photo credit: Caitlinator

One of the most common woman’s health issues that plague women are breast lumps. Finding a lump can be traumatizing. A lot of women feel that their breasts are what make them a beautiful woman and can’t bear the thought of losing their breast(s) should the lump turn out to be the sign of something serious.

There are many causes of breast lumps. Some of these causes are harmless, while others can be painful and/or dangerous.

One common cause of a breast lump is infection. An infections of the breast are known as mastitis and is especially common in women who are breastfeeding. When the skin of the nipple (areola) is injured or cracked, such as occurs with nursing, bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections. In a breastfeeding woman, a hard area commonly thought of a clogged milk duct will form. Sometimes, certain treatments can prevent the painful, hard area from developing into an actual breast infection (mastitis). Infections can either be a deep pocket of pus, in which the infection looks like it is growing down into the breast (an abscess), or a wider area of skin redness that spreads out (cellulitis). Body piercing in the nipple area increases the risk of breast infections that may be particularly difficult to treat.

Another cause of breast lumps is injury. If a breast is injured by trauma, tiny blood vessels can rupture to cause an area of localized bleeding (hematoma) that can be felt as a lump. Trauma to the breast can damage the fat cells in the breast tissue, a condition called fat necrosis which can also form a lump in the breast.

Third, there are non-cancerous growths such as Fibroadenomas or cysts. Fibroadenomas growths most commonly occur in women 30 to 35 years old. They are solid, firm tumors that are usually painless or only slightly tender. They sometimes grow quickly in teenagers or during pregnancy. Breast cysts are fluid-filled, tiny sacs within the breast tissue and are benign. They are very common, especially over the age of 35. These cysts often vary in size during the menstrual cycle and may be tender.

Last, the most dreaded cause- cancer. Breast cancer usually causes no pain in the breast. Although women often worry about breast pain, most women with breast pain do not have breast cancer. Only about 6% of women with breast cancer have breast pain as their first sign of cancer.

Nipple discharge that occurs without the nipple being touched can be caused by benign (non-cancerous) growths. Examples of these growths are intraductal papillomas (non-cancerous growths that protrude into the milk ducts) and dilated areas of milk ducts (ductal ectasia). Nipple discharge can also be caused by cancer of the breast tissue. Because nipple discharge can be a sign of cancer, it needs to be evaluated by a doctor.

Skin changes on the breast, including redness and warmth, can sometimes be a sign of breast cancer. A form of breast cancer that commonly causes these signs of inflammation is Paget’s disease of the breast. Most inflammation or rashes on the breast are not due to cancer. They may be caused by benign problems such as nipple eczema or a fungus infection. Still, any breast rashes should be evaluated by a doctor. Areas that are especially scaly and red, particularly if they are persistent, or if there is also nipple discharge, are often sampled (biopsied) to rule out cancer.

In conclusion, woman’s health issues such as breast lumps are not to be taken lightly. Should you find a lump in your breast, it is best to seek medical attention immediately to rule out the possibility of it being the sign of something life threatening like cancer.

Technorati Tags: Breast, breast cancer, cancer, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Nipple, Nipple discharge, Women's Health

There are no two pregnancies that are alike so, while it is difficult to say exactly how each will progress, there are certain factors that are common among all women going through pregnancy. Quite often, early symptoms of pregnancy will appear and prompt the soon-to-be mom to purchase a home pregnancy test. These can be found at virtually every retail and/or grocery store. It is important to remember that pregnancy tests, while designed to be accurate, are sometimes wrong. Regardless of the result, it is recommended that women experiencing pregnancy symptoms should schedule an appointment with a health care professional who will accurately test for pregnancy.

Among the pregnancy symptoms that most women experience are heightened sensitivity to certain smells and/or food, exhaustion, recurring morning sickness and mood swings. During the entire pregnancy, it is very important that the woman participate in a healthy lifestyle. Among other things, this would include not smoking or being near secondhand smoke, avoid drinking alcohol, etc. In addition, the mom-to-be should drink plenty of milk and eat healthy foods. This will help to promote good development for the child and will be a healthy start for him/her.

