Maintaining breast health is an important thing that must be done by all women. Check out the following signs and how to care for healthy breasts:.
Performing Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is something that every woman needs to do. This aims to detect early changes that can occur in the breast.
In general, every woman has the same risk for breast cancer, but the risk will be higher for women who are 30 years old, have a family history of breast cancer, women who suffer from obesity, hormonal disorders, and have a habit of smoking and consuming alcohol. By doing BSE movements, you can detect the disease more quickly.
Healthy Breast Characteristics
Many women do not understand the intricacies of their breasts, especially the signs that indicate certain health conditions. Here are the characteristics of healthy breasts:
- There are no lumpsHealthy breasts are those that do not have lumps. The reason is, a lump that appears around the breast or armpit can be a sign of a cyst or benign tumor. If the lump does not go away within six weeks, then do not hesitate to immediately consult a doctor to find out the exact cause of the appearance of the condition.
- Does not drain fluidApart from the absence of lumps, another characteristic of healthy breasts is the absence of fluid, except for breast milk during breastfeeding or breast fluid that appears before menopause due to hormonal changes. One of the signs to watch out for is if the breast has a greenish, clear, or red (bloody) discharge in one of the nipples.
- It doesn't hurtPain in the breast that appears before the menstrual cycle is normal and will usually go away on its own. However, if the pain does not go away, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause.
- There is no change in the skin of the breastThe next characteristic that can indicate healthy breasts is the condition of the skin around the breast. Healthy breasts can generally be seen from the condition of the skin that is not dry, cracked, wrinkled, scaly, red, and itchy.
If you find abnormal signs in your breasts, immediately consult a doctor to make sure these signs are not dangerous. If it turns out to be dangerous, treatment can be given as early as possible.
How to Maintain Healthy Breast
Take care of your breast health by paying attention to the following things.
- Quit smokingThe content in cigarettes can not only cause lung cancer, but also breast cancer in women. A study revealed, women who actively smoke are more at risk for breast cancer compared to those who do not smoke.
- Limit consumption of alcoholic beveragesHaving healthy breasts is only a dream if you continue to consume alcoholic beverages. Consuming about two to three alcoholic drinks per day will increase the risk of breast cancer by 20 percent.
- Eat healthy foodImplementing a healthy diet by prioritizing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, can also help reduce the risk of breast cancer. In addition, avoid consumption of fatty foods and processed meats.
- Exercise regularlyRegular exercise has also been shown to prevent breast cancer. According to research, women who rarely or never do exercise have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, take a moment to do moderate-intensity exercise, at least 2.5 hours per week.
As a preventive measure and early detection, it is important to carry out routine breast examinations (check up) to the doctor regularly and perform a mammography examination. For women aged over 45 years, it is advisable to have a breast examination to the doctor every year or according to a schedule that has been recommended by a doctor before.
Breasts are one of the important parts of a woman's body, so it is necessary to take care of her health. Also remember to always do a breast self-examination at home. If there are abnormal changes in the breast, immediately consult a doctor.