons and it is really difficult to pinpoint an actual cause for it without having some tests. But in a research, it has been found that 71% of people who go through muscle pain have a deficiency of Vitamin D in their bodies. Also, supplementing it improved their condition. Hence, muscle pain can be a signal of Vitamin D deficiency. Also, this is one of the common Vitamin D deficiency symptoms in men.

Bone Loss

If you are wondering can Vitamin D deficiency cause joint pain and swelling, then the answer is yes. Vitamin D plays a huge role in bone metabolism and maintains bone health. Many older people who think they are struggling with bone loss i.e. a decrease in their bone mineral density then it is due to a deficiency of Calcium in their bodies. But in most cases, it is because of calcium not being properly absorbed due to Vitamin D  deficiency.

Slow/Impaired Wound Healing

If your wounds take a lot of time to heal after injury or even a surgery, then it is one of the biggest symptoms of deficiency of Vitamin D in your bodies. Vitamin D releases compounds which heal skin and if it takes a lot of time, then clearly your body doesn’t have much of Vitamin D.

Muscle Twitching

If your muscles twitch more on regular basis and cause you a lot of pain, then it is also an indicator that you are Vitamin D deficient. Also known as fasciculations, the ionized calcium gets reduced in this due to Vitamin D deficiency and causes twitching of muscles regularly.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Though deficiency of Vitamin D in itself cannot cause cardiovascular diseases, the people suffering from such diseases have been found to be having low Vitamin D, which shows that such diseases are an indicator of low Vitamin D in your body.

Gut Trouble

This is one of the major Vitamin D deficiency symptoms. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and if your gastrointestinal condition is bad and your ability to absorb food is weak, then you might have Vitamin D deficiency.

What is Chikungunya?

Firstly, we should know in technical terms what exactly Chikungunya is? Literally meaning “to walk bent-over”, Chikungunya is a viral disease is spread by a Female Mosquito’s bite. The virus starts affecting the body within 2-3 days and can last from a week to even up to a year. The Chikungunya virus enters a main bloodstream and has no available cure, which is why only the symptoms are treated. So first, let us check what the symptoms are.

Causes of Chikungunya

Chikungunya is one of the deadly mosquito borne diseases. The female mosquito carries this deadly virus and spread it through their bites. On coming in contact with the main bloodstream, the virus then divides itself and spread itself through blood flow in various parts of the body. The virus can spread only through blood contact.

Early Signs and Symptoms of Chikungunya

The symptoms of Chikungunya usually start to show from 2 to 7 days from the mosquito bite. The most common symptoms are high Chikungunya fever and mild to severe joint pain. Some other common symptoms of this disease also include headache, muscle pain and soreness, rashes, weakness, numbness and swelling in the joints.

The early signs which you might feel on coming in contact with the Chikungunya virus are high fever or pain in joints. You will usually start to feel these signs after 2-3 days from the mosquito bite. The fever and the pain can be mild or high. Besides this, other common Chikungunya symptoms include rashes or headache.

Risk Factors of Chikungunya

The worst thing about Chikungunya is that there is no cure in the world for it. No vaccines or oral medication have been made for this disease and only the symptoms are treated thereby as a result. The risk factors for Chikungunya include dirty surroundings, areas with collected waters, wearing fewer clothes and spending more times outside.

According to various researches and statistics, it has been found that if a person is close to any of their above mentioned risk factors, then he has more chances of coming in contact with the Chikungunya virus than the others which can have long term effects on the bones.

Prevention from Chikungunya

The best way to prevent coming in contact with the Chikungunya virus is to try and avoid mosquito bites.

• So for Chikungunya prevention, you should sleep under air conditioner or mosquito bed.
• Try wearing full sleeved clothes and do not allow any standing water nearby your residence.
• You can use mosquito repellents for protection.
• Keep your surroundings clean.
• Keep yourself hydrated as additional precautionary methods.

Diet for Chikungunya Patients

If you get infected by the Chikungunya virus, then you should have a proper healthy diet during Chikungunya for quick relief. You need to keep yourself hydrated and hence you should have plenty of fluids including water, soups, pulses and broths. These help in flushing out the virus quickly from the body.

Besides this, food for Chikungunya patients should also include lots of leafy vegetables. The patient should eat foods and fruits rich in selenium, chromium, zinc and Vitamins A, C and E which increases your immunity as well.

