Latest news with #ThaïsAliabadi
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Have Dense Breast Tissue? Don't Miss This Potentially Life-Saving Breast Cancer Advice
While breast cancer mortality rates have steadily decreased across the board, breast cancer incidence rates are still trending upward, especially in women under 50, per recent American Cancer Society data. Plus, disparities in breast cancer care access and mortality rates persist in Asian American and Pacific Islander women, Black women and Native American women. Because of the uptick in diagnoses, experts have recommended changes in breast cancer screening and mammogram guidelines over the past year. More from Flow Space Rising Breast Cancer Risks Among AAPI Women Demand Urgent Attention Here are some of the biggest changes you should know about. Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, an OB-GYN and co-host of the SHE MD Podcast, has been at the forefront of this conversation since encouraging celebrity patients of hers like Olivia Munn to take a breast cancer risk calculator test (which led to her breast cancer diagnosis at 44). At the first annual Flow Space Women's Health Summit LA last week, she emphasized the importance of knowing your risk and testing as early as possible. 'The technology is changing. We're getting better and better at diagnosing patients earlier,' Aliabadi explained. One factor that has changed more recently is stronger awareness around having dense breast tissue, a potential risk factor of breast cancer (which is about half of women over 40, Flow Space previously reported). The FDA now requires providers to notify anyone who's been shown to have dense breast tissue, in which breast tissue is thicker and less fatty, sometimes obscuring mammogram results, after screening. On top of that, the new guidelines advise mammograms start at age 40 instead of 50. If you're one of those many people with dense breast tissue, there's one major life-saving precaution you can take, according to Aliabadi. 'We now have 3D imaging that has artificial intelligence,' she explained. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of a 3D mammogram, if it's available in your area. The 3D mammogram is more likely to catch any cancerous lesions than a regular 2D mammogram because it allows the radiologist to see more layers of breast tissue, said Aliabadi. Anyone with dense breast tissue can get this 3D test covered by their insurance, Aliabadi pointed out. However, additional precautions are still recommended. 'Even with [the] 3D mammogram, if you have dense breasts, you still need to go for an ultrasound,' said Aliabadi. If you don't have diagnosed dense breasts, a standard 2D mammogram done via X-ray should be just fine. It may obscure the radiologist's view of the breast tissue, if you do have dense breasts, which would require further more detailed screening, according to Aliabadi. Another key to preventing breast cancer is knowing your genetic risk. 'When you do something like a genetic test or risk assessment, it gives you so much control,' emphasized panelist Dena Goldberg, a genetic counselor and content creator. Having the testing done is nerve-wracking, but people often feel relief after they have a better understanding of their risk or know that they don't have increased risk, even if a family member had breast cancer or a genetic predisposition. 'Just giving you that information gives you a path forward, and that is so life changing for so many people,' added Goldberg. About 85% of people who get breast cancer don't have a family history of it, Aliabadi pointed out. She still recommends genetic testing if you have a family history of any cancers (including pancreatic, colon and ovarian cancers); they'll be covered by insurance if you have a known history. Otherwise, each test costs about $250. But that could be a life-saving $250, especially if you don't know much about your family history because of factors like estrangement, adoption or donor conception, added Goldberg. One other preventative measure you can take at home is a Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator, of which Aliabadi is a strong advocate. It calculates all types of factors to determine your lifetime risk, and you can interpret the results with a clinician's help. 'If your lifetime risk of breast cancer is 15% or less, you fall into the low-risk category. So, you can start your mammogram at age 40, or 10 years before your first-degree relative was diagnosed with breast cancer,' explained Aliabadi. 'And if you have dense breasts, you do an ultrasound [too].' For anyone with a lifetime risk over 20%, it's a good idea to start breast imaging as early as 30, alternating mammograms and ultrasounds with an MRI. Anyone identified to have the BRCA mutation based on genetic testing can begin imaging even earlier—at age 25. According to Aliabadi, 40 is just the baseline age for low-risk women. The experts also recommended keeping up with your genetic testing regularly, since there are more tests available for various cancer-causing genes than there were even three to five years ago. That knowledge is power when it comes to early breast cancer diagnosis and prevention.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
'This is the cheat code!': Women are eating raw carrots for period pain. Does it work? Kind of.
