What Is Invasive Breast Cancer?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while breast cancer awareness has grown in recent years, there is still much to learn about this disease. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, and about 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Understanding what invasive breast cancer is and how to prevent it can help save lives.

What You Should Know About Invasive Breast Cancer

Invasive breast cancer is a cancer that has begun to spread from where it first began to other parts of the breast. This type of cancer is particularly dangerous because it’s more likely to spread to other areas of your body. It’s also more difficult to treat than non-invasive breast cancer.

The following are some of the risk factors for developing this type of breast cancer that you should know about:

  • Age: The older you are, the greater your risk.
  • Family history: If you have a family member who has had breast cancer, you have a higher risk of developing the disease.
  • Genetics: Certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Race: Caucasian women are more prone to getting breast cancer than African-American women. However, African-American women tend to be more likely to die from it.
  • Certain medical conditions: Women with certain medical conditions, such as radiation therapy to the breast or chest, are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Obesity: Women who are obese have a higher risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.

Treating Breast Cancer Early

The good news is that invasive breast cancer can be treated, and the earlier it is detected, the better the chances of survival. Women should perform regular breast self-exams and get yearly mammograms starting at age 40. If you notice anything unusual, such as a lump, discharge, or breast size or shape change, be sure to see your doctor in California immediately.

For more health awareness information or health tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Life Expectancy: Study Says Humans Can Live 115 Years

life expectancy

The average lifespan of a human varies depending on various factors, including location. However, in the United States the average life expectancy of a male is 76, while a female’s average life expectancy is around 81. Of course, people can live longer than this – in fact, according to a new study, the longest a human can live is 115 years.

Human Life Expectancy

The world record for the longest life belongs to Jeanne Calment, who died at the age of 122 back in 1997. Over the last century, people have lived longer and longer, with the average life expectancy continually going up. However, researchers believe that the limit has finally been reached – and that limit is 115.

The debate over whether the human life expectancy has a natural barrier is one that has been going on for years and years. Dr. Vijg, an aging expert at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, believes that even though there are examples of humans growing older than 115 years, such as Jeanne Calment, nobody will ever surpass that age again.

Dr. Vijg and his students looked at data based on survival and mortality rates. They tracked how many people were alive in a given year and compared these figures from year to year so that they could determine how quickly the population grew at each age. Research revealed that the fastest growing part of society has been old people. For example, in France during the 1920’s, the fastest growing group of women were 85-year olds.

This trend kept increasing, with the fastest growing group of French women in the 1990’s being 100-year olds. However, this trend of increases slowed down and then stopped. Dr. Vijg discovered the same overall trend in over 40 countries. He also discovered that 115 was the age at which the increase stopped.

Dr. Vijg’s theory that no one can grow older than 115 is based on available data, but many scientists reject the notion that humans have a life span limit. Keep up with all the latest health news by visiting The Benefits Store today.

October Is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cybersecurity Awareness

Every year, the dependency on technology grows. We use the internet for everything from work and school to entertainment and socializing. As our lives move increasingly online, it’s important to be aware of the risks we face online and take steps to protect ourselves. To help increase awareness about the importance of cybersecurity throughout California, October has been designated as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM).

Speaking To Your Kids About Cybersecurity

If you have kids old enough to use the internet, now is a great time to talk to them about online safety and security. Teach them the importance of choosing strong passwords, being cautious about the information they share online, and not clicking on links from strangers.

It’s also important to establish ground rules for internet use in your home and ensure your kids know what to do if they come across anything online that makes them uncomfortable.

General Cybersecurity Tips To Follow

In addition to talking to your kids about using the internet safely, the following are some general tips to help protect yourself online:

  • Use effective passwords. A secure password is one that’s at least eight characters long and includes letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessed words like your name, birth date, or favorite sports team.
  • Keep your software up to date. Regularly update the software on your computer, phone, and other devices. Hackers exploit security vulnerabilities, so it’s important to keep your devices patched so they can’t take advantage of them.
  • Be cautious about what you click. Don’t click on links or attachments from people you don’t know. And even if you do know the sender, be careful before you click. Cybercriminals are getting better at disguising their emails to look like they’re from a trusted source.
  • Don’t share too much on social media. Be mindful of the information you share on social media sites. Hackers can use your publicly available information to answer security questions and access your accounts.

Be sure to follow these tips and talk to your kids about cybersecurity this month. For more safety awareness advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Cholesterol and Triglycerides: 5 Facts

In the U.S., heart disease is the most common cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every five deaths is caused by heart disease. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels are major risks for heart disease. To help spread awareness of the problem, September has been designated as National Cholesterol Education Month.

Difference Between Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Cholesterol is a type of fat that’s present in your blood. It’s needed for many things, including making hormones and helping your body digest food. It’s produced naturally by your body but it can also be found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. As such, too much of it can lead to health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

It’s worth noting that there are good and bad types. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad. It can build up on the walls of your arteries and form plaque. This plaque can prevent blood from flowing through your arteries properly, which can lead to heart disease. However, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered good because it helps remove LDL from your arteries.

Triglycerides are another type of fat found in your blood. When you eat more calories than you need, your body stores the excess calories as triglycerides. Too much of it can lead to health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

5 Facts You Should Know

The following are a few facts about the risks of high LDL and triglyceride levels that everyone should know:

  1. In the U.S., one person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease.
  2. Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the U.S.
  3. Over 800,000 people have heart attacks in the U.S. every year.
  4. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD).
  5. More than 20 million adults in the U.S. over 20 have CAD.

You can keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels down by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. For more health advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

Cancer in general is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with prostate cancer ranking as the third most common type of cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 224,733 new cases in the U.S. reported in 2019 alone. Additionally, 31,636 men died as a result, in that same year. 

In fact, it is the most common non-skin cancer in men in the U.S. Additionally, it affects one out of seven men, with about one out of 41 men dying as a result. Because of how prominent it is, September has been designated as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Cancer of the prostate is a type of cancer that affects the prostate gland, which is a small organ located below the bladder in men. Cancer develops in the prostate when the cells of the gland begin to grow uncontrollably. That uncontrolled growth can eventually lead to the development of a tumor. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones or lymph nodes.

What Causes Cancer To Develop in the Prostate?

Although the cause is not fully understood, there are certain risk factors that may increase a man’s chance of developing the disease. These include:

  • Age. The older a man is, the greater his risk of developing the disease. The disease is rare in men under the age of 40, but the risk increases significantly in men over the age of 50.
  • Family history. If men have close relatives, such as a father or brother, who have been diagnosed with the disease, their risk is increased.
  • Race. African-American men are at a greater risk of developing cancer of the prostate.
  • Diet. Men who consume a lot of dairy products are at a slightly higher risk.

Because the direct cause of the disease is not known, it’s important that you talk to your doctor about your risk factors and what you can do to help prevent the disease. For more health information, visit us at The Benefits Store today.