Natural Cure and Home Remedies for Chikungunya

There are a lot of home remedies, natural treatments and Chikungunya Ayurvedic treatment. We are naming a few here.

1. Giloy – This herb is greatly effective against Chikungunya virus. You can either boil its stem and drink the water or buy Giloy capsules and take two per day.

2. Papaya Leaves – Take few Papaya Clean them and blend them with some water. Drink this juice daily for quick relief.

3. Turmeric – Add a teaspoon of Turmeric in warm Milk and drink one glass a day. It can cure Chikungunya really quick.

Besides these, some other treatments worth mentioning include Chili Peppers, Garlic, Physiotherapy, Exercises, Massages, and Cold Compresses.

Treatment and Medicines for Chikungunya

Sadly, despite all the advancement in science and medicine, no Chikungunya vaccine or specific medication is available for treating Chikungunya. Therefore one has to take medicine for Chikungunya symptoms to get cured.

• Firstly, be aware and avoid taking Aspirin or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Take plenty of rest, stay hydrated and contact your doctor as soon as possible.
• It is certainly treatable, so relax and stay calm.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions and you shall be fine soon.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

As mentioned above, one of the main causes of Cerebral Palsy is the damage to the human brain. Usually, a brain damage with five years of birth leads to this condition. This damage restricts the brain to develop fully. Some other Cerebral Palsy causes include:

1. Brain Hemorrhage (Bleeding in brain)
2. Lack of Oxygen supplied to the brain during or after a child birth.
3. Head injuries in the initial five years of infancy.
4. Viral and Bacterial infections.

Always keep that in mind that doctors still have not been able to find all the causes of Cerebral Palsy. According to Cerebral Palsy facts, it is estimated that about 20-50 percent of the Cerebral Palsy cases still doesn’t have known causes. There are about 17 million people with Cerebral Palsy worldwide.

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

The early signs of Cerebral Palsy in infants include movement problems with irregular muscle tone. This muscle tone is the ability of a person to relax or tighten his muscles as required. The symptoms are usually shown in the initial years of a child. Some of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy are:

1. Underdeveloped or Overdeveloped muscles.
2. Limited range of body movement.
3. Favoring one side over the other.
4. Stiff contracting muscles.
5. Hearing and eyesight problems.
6. Seizures – It is one of most common Cerebral Palsy symptoms in adults.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

The types of Cerebral Palsy are divided into four different categories:

Spastic CP

This Cerebral Palsy condition is further divided into three parts – Hemiplegia, Diplegia and Quadriplegia. Hemiplegia involves muscle stiffness limited just to the patient’s arm or leg. Usually, it is limited to only one side which would not develop fully. Diplegia affects the lower limbs with no effect on the upper body. This condition makes walking difficult because of tight leg and hip muscles. Quadriplegia is the most severe form of Spastic CP. It affects the whole body and involves congenital disorder.

Athetoid CP

This type of Cerebral Palsy is also known as Dyskinetic CP and is one of the most common types of the condition. While this problem doesn’t affect the intelligence of the patient, it greatly affects the muscles of the body leading to walking, sitting and speaking problems.

Ataxic CP

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy affects the balance and coordination greatly. Small tasks which require high level of motor skills such as using scissors, buttoning up shirt and tying shoelaces are difficult to do. Also, maintaining balance can be a tad difficult because patients tend to walk with their feet wide apart.

Hypotonic CP

This condition is developed due to an injury to the Brain’s Cerebellum. It causes a number of muscle problems and breathing difficulties for patients.

Prevention of Cerebral Palsy

The chances of prevention of Cerebral Palsy are less but it is highly advisable for women who are planning to give birth to a child that they follow few actions to reduce the risk of child getting the condition. It is highly important that women should:

1. Perform regular exercise.
2. Eat healthy and regularly.
3. Avoid all forms of tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

The Cerebral Palsy treatment is a continuous process and is hugely dependent on the early Cerebral Palsy awareness and steps for treatment at an early stage. The “World Cerebral Palsy Day” is also celebrated on 6^th of October every year to raise the awareness about this disease.