'This is the cheat code!': Women are eating raw carrots for period pain. Does it work? Kind of. Show Caption Hide Caption Expert reveals how to add more superfoods to your diet Nutrition therapist Lauren Kelly explains what foods are designated as a "superfood" and how they can benefit your overall health goals. Stuck in bed with period cramps? Over-the-counter painkillers just aren't doing the trick? Some say this natural food may be the fix. Raw carrots are all the rage among social media users who claim that the vegetable can prevent menstrual cramps and pain by reducing the body's estrogen levels. 'Eating raw carrots every day has helped my periods significantly!! I haven't gotten cramps once. This is the cheat code girls!!!' one X user wrote, amassing 8.1M views. 'I tell all the women in my life to eat carrots,' another replied. Experts say there is a grain of truth to the claim − but with a lot more nuance. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A (as beta-carotene), fiber, magnesium and potassium, and are low in calories and fat – all nutritional properties that contribute to overall health. But there is limited scientific evidence that eating raw carrots directly alleviates period pain or cramps, explains Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, MD, OB-GYN, Co-Host of SHE MD and Co-Founder of Ovii. 'Promoting carrots as a cure-all can be misleading and may distract from other effective strategies for menstrual health, like balanced nutrition, exercise, hydration, and stress management,' says Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, a dietician based in Washington, DC. Can raw carrots help you detox excess estrogen? The short answer: Yes, but not directly. Estrogen is an important hormone that regulates the reproductive system, and estrogen levels rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle. High estrogen levels can disrupt reproductive processes and cause irregular periods, reduced sex drive, worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and hormonal acne, according to Cleveland Clinic and Healthline. When it comes to period cramps, significantly painful periods "aren't normal" and could be a sign of endometriosis, Aliabadi says. "If you have painful periods, consult with your physician," she adds. "Other lifestyle factors and treatments have been proven to help, such as anti-inflammatory foods, exercise, stress management, and medical treatments like ibuprofen or hormonal therapies." What helps with period cramps? Periods don't have to be painful. Here's how to find relief from menstrual cramps. No one food can completely resolve or eliminate period pain or cramps, but raw carrots can help support your body's natural detox process, Thomason says. 'Raw carrots are high in fiber, particularly soluble fiber, that supports hormone balance by binding to estrogen in the digestive tract and promoting its excretion (through stool),' she explains. 'This process is part of the body's natural hormone metabolism and excretion, which happens whether you eat carrots or not.' Vitamin A also can support the liver, which plays a role in metabolizing and eliminating excess hormones, according to Aliabadi. "In that sense, a healthy liver function could support overall hormone balance, but carrots alone won't 'detox' estrogen," she says. Other fiber-rich foods like leafy greens, oats, beans and whole grains can also help support hormone balance over time, especially for those who are estrogen-dominant (relative to progesterone levels) or have conditions related to hormone imbalance, according to Thomason. Hormonal imbalances unrelated to menopause or medication, such as birth control, may be caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder affecting 8%-18% of reproductive-aged women, and should be treated by a physician. 'Just lose weight': Women with PCOS are going untreated due to 'weight-centric health care' Can magnesium levels in carrots reduce period cramps? The short answer: Not significantly. Magnesium is known for its muscle-relaxing properties and can help alleviate cramps, but the evidence for its effectiveness is very limited. And while carrots contain some magnesium, they are not as rich as foods like dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), almonds, whole grains or pumpkin seeds, according to Thomason. The suggested amount of magnesium for women is 310-320 mg per day, per Healthline. A medium-sized raw carrot (about 58 grams) contains approximately 7.32 mg of magnesium, whereas one cup of raw spinach has 24 mg. 'No single food can provide a magic bullet for period pain relief,' Thomason says. 'Instead of putting one food on a pedestal, like carrots, focus on the basics like getting a variety of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly and drinking plenty of water.' Spreading misinformation or exaggerating claims about natural remedies can also cause people to rely on unproven methods to treat their symptoms, Aliabadi explains: "This could delay proper care, especially if individuals continue to suffer from severe cramps or other menstrual issues without addressing them with appropriate medications or lifestyle adjustments."
