The Most Common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Gift Your Mom These 5 Health Check-ups For A Longer Life On Mother's Day 2024

From gifting handmade cards in crooked handwriting to gifting pearls, silver and gold jewellery, we all grew up. Other than that, taking mom for shopping, spa, grooming and cooking for her are all great gift ideas to surprise your mom with on Mother's Day. But as our mothers are growing old, the risk of diseases grows too. This Mother's Day, gift your mom good health by getting these five tests done. 

Several studies and doctors have said that early detection can help and cure majority of diseases. So, why wait till any symptoms show up? Book these tests for your mom to ensure her well being and good health and encourage her to prioritise her health. 

Comprehensive Health Screening

Start with a comprehensive health screening that includes tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid profile, haemoglobin, body mass index (BMI) and all the basic essential checks. These tests can help and detect health issues like diabetes, heart disease, high or low blood pressure, and obesity. Early detection allows for timely intervention, which is crucial for maintaining good health.

Also read: Medical Tests Every Couple Should Get Done Before Getting Married

Mammogram

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer across the world and thus, it is advisable for women over the age of 40 to get a mammogram done for the early detection of breast cancer. Early detection can improve the chances of successful treatment. If your mom hasn't had her mammogram done recently, encourage her to schedule one and get it done. 

Pap Smear And Pelvic Examination

As per John Hopkins Medicine, a pap smear test is useful for finding cancerous cells and other vaginal or cervical problems such as precancerous cells and inflammation. Doctors have suggested that over the age of 21 should get regular pap smears done to screen for cervical cancer. Additionally, a pelvic exam can detect other gynaecological issues such as infections or ovarian cysts. These exams are essential for women's reproductive health and should not be overlooked.

Also read: Why Is STD Screening Important? Know Available Tests Women Need To Get Done Regularly

Bone Density Test

"After maximum bone density and strength is reached (generally around age 30), bone mass begins to naturally decline with age," WebMd states. It also says that the risk of osteoporosis increases in women after the age of 50 adding that women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. A bone density test can assess the strength of your mom's bones and help determine her risk of fractures. Adequate calcium intake, vitamin D, and regular exercise can help maintain bone health.

Eye Exam

Vision is often taken for granted, but regular eye exams are crucial for maintaining healthy eyesight. Eye exams can detect common eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent vision loss and improve quality of life.

In addition to these specific check-ups, encourage your mom to lead a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and avoiding harmful habits such as smoking and excessive drinking. A healthy lifestyle is the foundation for a longer, happier life.

Remember, your mom's health is priceless. By encouraging her to prioritise her health and well-being, you're not only showing your love and care but also helping her enjoy a better quality of life. This Mother's Day, give the gift of health, because a healthy mom is a happy mom.

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6 Signs Of Cervical Cancer That Can Be Too Easy To Miss

As Diana Pearre, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, tells SELF, it's really difficult to tell cervical-cancer-related bleeding and pain from sex apart from other things, like vaginal dryness or even uterine fibroids. But importantly, "bleeding after intercourse should not be happening all the time," she explains. "There are a lot of benign reasons it could be happening, but it's something to report to your doctor—especially if it's something you're experiencing all of a sudden."

2. A wonky menstrual cycle

If you get a period, it can look and feel different from month to month—sometimes it's short and light, or drawn-out and heavy. But as Dr. Avila notes, when your flow is off, your body might be prodding you to listen up. According to Dr. Pearre, it's typically one of the most tell-tale signs of the disease.

If you're bleeding after menopause, between periods, or a lot—soaking through your pad or tampon every one to two hours or your period is lasting longer than seven days—it can sometimes signal cervical cancer. Dr. Avila says it's important to look out for any strange bleeding patterns, particularly if you're skipping periods and then running through pads all of a sudden. She says people who had heavy bleeding and were eventually diagnosed with cervical cancer came to her office and just assumed a change in their diet or taking a new supplement was to blame. "I hear it all the time," she stresses. "If there's any abnormal bleeding, it's important to come in [for an exam]."

3. Unpleasant vaginal discharge

As SELF has previously reported, your vagina cleans itself by releasing discharge—a.K.A. That mucus-y fluid that piles on your underwear throughout the day. Yours might have a slight odor that's more fragrant during certain parts of your menstrual cycle or even after a workout. But if the smell is particularly bothersome to you, cervical cancer could potentially be one reason to have on your radar—particularly if it's happening alongside a wonky period, per Dr. Avila.

According to Dr. Pearre, when a person with late-stage cervical cancer has discharge, you won't *not* be able to notice the odor. "It's very foul-smelling," she notes. Though Dr. Pearre says that some STIs, like trichomoniasis and gonorrhea, can present with similar smells, cervical cancer discharge odor is usually worse, Dr. Avila says. "That tumor is trying to get bigger and bigger and there's a lot of dead tissue that's there, and that's what we smell with those kinds of cancers," she notes. Though its smell is often the most defining characteristic, the discharge might be watery, pink, pale, yellowish, brown, or mixed with blood, per Dr. Pearre.

4. Bowel and bladder issues

Similar to how having sex might affect the cervix (and cause pain and bleeding), cancerous cells or tumors can push up against other surrounding stuff too—and that includes your bladder and bowel. "I see a lot of patients [with cervical cancer] who either need to pee very frequently or have issues starting the stream," Dr. Avila says. Alternatively, she says people who ultimately get diagnosed with cervical cancer complain about constipation, or that they have to really strain to go. "I'll have patients say, 'Oh, I thought I was just constipated and straining too much, or I thought I had a meal that went bad.'" (There could also be blood in your poop or urine, per the National Cancer Institute.)

5. Pain and swelling in various parts of your body

As cervical cancer progresses, you might develop pain in your pelvis, back, belly, or legs. For McClellan, her lower back aches felt similar to period-related cramps.

Can Patches Give You Cancer?

by BEEZY MARSH, Daily Mail

Nicotine patches, chewing gum and sprays used by nearly two million Britons each year have been linked to cancer.

A study by a leading cancer expert has sparked fears that popular methods of giving up smoking could have long-term health implications.

Researchers discovered that chemicals released by nicotine can break down in the body into a known cancer-causing agent.

The chemical, NNK, is specifically linked to the development of lung cancer, which claims an estimated 30,000 lives in Britain each year. But the use of patches, sprays and gums means other areas of the body could now be at risk.

The threat is thought to be greatest for people who keep using the products beyond the short to medium term for which they are intended.

The research, published in the prestigious American medical journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to link nicotine to cancer.

Until now, experts thought that nicotine simply made people addicted, while the cancer risk came from the 100 known carcinogens released into the body by smoking a single cigarette.

The revelation will be a major shock to the estimated five million smokers - out of a total of 13million - who try to quit in the UK each year. Nicotine replacement therapy has become a key aid, creating a £35million a year industry

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