At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013 - (Page 72)

| wellbeing| The A-Z of women’s health find out the symptoms and treatments of common female illnesses and conditions A is for... ALCOHOL Not that long ago it was considered ‘unseemly’ for women to drink alcohol, but now one third of women regularly consume over the recommended limit of two to three units a day (two 125ml glasses of wine). And it’s not just young girls who are out clubbing – many high-income, middleaged and older women are also drinking too much. Symptoms Short-term symptoms of alcohol abuse are anxiety, impaired judgement, a slower heartbeat and loss of consciousness. But it’s the long-term effects that are much more worrying. As alcohol is so calorific, heavy drinkers are often obese, leading to Type 2 diabetes, high-blood pressure, high cholesterol and a higher chance of developing heart disease and stroke. Other risks include liver disease, osteoporosis, dementia and breast cancer. Treatment If you think you’re drinking too much, your GP can advise on cutting down and assess whether you have damaged your body. He may also refer you to a specialist. This is more common in the under-35 age group, but women diagnosed before the age of 40 have a 90% chance of survival. The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination protects against viral infections in young girls (school Year 8 up to the age of 18), and women aged 25 to 64 should have a cervical smear test every three to five years to detect pre-cancerous cells (more when the results are ‘abnormal’). Symptoms Non-menstrual bleeding, especially after sex or once you’ve had the menopause, should be investigated. Other signs are vaginal discharge and pain when passing urine. Treatment Abnormal cells are removed with laser treatment. Other options include surgery to remove the cervix, ovaries or womb. is for... breast cancer The most common cancer in the UK is breast cancer, with one in eight women contracting the disease. But the good news is more women survive breast cancer than ever before, with over 75% surviving for at least 10 years, thanks to advanced treatment. Symptoms It’s vital to check your breasts regularly (use the guide on www.breastcancercare.org.uk to help you), as the first symptom is often a lump or thickening of tissue in the breast or armpit. Other symptoms include a change in the size or appearance of one or both breasts, dimpling of the skin, a rash on or around the nipple or pain in your breasts or underarms that isn’t during your menstrual cycle. Treatment This often involves surgery to remove the lump (lumpectomy) or the breast (mastectomy). This is followed by radiotherapy which targets the area where the cancer was. Chemotherapy, which is a systemic treatment, affects the whole body, as it travels through the bloodstream. You may also be offered hormonal therapy, medicines or therapies that target specific characteristics of cancer cells. > Words: Georgina Maric | Photographs: Shutterstock, Getty Images B C is for... CERVICAL CANCER 072 | MARCH 2013 72-79 A-Z of women's health.FINAL.indd 72 4/2/13 12:39:51 http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013

EDITOR'S LETTER
LORRAINE KELLY UPDATE
NEWS UPFRONT
SAVE THE DATE
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
BEAUTIES IN BLUE
LIGHTEN UP
BAGS OF STYLE
BUCKLE UP
IT'S A WRAP
IF THE SHOE FITS
SETTING TRENDS
THE BIG REVEAL
GET THE LOOK
LONG REIGN LORRAINE
MOTHER KNOWS BEST
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
EXPECT THE WORST
UNPLANNED PREGNANCY
WOMEN'S HEALTH A-Z
COULD YOU BE DEPRESSED?
SLEEP EASY
GET BACK TO YOURSELF
WHAT A PAIN
LISTEN UP
CHINESE CUISINE
A TASTE OF ITALY
SNACK TIME
DRINK IT UP
EXCUSES, EXCUSES
EXERCISE'S NEW GROOVE
SPRING INTO SHAPE
OUT AND ABOUT
BEAUTY BLOOPERS
CROWNING GLORY
MAGIC MAKEOVERS
I LOVE MY NEW BODY'
FLASH A SMILE
YOUNG AT HEART
SAFELY DOES IT
LOOK AFTER THE PENNIES
THE GOOD LIFE
ROOM REVAMP
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT
WHAT A BLINDER!
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
THE EMERALD ISLE
SPRING BREAKS
REST AND RELAXATION
ANIMAL ACCESSORIES
A MAN'S BEST FRIEND
BEASTLY BEHAVIOUR
STYLE SAVVY
TV FAVES
LAST WORD
STOCKISTS
CRAFT NEWS
WE LOVE BEING CRAFTY!'
HOME SPUN
FRAME WORK
MAKE THE CUT
CLEVER CARDS
KNIT ONE...
SPARKLE!
KITTED OUT
THE ICING ON THE CAKE
HELLO CUPCAKE
LORRAINE'S ROAD TO SUCCESS
THE WORLD OF WORK
AN AGE OLD PROFESSION
THE ONLY WAY IS UP
JUST THE JOB
MOVE OVER, MISTER!
BEYOND THE SHOP FLOOR
THE BANK JOB
ARE YOU COVERED?
CAREFULLY DOES IT
EQUAL RIGHTS
BALANCING ACT

At Home with Lorraine Kelly 2013