Author: Gloria Addo

Early Detection Saves Lives: Mastering the Self-Breast Exam By Gloria Addo A breast self-exam is a regular, step-by-step examination of your breasts, allowing you to detect changes. While mammograms are effective, home-based regular checks are preferred for familiarity. There are a few different ways to perform a breast exam at home: Keep in mind that your breast tissue extends to your armpit, collarbone, and top of your abdomen. Your breast tissue isn’t just your breast cleavage and nipples. Menstruating individuals should perform a breast self-exam after their period ends, while those in menopause or irregular periods can choose a consistent,…

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, but it can be a little uncomfortable and even challenging at times. Exercise during pregnancy might help alleviate many common pregnancy discomforts, benefit the overall health of you and your baby, and boost your mood and your energy level! Most experts agree that the best exercise during pregnancy is aerobic activity. Walking is an excellent starting point for exercise during pregnancy, as it is easy on joints and can be done anywhere. Cycling is another aerobic exercise suitable for pregnancy, offering a moderately intense workout while being gentle on joints. Swimming is another option, as…

The breast is a glandular organ located in the chest area of both men and women, though it plays a much more active role in women. Composed of mammary glands, ducts, lobules, fat, and connective tissue, the breast is responsible for producing milk to nourish babies in women. Men, although they also have breasts, do not have functional mammary glands for milk production. Each breast lies over the pectoralis major muscle, covering a large area from just below the collarbone (clavicle) to the armpit (axilla) and across to the breastbone (sternum). Women’s breasts vary in size and shape, largely determined…

Researchers at the American College of Cardiology have established a link between sleeping less than seven hours and an increased risk of high blood pressure. In as much as previous studies had already linked poor sleeping habits to high blood pressure, the results weren’t precise. However, most recent statistics show the likelihood of developing high blood pressure later in life increases with decreasing sleep duration, with women at more risk than males. Given that sleep habits tend to change with age, researchers were surprised to find that there were no age-based changes in the link between sleep duration and hypertension.…

Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge in Ghana, with over 4,000 women diagnosed annually. Unfortunately, up to 70% of these cases are identified at advanced stages of the disease, greatly reducing the chances of survival. These alarming statistics are attributed to a lack of awareness, inadequate screening, and insufficient treatment centers. Mammography, a specialized medical imaging method using low-dose X-rays, is a critical tool for early detection of breast cancer. Recent advancements in digital mammography have emerged as a breakthrough technology in the battle against breast cancer. Digital mammography, also known as full-field digital mammography (FFDM), utilizes electronic sensors…

Did you know that among the factors that cause infertility in women the leading cause stems from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? With 7 undiagnosed out of every 10 females living with the condition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can be explained as a hormonal imbalance that occurs when your ovaries (the organ that produces and releases eggs) create excess hormones. The term ‘polycystic ovarian syndrome’ implies that the disease is mostly with the ovaries and that you may have multiple cysts on them. However, it is a hormone-related disorder that can sometimes be linked to family history, genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Polycystic…

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax” – Mark Black Yet, how do you explain when your need to relax is accompanied by a nagging sense of guilt? Throughout the week, our thoughts often gravitate toward the approaching weekend, or we eagerly anticipate the holidays that loom on the horizon. The weekend finally comes and instead of resting, your mind is bullied with unfinished tasks. The more you think of things to add to your to-do list the more your heart rate increases. Guess what is happening; you are Stresslaxing! Deborah Serani, a professor, and author of…

The traditional practice of preserving fish through smoking in wood-fired mud ovens is causing air pollution among residents living along the shores of Lake Turkana in Turkana County of Kenya. Many locals have complained of poor eyesight, burning eyes, and dizziness, which are correlated with fish smoking but cannot stop. Ms Jane Lemuya, a fish trader in Kalokol town, said that due to fishing being the main income source, households in the community have built mud ovens to preserve the fish. “Besides smoke, we don’t have a proper waste disposal system along the shores,” she said The method of preservation…

Anaesthetic machines are one of the most versatile medical instruments in the healthcare industry. Without a doubt, anaesthetic machines are essential pieces of equipment in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. These devices provide safe administration of aesthetic gases and monitor breathing during medical procedures. During surgery, an anaesthesia machine allows a patient to be unconscious but maintain breathing. The apparatus ensures that the patient does not breathe in the potentially fatal CO2 that they had previously breathed while also delivering oxygen. The primary function of the anaesthesia machine is to administer aesthetic serums to the patient. It also precisely…

Whereas tongue twisters, lollipops, and pulling faces at your siblings and friends may lead you to believe that tongues are only for fun, did you also know that tongues are organs? The tongue is an important sensory organ that helps us talk, taste, digest, and eat. Often the strongest muscle, it is the only one in the body that functions without help from your skeleton. This unique organ located in the oral cavity is anchored inside your mouth by webs of strong tissue, and it’s covered by mucosa (a moist, pink lining that covers certain organs and body cavities). Your…