There are two words that, when said together, can make any woman immediately cringe with discomfort: Nipple pain. (You totally did it just now, didn’t you?)

For one, your nipples are super-sensitive (they’re a top erogenous zone, after all) – but there’s pain that feels good and pain that, well, feels like pain.

So, uh, what is going on when your nips actually hurt – and is it something to worry about?

First: Don’t freak out; there are various lifestyle and health changes that could lead to nipple pain, and most can easily be resolved once you figure out the culprit (i.e. throw away that ill-fitting sports bra), but others may come with more alarming symptoms (like nipple discharge, lumps or changes in the colour or texture of your breast skin) that are definitely a sign to see a doctor.

Whatever the case, irritated, painful nipples aren’t something you should have to deal with on the regular. If your nips are feeling super uncomfortable, make an appointment with your gynae – one of these issues might be at the root.

1. You have an infection in your nipples

Yep, your nipples can get infected. “There are large pores and hair follicles around the nipple that can become clogged and infected just like in your underarm or pubic areas,” says Dr Jenna Sassie, an obstetrician/gynaecologist at Women’s Healthcare Associates in Houston.

One possible type of infection, believe it or not, is a yeast infection on your nipple (yes, those yeast infections). These usually occur under the breast where sweat collects, says Sassie, but since yeast thrives in moist, dark environments, women who regularly wear bras made of non-breathable material might be prone to yeast infections on their nipples too.

Thrush is another type of yeast infection that’s passed on to breastfeeding mothers from their babies. Luckily, these infections can be treated with antibiotics – for you, and if you’re breastfeeding, for your baby too.

Nipple piercing can also lead to infection, especially if it’s not done with good technique or cared for meticulously afterwards, says Dr Alyssa Dweck, a gynaecologist in Westchester, New York, and assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

So if you’re considering accessorising your girls, do your research and find a reputable tattoo and piercing parlour.

Read more: 8 nipple symptoms that are totally normal

2. You have ‘jogger’s nipple’

If you work out regularly or are training for a long endurance event like a marathon, experiencing chafing or irritation from clothing such as a sports bra isn’t that uncommon.

Dr Dweck advises wearing a well-fitting, good-quality sports bra and using an anti-chafing balm to prevent irritation.

But you don’t have to be a runner to get “jogger’s nipple” – it can happen in everyday clothes too. “I’ve also had patients wearing poor-fitting lace bras and such who wind up with rashes or sensitivity because it’s rubbing the nipple all day long,” Dr Sassie says.

If that’s the case, it might be worth going through your intimates drawer to figure out if it’s really worth keeping some of those pretty, yet too itchy, bras around.

3. You’re experiencing hormonal changes

One of the first things you want to consider when you first experience breast pain is whether or not you might be pregnant.

“Nipple pain is sometimes the first sign that you are expecting,” says Dr Sassie.

So if you’re not on birth control and are not experiencing any signs of nipple irritation, you wouldn’t be crazy for rushing out to buy a pregnancy test.

Similarly, if you stopped or started a new birth control method or pill, are about to start your period, or are experiencing any major hormonal fluctuations such as perimenopause, you may experience breast and nipple pain as well, says Dr Sassie; which, while a literal pain, is usually nothing to worry about.

Read more: 5 everyday habits that are causing your boobs to sag

4. You’re breastfeeding

A very unfortunate truth: Experiencing pain while breastfeeding is mostly normal, for a number of reasons: your breast pump doesn’t fit well, you have clogged milk ducts, your nipples are cracked or your baby has latching issues.

Nipple creams can often help new moms get some relief in those cases.

But sometimes pain during breastfeeding isn’t normal – like with mastitis, (a.k.a. inflammation of breast tissue). According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, symptoms of mastitis include breast tenderness or warmth to the touch, breast swelling, thickening of breast tissue or a breast lump; pain or a burning sensation while breastfeeding or during normal daily activities; and skin redness.

“If you are experiencing pain while breastfeeding and also have a fever or chills or you are generally feeling ill, definitely visit your doctor,” Dr Sassie says.

5. You’re having an allergic reaction

If you’re experiencing itchiness or irritation after using a new fragrance, soap, or lotion, or even laundry detergent or fabric softener, your newfound nipple pain might be the result of an allergic reaction.

If you have made a recent switch – and identified that as the source of your pain – you might be better off going back to your old favourite, or seeking out a fragrance-free or hypoallergenic version.

6. You started or changed a medication

“Some medications can have side effects that cause nipple sensitivity or even discharge from the nipple,” says Dr Sassie “These can be herbal supplements or prescriptions, especially psychiatric drugs.” Check with your doctor if you think that’s the case.

Additionally, if you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, treatment such as surgery and radiation can cause breast pain as well, says Dr Dweck.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com}

^{Image credit: iStock}

A quarter of the world’s adults are doing too little exercise, putting them at risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and some cancers – and there has been no improvement over the past 15 years.

This is according to a global study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) published in The Lancet Global Health journal this week, that looked at exercise rates in 2016 and compared them to 2001.

Mozambicans and Ugandans doing fine

In four countries, more than half of adults did not get enough exercise in 2016: Kuwait (67%), American Samoa and Saudi Arabia (both 53%), and Iraq (52%). Kuwait and Samoa have some of the highest obesity rates in the world.