• The chances of treating children with Cerebral Palsy greatly increase if early treatment is provided because a developing brain is more resilient than a developed brain. If treated early, it could help to improve the mobility in a child.
• The treatment of Cerebral Palsy doesn’t involve curing the child or correcting his body movement. The main form of treatment that specialist doctors provide is to make sure that a child could develop independently.
• Doctors and Specialists help patients suffering from Cerebral Palsy to live a completely self-sufficient live and help to improve their motor skills. Due to latest research on Cerebral Palsy, it is possible to improve the patient’s motor skills with the help of surgery, alternative therapy and medication.
• Parents of children suffering from Cerebral Palsy can make sure that their kids visit schools for children with Cerebral Palsy and follow the diet tips for child with Cerebral Palsy as recommended by doctors for the growth of their children.

Cerebral Palsy Home Remedies

It is very sad to know that there are no actual cures available for this disease. But there are some home remedies for Cerebral Palsy which include:

• Fish Oil
• Ginger
• Echinacea
• Physical Therapy
• Acupuncture

These natural remedies can provide a little bit support to brain and muscle functions.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism, as it is commonly known as, is a name for group of complex disorders of brain development. Usually, all these Autism disorders in people are characterized by difficulties they face in social interaction, repetitive behaviors and verbal and nonverbal communications. The latest news on Autism after May 2013, all different types of the Autism disorders were combined together under a single umbrella diagnosis of ASD having previously recognized as distinct subtypes. These subtypes include childhood, neurological disorder, disintegrative mental disorders, autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder.

Causes of Autism

The real causes of Autism are not yet known to the scientist however, a number of researches have concluded that a number of factors such as heredity genes, neurological factors, problems at birth and certain types of infections to behind this disorder. The early signs of Autism seem to appear at the first stages of brain development while the symptoms such as mental illness emerge out when children around 2-3 years old. A number of theories that suggest the cause of Autism include the following:

1. In some rare cases, Autism can also be passed from parents to children at birth because of people having genetic predisposition to Autism. Researches have searched long and hard for clues which can help them to decode the exact genes which transfer the disease from parents to their children after showing signs of Autism in babies.
2. It has been noted that sometimes environmental factors also contribute a major role in the occurrence of this disorder. Autism can also be caused by the disruption in the brain development of child leading to mental retardation while he is still in the mother’s womb.
3. Sometimes, one’s immune system itself produces anti-bodies that can attack a child’s bran which can lead to Autism.
4. Cases of abnormalities in the brain structures which can lead to autistic behavior in autistic children.
5. Other Autism causes include abnormal timings of brain growth in early childhood can also lead to this disorder. It is because, during the early stages of brain development, the brains affected with Autism grow at a faster rate as compared to the ones of normal children. Later on, it reverses around with autistic brains growing slowly.

Symptoms of Autism

Autism symptoms in adults can be different from each other. Most health care specialists think of Autism as a case of spectrum disorder. This means that different people suffering from the disorder can show a range of similar features also. The symptoms can be mild or serious depending from person to person. However, each person suffering from this disorder shows some basic signs and symptoms of Autism in:

Interactions and Communication with other People

1. Usually won’t respond to his name till he is about 1-year-old.
2. Children with Autism usually doesn’t follow directions.
3. Is unable to explain what he wants

Repetitive Behaviors or Routines

1. Autistic child symptoms include spending a lot of time in arranging things in a line again and again.
2. Shows a high amount of attachment to stuff toys.

Social Behavior

1. Development of nonverbal communication skills are not developed
2. Failure to make friends which other children from same age group.
3. Lack of enjoyment or interest in outdoor activities.

Types of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Currently there are three types of Autism Spectrum Disorders known to scientists:

Autistic Disorder

Most people suffering from autistic disorder suffer from social and communication challenges with other people, significant language delays, and show signs of unusual behaviors. People with this disorder also suffer from forms of intellectual disability.

Asperger Syndrome

People suffering from the Asperger Syndrome usually show few mild symptoms as compared to people suffering from autistic disorders. These people might face challenges in socializing with people and show unusual interest or behavior but do not show signs of intellectual disability.

Pervasive Development Disorder

People who have PDD-NOS show less and milder symptoms to autistic disorder people which prevent them from communicating with people near them.

