Herald & Lantern 16 February '83

27

Health Watch fay Dr. Robert C. Beitman

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The first obvious symtom of breat cancer Is a lump, which may be painful, usually developing in the upper and outer part of the breast. This lamp can be detected early in 90 percent of cases if women practice a monthly examination of their breasts — the "Breast Self Exam." Part One of this simple exam is during the bath or shower With your hands and body wet and slippery, glide your fingers gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, and left hand to examine the right breast Feel carefully for lumps, hard knots, or tissue thickening Part Two is done in front dT a mirror. Become \familiar with the normal shape and structure of your breasts Observe them with your hands at your' sides and then with your arms

THE METHUSELAH FACTORS: STRATEGIES FOR A LONG AND VIGOROUS LIFE. By Dan Georgakas —All of the books reviewed in this column are available at the Cape May County Library.) If you were disappointed by Dirk Pearson’s bestseller. Life Extension — especially with the massive doses of vitamins and experimental chemicals which Dirk takes to maintain his healthy glow — then you should read Dan Goergakas’ new book The Methuselah Factors may restore your faith in plain food and simple living as the keys to where an extraordinary number of peo^ pie seem to live into a ripe old age In each jiace, he interviewed centenarians, gerontologists, dieticians, and thoughtful citizens in an attempt to find out why so many of the inhabitants routinely achieved great ages This stimulating book. The Methuselah Fac tors, is the result of his inquiries. GEORGAKAS SPENT a good deal ol time in Abkhasia, a mountainous province of the USSR where, according to Madison Avenue legend, the people live to be 150 on a diet of yogurt In fact, in all his travels. Georgakas found no one older than 114 (A Japanese man); but he did find scores of people living vigorous, healthy, rewarding lives well beyond the ages at which most Americans have literally given up the ghost In each locale, he ex amined the nature of the life-style, the diet, the climate, and genetic factors. While these varied slightly from place to place, Georgakas found one recurring factor in every longevous area: and that was respect for the ag ed. a respect that was a blend of honor and true affection That we have no equivalent Abkhasias in the United Slates is probably due to lack of this at titude more than anything else The following quota lions, unless otherwise at ;

raised high overhead. Look for signs of swelling, dimpling of the skin, or changes in the look of the nipples. STILL IN FRONT of the mirror, rest your palms on your hips and press down I irmly on your hips to flex your chest muscles Remember how you look and an you repeat this test over the years, treat changes as signs to report to your family doctor (Part Three) Part Four is done lying on your back To examine your right breast, pul a pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder, then place your right hand behind your head. With your left hand, fingers Hat. press gently on your breast in a circular motion, starting on the outside and moving in a light spiral towards the center, including the nipple. IF YOU DO this every

tributed, are by the author, Dan Georgakas. THE CLOSER an organism comes to its minimal daily requirements, the longer it will endure A human life-span of approximately 115 - 120 years is compatible with current bilogical assessments of the capacities of the vital parts of the human body None of these appear to be programmed to wear out before a hundred years, but many approach minimal efficiency shortly thereafter No one in the world has ever attained 120 years of age and most definitely no one in Abkhasia has. — Dr Shoto Gogoghian Gerontology Director of the Institute of Abkhasia. USSR - THE AVERAGE life spans of male professional boxers and football players in the USA are below those of heavy smokers and from ten to 15 years below those of the average male Longevous citizens in Kiev, USSR: 80 percent were farmers or manual laborers. Fewer than 4 percent had sedentary jobs, and most had the same job all their lives. They had lean bodies and ate moderately 91 percent ate a mixed diet, leaning toward vegetaiianism. 97'v percent never smoked. 98 percent had been married at least once. —Dr Dimitri Fedorovich The longevous play in order to relax, while per sonality types most prone to stress-damage turn play into tension. Abkhasia: the people in the villages are "slightly ref rigera ted.'' This coolness serves to slow down the metabolism and may be a key factor in prolonging each stage of Ijfe The average daily caloric intake is between 1,500 — 2,000 calories. 70 percent of which is vegetables or dairy products — Dr Shoto Gogohian — People who drink about 1/2 liter of wine a day live longer than those who do not drink at all

month, you will soon have in your memory the normal shape and feel of your right breast Then repeal this exam for the left breast (Note: A ridge of firm tissue in the lower curve of each breast is a normal part of the breasts' structure.) Part Five is simply to squeeze the nipple of each breast gently between your thumb and index finger. If any discharge, clear or bloody comes out. this

should be reported to your doctor immediately! WHEN SHOULD this ex am be performed 9 If you still get your periods, then it should be right after your period ends. If you have gone through menopause, then pick a day of the month and use the same date each month This is important because the breast changq subtly during the month in response to hormonal swings If you think you've found

something, check out its size, shape, consistency, movability and whether it is different from the corresponding area on the op posite breast. Report im mediately to your physi cian for a "peace of mind."

visit.

There are many causes of lumps and changes in the breast which are not lifethreatening, so your finding may ttrn out to be nothing major However, should you turn out to have breast cancer, your early

detection may save your life Breast cancers tend to grow and spread extremely quickly so time is of the

essence

You may want to clip and ^jsave this article For addi ' tional information including free pamphlets on Breast .Self Examination or a free program for your club or organization on this topic, contact the American Cancer Society Office, 15 Delsea Dr . Rio

Grande.

This year, put more in your own pocket, less in Uncle Sam’s.

You still have time to give yourself a $2,000 tax deduction for 1902. Just open an Individual Retirement Account before you file your income tax return Even if you're already covered by a retirement plan, you can invest up to $2,000 of your 1902 wages. Up to $4,000 if you and your spouse both work And a total of $2,250 In separate accounts if your spouse isn’t employed. Your investment is tax-free until you retire.

So is the interest. And it's • sizeable! You have a choice of a fixed rate. 10 month certificate or a floating rate certificate bd^eefon the weekly Money Market rate. Best of all. your IRA investment is insured up to $100,000 by the FSLlC So before you pay your taxes this year, pay yourself. Visit an IRA Specialist at Caps May County Savings and Loan today, and open an IRA Account. It's deductible!

Ws're in ths bualneaa of making your monay maka monay.

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cape May county Savings & Loan Association

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Good Reading by Owen Murphy