Once a woman is confirmed with pregnancy, the next step is shopping for maternity clothes. There is generally a maternity section of every store, but many women simply wear oversized shirts and comfortable elastic waist pants. Preparing for a new baby will include shopping for nursery items, including a rocking chair, bassinet, baby blankets, clothes and toys. If there are plans to convert any room in the house into a nursery, it’s best to start early. It’s also very important that the mom-to-be not be near any paint or harmful products that may cause her, or her unborn child, any problems.

During the nine months of pregnancy, women will go through a lot of changes – both physically and mentally. Mood swings will become more intense and there may be frequent trips to the bathroom as the pregnancy progresses and the growing child begins to press more heavily on the bladder. After the baby is born, the woman will likely have a desire to lose her pregnancy weight. Immediately following birth, it may be a good idea to rest before starting on any exercise program. A licensed medical doctor will be able to prescribe a timeline for such things as physical activity, which will greatly be determined by the mom’s overall health.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. It is not designed to be used in conjunction with, or in place of, professional medical advice. Any woman who believes she may be experiencing pregnancy symptoms, or has reason to believe that she may be pregnant, should consult a licensed medical physician for proper testing and determination.

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Find more about Chinese pregnancy calendar, Chinese gender chart and EPT pregnancy test and many other pregnancy resources on CareJournal.org

Tags: pregnancy, health, home pregnancy test, early symptoms of pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms, pregnancy tests

Technorati Tags: early symptoms of pregnancy, Health, home pregnancy test, Morning sickness, pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms, Pregnancy test, pregnancy tests, Women's Health

There are milestones in some individual’s lives. Some times they are intentional and at other times accidental. Parenthood could definitely be considered to be one of these markers in life and it is often useful to know as soon as possible. The answer is to turn to an early pregnancy test.

There are things that go on in a woman’s body if she is pregnant. Many women and health officials use these tell-tale signs to give them some indication of what a problem might be. For example: a woman walks into the doctor’s office and is complaining about nausea. The first thing the health professional wants to know is when the last period occurred. Why? Nausea is an early sign in many pregnancies.

For some people the idea of leaving something up to chance is not a gamble they are willing to take. These are couples who want to know when the best possible chance is for reproduction to occur. That is where ovulation kits come in way before the pregnancy test. A pregnancy test monitors the HCG hormone in a woman’s body. When reproduction occurs the hormone levels go up. An early pregnancy test has become 99% accurate but that accuracy rate is for after the first missed period. The chances for detection are slimmer before.

The ovulation kits monitor a woman’s natural temperature and hormone levels throughout the month. By charting her temperatures and readings from the kit, she is able to observe when her egg is released from her ovary. This means that there is a higher chance for the sperm to fertilize the egg. Once the average temperatures and hormones have been charted by ovulation kits or ovulation tests, the rest is up to the sperm finding the egg and implantation to occur. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus and becomes implanted.

The early pregnancy test cannot determine when implantation of the fertilized egg occurs but it can be used once the early signs begin showing. Tender breasts, nausea and a missed period are all symptoms of pregnancy. Her body is preparing for the nine months ahead in which she will nourish her child as it develops and grows. Conception is just the beginning and the fetus will develop at a tremendous rate from that point on.

An early pregnancy test can not detect a pregnancy if the woman’s HCG hormone is not high enough. She may know she is pregnant but the test may give a negative. It is for this reason that doctors and health professionals advise waiting until the first missed period before attempting a pregnancy test. It may seem like torture having to wait but it is better for the test results to be more accurate.

Tags: conception, early pregnancy test, ovulation, ovulation kits, reproduction



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Technorati Tags: conception, early pregnancy test, Fertilisation, ovulation, ovulation kits, pregnancy, Pregnancy and Birth, Pregnancy test, reproduction, Reproductive Health, Women's Health