Be Aware: November: Part Two When people think of Novemener, they often think of Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Carols (PLEASE PPL Halloween just ended stop singing Jingle Bells in the middle of the Market). There's actually many things to be aware of in November. Here's a few More events this month, and that's still not all. A quick search of November observances shows so much more is going on around the world. [Announcement] I would also like to extend thoughts to the people of Paris, Kenya, Beirut, Baghdad, and all their families who have been affected by the terrorist attacks this week. Any I have missed, my thoughts to you as well, my local news isn't the most up to date and informative at times. ~Lady Movemeber: This is a movement where men and women work together to raise awareness for men's health. Men grow mustaches, and women sport stick ons for social media photos, as a part of a team to raise money for men's health issues. Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Poor Mental Health, and Physical Inactivity are the four top issues they advocate for. Not to be confused with "No Shave Novemeber", though they often go hand in hand, where men (and women) refuse to shave in support and to raise awareness for many types of cancers. A few facts about Men's Health: [*]Poor mental health affects men more than women: three quarters of suicides are by men. The World Health Organization estimates that 510,000 men die from suicide globally each year. That’s one every minute. [*]Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide The number of cases expected to almost double to 1.7 million cases by 2030. Even when successful, treatment can take a toll on the physical and mental health of those affected. [*]Testicular Cancer:Testicular cancer typically develops in one or both testicles in young men, but it can occur in older men as well. It is a highly treatable and usually curable type of cancer In most cases (better than 95%) a diagnosis of testicular cancer means established treatments and a good outcome. [*] Physical Inactivity: It’s the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, causing 3.2 million deaths globally per year What you can do: Join A Movember Team Make a donation to The Movement Foundation Get/Encourage the men in your life to get a routine physical, any mental health they need, or increase activity! November 17 is Premature Awareness day! Prematurity Awareness Month: Premature (also known as preterm) birth is when a baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Important growth and development occur throughout pregnancy—especially in the final months and weeks. Premature birth is a concern because babies born too soon miss out on this time to grow and develop. A Few Facts about Premature Birth: Premature birth is the biggest contributor for infant death, with most preterm-related deaths occurring among babies who were born very preterm (before 32 weeks). Babies who survive may spend weeks or months hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and may face lifelong problems such as: Intellectual disabilities Cerebral palsy Breathing and respiratory problems Visual problems including retinopathy of prematurity Hearing loss Feeding and digestive problems In 2014, 1 of every 10 babies was born premature in the United States. In addition to race/ethnicity, some of the risk factors for preterm birth are: Previous preterm birth Being pregnant with more than one baby (twins, triplets, or more) Problems with the uterus or cervix Chronic health problems in the mother, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and clotting disorders Certain infections during pregnancy Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or illegal drug use during pregnancy Although most black women give birth at term, on average, black women are about 50% more likely to have a premature baby compared to white women What You Can Do: There are things that women can do to improve their health, lower the risk of having a premature baby, and help their baby be healthy. These include: Quit smoking. For help in quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) Avoid alcohol and illicit drugs See your health care provider for a medical checkup before pregnancy. Get prenatal care as soon as you think you may be pregnant, and throughout your pregnancy Talk to your health care provider about How to best control diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes A healthy diet and prenatal vitamins. It is important to take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before and during early pregnancy Concerns about pregnancy and any warning signs or symptoms of preterm labor that will need medical attention*]The use of a progesterone medication (17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate, or 17P) if you had a previous preterm birth Breastfeeding. Breast milk is the best food for babies, whether they are born early or at term [Editor: this is not for everyone, some women find it hard to produce, or too stressful to feed at the breast, you can try pumping if you still wish to give only breast milk. There are also donor programs, though this weirded me out as a mom. I was formula fed, and eventually my kids were as well due to "system malfunctions", and aside from allergies all of us are healthy and did/are doing well in scholastics.] National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month: Stomach cancer is often undetected and treated as other ailments first. People worldwide have come to recognize November, a month known for the pleasure of eating, as the ideal month to raise awareness about this deadly disease. There is a great deal of focus on food, nourishment and family at this time of year, and that can be challenging for people dealing with stomach cancer, and for those living without a stomach. A Few Facts about Stomach Cancer: Currently the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide with almost one million new cases diagnosed each year. Of these, approximately 700,000 will lose their lives. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for stomach cancer in the United States for 2015 are: About 24,590 cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed (15,540 in men and 9,050 in women) About 10,720 people will die from this type of cancer (6,500 men and 4,220 women) Stomach cancer mostly affects older people. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 69. About 6 of every 10 people diagnosed with stomach cancer each year are 65 or older. The average risk that a person will develop stomach cancer in their lifetime is about 1 in 111. This risk is higher in men than in women, and can also be affected by a number of other factors. Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer: Unfortunately, early-stage stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms. This is one of the reasons stomach cancer is so hard to detect early. The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include: Poor appetite[*{Weight loss (without trying)[*{Abdominal (belly) pain Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel A sense of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating a small meal Heartburn or indigestion Nausea Vomiting, with or without blood Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen Low red blood cell count (anemia) Most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by things other than cancer, such as a stomach virus or an ulcer. They may also occur with other types of cancer. But people who have any of these problems, especially if they don’t go away or get worse, should check with their doctor so the cause can be found and treated. Since symptoms of stomach cancer often do not appear until the disease is advanced, only about 1 in 5 stomach cancers in the United States is found at an early stage, before it has spread to other areas of the body. What You Can Do: Raise awareness See your doctor with any gastric issues that appear or worsen Donate to an organization that funds research for early detection, treatments, and causes/risk factors FURTHER READING November Part One All statistics compiled from various Google searches, as posting links not pertaining to ATA/PiMD is not allowed a proper works cited is unavailable