Autism Prevention

Doctors are unable to prevent the exact cause of Autism and hence curing it can be difficult. In some cases, children are born with Autism since birth. Therefore, it would not be possible to prevent the autistic disorder. However, you can still lower this risk by making a number of lifestyle changes in your life:

Live Healthy

It is of paramount importance that you follow a healthy living pattern. Make sure you consume well-balanced meals, do regular exercise and have check-ups from time to time. Diet tips for child with autism given by your doctors should be followed extensively.

Avoid Alcohol

While you are having a child in your womb, avoid consumption of any kind of alcoholic beverage.

No Drugs during Pregnancy

Make sure you cross check your use of anti-seizure drugs during pregnancy without the consent of your doctor.

Get Vaccinated

Before getting pregnant, it is advisable to be vaccinated against German measles as it prevents rubella-associated Autism.

Home Remedies for Autism

While full prevention or cure of the Autism Spectrum Disorders is very difficult, a number of home remedies for Autism can help you in containing the spread of the disorder. These include:

Magnesium Supplements

It is very important for children suffering from Autism to consume magnesium in their diet as its deficiency can lead to many symptoms and different behavioral patterns in them. This ensures that the Autism symptoms can be reduced for improved behavior and productive behavioral therapy.

Fish Oil

Another popular Autism cure is the consumption of fatty acids such as Omega-3 fatty acids are very beneficial for an overall development of human body. It helps to increase socialization among people and soothe hyperactive behaviors. Fish oil contains a very high amount of omega-3 in them.

Sugar-free and Gluten-free

Eliminating sugar and gluten from your diet can also help to reduce the symptoms of Autism in the human body.

Besides these remedies, you can also follow a number of other natural remedies for Autism spectrum disorders as prescribed by doctors.

Treatment for Autism

As the case with different symptoms on different people suffering from Autism, the Autism treatment also varies from person to person. However, few common treatment techniques such as Ayurvedic treatment for Autism can be followed at the early stage of a child’s brain development to help him reach his potential.

Behavioral Training and Management

This training helps to improve the behavioral pattern and communication with other people.

Specialized Therapies

These therapies include physical, occupational and speech therapy. They can help to a child suffering from Autism to improve his social and linguistic skills to communicate easily.  Physical therapy also helps to improve deficiencies in motor and coordination skills.

Medicines

A number of problems related to behaviors such as anxiety, depression and hyperactivity can be treated by using a number of doctor-prescribed medicines.

What is Avian Flu (Bird Flu)?

So first things first! What is avian influenza? The bird flu virus is usually caused by strains of influenza virus. This virus affects most birds primarily. Back in the day, this virus wasn’t considered deadly but in the late 1990s, a newer highly pathogenic avian influenza was spreading across the world, especially among chickens and ducks, and was termed as H5N1.

What are the causes of Avian Flu?

The Avian Flu is usually caused by a different type of Influenza virus. The influenza virus has three forms – A, B & C. The Influenza A Virus is the primary cause for the spread of Avian Flu. Although usually, the host-virus naturally remains in a specific kind of animals but sometimes it transfers over to human beings when in contact with the virus carrier. The various bird flu causes are listed below:

• Village Poultry Farms: During the early days of the discovery of this virus, most farmers and people who had own poultry farms seemed to be down with the virus. They would have come in contact with animals carrying the H5N1 virus.

Coming in Contact with Sick Animals

Usually, the most common cause of the spread of the disease to the humans is being in contact with Sick Poultry animals. Avoid animals which are showing signs of sickness and isolate them from other animals to make sure the infection doesn’t spread to others as well.

Consumption of Virus infected Poultry Food

Try to avoid food from poultry farms where there has been a previous virus break. The eggs and other dairy products you consume might be infected with the virus and can spread to your body.

What are Risk Factors associated with Bird Flu?

Most people usually show signs and symptoms of bird flu after being in contact with infected birds including Chickens. The risk factors where you can be infected with bird flu include:

1. Caring for sick Birds
2. Preparing and consuming Sick birds
3. Killing sick birds off.

It is very difficult for bird flu virus to infect the human body cells but due to mutation involving antigenic shifts can cause the virus to be transmitted to a human body.  Making a direct contact with poultry animals that are sick constitutes the major factor for the spread of the disease but contact with materials like unwashed eggs and water contaminated by animals also provide a huge risk.

What are the Symptoms of Avian Influenza?

After the exposure to bird flu virus, an infected person usually shows the Avian Flu symptoms in 2 to 8 days. Some of the most common bird flu symptoms in humans include:

1. Fever (Above 101 F)
2. Sore throat
3. Cough (Most times, dry and no production of sputum)
4. Muscle pain
5. Joint Paint and lethargy
6. Eye infections
7. Insomnia

The avian influenza symptoms are usually similar in children as well as the adult. If not identified in time, this infection can even lead to an aggressive form of pneumonia, called ARDS, and further lead to respiratory failure. It is highly advisable to contact your doctor as soon as you see bird flu symptoms.

What are the Things to keep in mind for Preventing Avian Flu?

At present, scientists have not been able to find any commercially available vaccination for Bird Flu in human. However, as long as you take necessary precautions for bird flu prevention, you would be safe from being infected by the virus.

1. Avoid coming in contact with Poultry animals which are from the countries where there has been a reported of virus spread previously.
2. Properly handle and cook the eggs and other Poultry food to kill the bird flu virus.
3. Make sure to wash your hands properly before and after coming in contact with poultry animals and eggs
4. Also, avoid touching the utensils which are used to feed the poultry farm animals. Clean them thoroughly by using soapy water after wearing protective gloves.
5. Cook the food from poultry farms at a temperature of at least 74C

What are the ways to treat someone suffering from Bird Flu?

Although most governments are trying to pile up stocks of avian flu vaccine for the treatment for bird flu virus, commercially a viable medicine is yet to be discovered by scientists. The virus which affects the humans most in the case of Avian Flu can be treated by using two very common antiviral medications involved in bird flu vaccine. These are Amantadine and Rimantadine. The bird flu treatment is the trickiest part.

1. Try to isolate the person suffering from Bird Flu as it can spread being in contact with the person.
2. Usage of antiviral medication can help seize the severity of the infection.
3. In the case of breathing problems, doctors also use a breathing machine.

The Last Words

Usually, Avian Flu won’t spread to humans as the virus prefers the bodies of animals to feed upon. However, coming in contact with infected animals can spread the virus to a human body in case of mutation of antigenic cells. It is necessary to make sure you follow the basic steps of prevention of the virus as no commercial medication for the infection is available yet.

Types of Asbestos

There are mainly three types of Asbestos available which are commonly called as blue, brown and white asbestos. They are very dangerous carcinogens, but blue and brown asbestos are more dangerous than white asbestos. As they are often made by mixing it with other material, you cannot identify them with their color. If you are working on a building which was built around 2000 or before that, it is more probable that you are working near asbestos. They are mostly found in sprayed coating, ceiling and door panels, floor tiles, cement roof sheeting, etc.

Exposure to Asbestos

It is a large group of minerals with very minute and microparticles. These are the fibers that are resistant to heat fire and chemicals. They do not even conduct electricity. But they have been used in building industries since a long time especially in constructions and automobiles sector. While working with asbestos, you must keep in mind not to get it disturbed and broken. After being disturbed, the particles of the asbestos material which are fibrous in nature get diffused and mix with the particles of air. When you breathe in this air, you inhale these particles along with air and these particles get trapped in your lungs and do not get out. They stay there for many years and slowly their quantity in your lungs gets increased and this number reaches a stage when it gets very dangerous for the lungs further. After getting accumulated these fibrous structures lead to many serious health issues. As they get trapped in the lungs, they do not allow enough of the clean air to get filtered out from the lungs. As a result, it leads to shortening of breath and many serious lung problems. The biggest problem with this type of fiber is that you cannot clean the layer of fibers that gets accumulated in the lining of your lungs. You cannot remove the layer and hence the diseases caused by this problem are noncurable.

Harmful Effects of Asbestos

You can easily get acquired with an asbestos-related disease if you keep breathing in air containing asbestos fibers. It can cause mainly cancer of lungs and chest lining. They are only harmful when their particles are breathed in which are released in the air. Past exposure to asbestos killed around 4000 people a year in Great Britain. This number is expected to rise until 2018 because there is no cure for the asbestos-related disease. Those who have used asbestos for a longer duration have them on the premises, and who disturbs asbestos that has been damaged and affected are most likely to get affected by the harmful effects of this material. They are at major risks. The people who are indulged in drilling, sawing or cutting works are more at risks because they are prone to the asbestos area and get affected. The waste from the asbestos should be packed well in double polythene bags and should be kept away before disposing of it as waste. The polethene bags must be marked as asbestos because these wastes can only be given at those places which are licensed to receive such wastes. The local authorities have all the information about the sites to dispose of the products.

Causes of Asbestos

The air and surroundings near the asbestos prone area are very harmful and it might be very hazardous for you if you keep staying at those places for long. It can also cause many harmful diseases such as-

Mesothelioma

It is a type of cancer that affects the lining of your lungs and the area near your lower digestive side. It is a very rare disease that affects abdomen badly. It is only caused by over exposure from asbestos and it is always fatal because the symptoms are generally not observed early and by the time it is diagnosed it is in the last stage and can’t be treated.

Lung Cancer

It is the type of cancer which is also caused by smoking and drinking. This cancer can also be caused by breathing in an environment of the asbestos prone area. It is very common these days.

Asbestosis

It is a very serious disease that causes an inflammatory condition in the lungs and areas of the chest. It is a major health concern that can be caused either by over exposure to asbestos or if you have remained exposed to this material since a long time. It is a disease that is also harmful to lungs and it can cause shortness of breath, regular coughing, and scarring of the lungs. This ultimately leads to death. No cures have been developed for treating this disease.

Pleural Thickening

It is a problem that happens if you have been overexposed to the material. After a certain time, the lining of your lungs gets swelled up and thick. In later stages, you get shortening of breath and hard pain and discomfort in your chest.

Our Views

You must take safety precautions while working near or at the asbestos prone area. You must find out if any asbestos containing material are used and try to avoid the material. You must take safety measurements, training, and enough knowledge while working with it. Consult a medical advisor at regular intervals. Only if you take care of the surrounding and yourself, nothing can harm you in anyways. Thus, a prior care is always better than a cure.

Breast Cancer Information and Facts

All across the world, breast cancer has been found to be the most invasive cancer in females. Numbers show that out of all female cancers, breast cancer accounts for 16% out of them. 18.2% of all the cancer-related deaths in the world are from breast cancer. Breast cancer in males is a rare phenomenon and is mostly reported in men aged over 65 years.

What causes Breast Cancer?

In females, every breast consists of fat, connective tissues and many lobules. The milk goes through tiny ducts, also known as tubes, and is delivered through the nipple. The breast also consists of millions of microscopic cells. Like every other cell in our body, these cells multiply time and again to replace new ones with old dead cells. In a cancerous situation, this multiplication is compounded many times, with the production of too many cells, much more than there should be. It is hard to say why one woman develops breast cancer while another woman does not. However, there are certain causes that lead to this cancer:

• Successive Ageing: Age is a significant factor in the case of breast cancer. The cancer is more commonly found in women with age more than 50 years.
• Genetics: Woman having a close relative in the family who has or had breast or ovarian cancer is at a high risk of developing cancer themselves.
• History of Breast Cancer: Women who have had breast cancer in the past are at a risk of developing it again.
• Dense Breast Tissue: Women with a denser breast tissue stand a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
• Estrogens Exposure: Women with an unusual timing of periods are likely to have a high risk of developing breast cancer as they are exposed to estrogens levels for a longer period.
• Obesity: The high level of estrogens in obese women makes them vulnerable to cancer.
• Radiation Exposure: Women who undergo X-rays or CT-scans are susceptible to a risk of developing breast cancer owing to exposure to radiation.
• Cosmetic Implants: Do breast implants cause breast cancer? It is not clear yet, but women who get the breast implants done and further develop breast cancer have a high risk of dying a premature death as compared to other women.

Causes of Breast Cancer in Males

A number of risk factors can aid the development of cancerous cells in the male breast. In most of the cases, it has been found that the cell membranes of breast cells have estrogens receptors that allow estrogens molecules to bind themselves to cancer cells. Cell growth and multiplication are stimulated as a result of this binding. Mutated genes and family history can also lead to breast cancer in men. If you were wondering can boys get breast cancer, then here is your answer, that yes men too might be exposed to breast cancer. However till date, only a few cases of breast cancers have been reported in men aged below 60 years.

Breast Cancer Types

Breast cancer can take the shape of two types depending on its genesis. Cancer that originates in the lobules is known as lobular carcinoma while the one that originates in the ducts is known as ductal carcinoma. Ductal carcinoma, cancer of the milk ducts has been found to be the most common type of breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer is much less common.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

When it comes to breast cancer symptoms, only the patient himself can detect and bring these symptoms to another’s notice. Usually, the first symptoms of breast cancer can be identified with an area of thickened tissue in the breast, more like a lump. Other than this, pain in the armpits or the breast that is not related to menstrual pain, reddening of the breast and skin texture like an orange skin, rashes on the nipple, swelling of the armpits, discharge from nipples; even blood, changes in the appearance of the nipple, changes in the size and shape of the breast or flaking or peeling of skin from the nipple or the breast, can be symptoms of breast cancer and should be brought to a doctor’s notice immediately.

These are the early signs of breast cancer like breast cancer lumps, and if detected early, can save one’s life. Men breast cancer symptoms display similar behaviour. Most commonly a lump in the breast is observed in the case of cancer from breast cancer. The other symptoms that may point towards the issue are nipple retraction, ulceration, and discharge from nipples. In the case where cancer has accelerated, additional symptoms might be breast pain, bone pain, swelling of the lymph nodes and impotency. Breast cancer early detection can save a person from a fatal death.

How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Breast cancer is often detected only after the appearance of one or more symptoms of cancer. However, in some cases of early breast cancer, the symptoms might not manifest themselves and detection may be impossible. This is why it is recommended to get regular screening tests done to detect cancer at an early stage. Diagnosis can be done through a breast exam by a physician, X-ray (mammogram), 2D combined with 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, biopsy and breast MRI.

Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

Treatment for breast cancer in women will involve treatment from a team of specialists including an oncologist, radiologist, specialist cancer surgeon, pathologist, radiographer and reconstructive surgeon. They will analyse the various parameters of the patient’s health and present condition before deciding on a course of treatment. Breast cancer treatment options mainly include the following:

• Surgery: Surgery can be carried out in the following ways:

1. Lumpectomy: The breast-sparing surgery, it aims at removal of the tumour and a mall region of tissues around it.
2. Mastectomy: Surgical removal of the breast. It can be simple mastectomy or radical mastectomy.
3. Sentinel Node Biopsy: Surgical removal of one lymph node.

• Radiation Therapy: It involves controlled doses of radiation to target the tumour and destroy the cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy: Using medicines to kill off the cancer cells using cytotoxic drugs. It is mostly recommended in cases where chances of recurrence are more. Chemotherapy side effects breast cancer cases include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss and high susceptibility to infections.

In the case of males, surgery is usually the first treatment option. In cases where there are estrogens receptors on the walls of cancerous cells, and estrogens hormone therapy may be used by the doctor. Chemotherapy also remains an option after surgery.

In cases of triple-negative breast cancer, where your pathology report tests negative for estrogens receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2, triple negative breast cancer treatment involves a combination of therapies such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Metastatic breast cancer or the Stage 4 cancer means that cancer has spread to other body parts. The spreading of cancer begins with cancer cells invading the nearby healthy cells and their penetration into the lymph system. From this point, they migrate through circulation and cancer cells get lodged into capillaries. This leads to the development of new tumour cells. It can be detected through various symptoms and the treatment proceeds the same way as listed above.

Precautions to take while Suffering from Breast Cancer

While a patient is suffering from breast cancer, they can take small precautions to ensure that their treatment continues in the right way without any obstacles. A patient should be given a nutritious diet along with some exercise. Any possible side effects of the treatment should be taken care of. A patient should frankly discuss symptoms and issues with their physician.

Breast cancer research and treatment has led to the advancement and development of newer and improved methods of breast cancer treatment. If you were wondering can breast cancer be cured then you should know that it is possible with medications and medical procedures.

A new breast cancer blood test is in breast cancer news, which gives precise results by up to 80%, and can detect breast cancer five years before it occurs. This blood test is a significant development over the conventional mammography tests.

Breast Cancer Fundraising

There are many organisations that run fundraising events to support breast cancer patients. There are many support events, fund raising events, Volunteer opportunities that are a part of these events. These events provide support to many patients. There are many ways in which people can become a part of these events.

Final Words

There are some lifestyle changes that can be adopted by people to avoid being diagnosed with breast cancer such as reducing alcohol consumption, indulging in physical exercise, improving diet, maintaining body weight, breastfeeding and getting regular breast cancer screening done to detect early symptoms. The journey is tough but not impossible.