In contrast, Mozambicans and Ugandans were the most likely to get enough exercise, with only 6% reporting less than the recommended exercise ­of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity every week.

“In 2016, around one in three women (32%) and one in four men (23%) worldwide were not reaching the recommended levels of physical activity to stay healthy,” according to the study.

The study, based on self-reported activity levels from 358 population-based surveys in 168 countries covering 1.9 million participants, noted that there had been no improvement in exercise rates since 2001.

“Unlike other major global health risks, levels of insufficient physical activity are not falling worldwide, on average, and over a quarter of all adults are not reaching the recommended levels of physical activity for good health,” said the study’s lead author, the WHO’s Dr Regina Guthold.

China making great progress

Women were less active than men in all regions of the world, apart from east and southeast Asia.

There were large differences in activity between women and men in many countries, such as Bangladesh (40% vs. 16%), India (44% vs. 25%), Iraq (65% vs. 40%), Philippines (49% vs. 30%), South Africa (47% vs. 29%), and the USA (48% vs. 32%).

China has made the most progress in promoting physical activity, but in high income Western countries, there has been an increase of 5% in people doing insufficient activity.

“Regions with increasing levels of insufficient physical activity are a major concern for public health and the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs),” says Guthold.

Although a recent NCD policy survey showed that almost three quarters of countries report having a policy or action plan to tackle physical inactivity, few have been implemented to have national impact, according to the researchers.

The study’s release comes ahead of the Third United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs and their risk factors, including physical inactivity, being held on 27 September 2018 in New York. – Health-e News.

^{Image credit: iStock}

Kerry Cullinan

Seeing blood in the toilet after peeing isn’t exactly a shocking event. Women get periods; periods equal blood; end of story.

But uh, what if that blood in the toilet or on your toilet paper doesn’t really look like the period kind – say, if your urine is a pinkish, reddish or brownish colour, or you see spots of red blood in your stream (and you’re nowhere near that time of the month)?

First: Don’t freak – but don’t brush it off, either. Seeing blood in your urine is never a normal thing, so finding out what’s going on – a.k.a., getting to a doctor ASAP – should be the first thing on your list.

Read more: 7 most common bladder infection symptoms in women

So… why might there be blood in my pee?

For starters, this has a medical name: Haematuria. According to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, there are two types: Gross haematuria (when you can actually see blood in your urine) and microscopic haematuria (when the blood isn’t visible to the naked eye, but can be detected under a microscope).

There are a few reasons why you might suddenly have blood-laced pee. The likeliest causes are kidney stones – small, but hard masses that can form in your kidneys and pass through your urine –  and your favourite, urinary tract infections (UTIs), says Dr Jennifer Linehan, urologist and associate professor of urologic oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

In some cases, vigorous exercise (think running a marathon or taking a spinning class) can cause you to have blood in your urine too, though it’s pretty rare and typically only happens in professional athletes, says Dr Linehan.

Other, less frequent causes of bloody urine include endometriosis (when endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus – in this case, the bladder), an infection in the bladder or kidneys (or the prostate, for men), and in very rare cases, bladder or kidney cancer, says Dr Linehan.

Read more: See a doctor if your pee looks, smells or feels like this

So… do I need to see a doctor about my bloody urine?

Um, yes please. Again, peeing blood is never okay or normal, says Dr Linehan.

That’s true whether you’re having bloody pee with no other symptoms, or if it comes along with things like a burning sensation or pain in your back.

“If it’s to the point where you’re seeing the blood in your urine, you need to get it checked out,” says Dr Linehan. “It could be an infection and advancing to the kidneys,” which could result in more complications like kidney failure or chronic kidney disease, per the NIDDK.

When you see your doctor, they’ll likely do a physical exam (i.e., pressing on your abdomen to check for tender areas), as well as a urinalysis (a.k.a. a pee test) to look for an infection, like a UTI, says Dr Linehan.

If that’s all clear, you may then need to get an MRI or CT scan to see if you have kidney stones or (again, in rare cases) a tumour, she adds.

And if you couldn’t already guess: There is nothing you can and should do for this at home, other than grab your car keys and book it to the doctor, even if the Internet tells you otherwise.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com}

^{Image credit: iStock} 

The potential risks of lung cancer screening are often left out when doctors and patients discuss the issue, a new report suggests. In South Africa, lung cancer accounts for 17% of cancer-related deaths. 

Early detection of lung cancer can save lives, and lung cancer screening is recommended for high-risk current and former smokers. But the US Preventive Services Task Force and other organisations say that doctors need to explain the risks as well as the benefits to patients.

Those risks include a high rate of false positives, which can lead to unnecessary follow-up procedures. And in some cases, screening can reveal lung cancer that, left untreated, would not have affected patients in their lifetime, the study authors said.

In this study, researchers analysed 14 recordings of doctors and patients discussing lung cancer screening. On average, the talks lasted less than a minute, the quality of the conversations was poor, and discussion about the potential harms of screening was “virtually non-existent”, the investigators found.

The findings were published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Complex screenings

“We’re not taking a side as to whether lung cancer screening is good or bad, but there seems to be a consensus that we should be sharing these complex decisions with patients,” said study senior author Dr Daniel Reuland.

“Our fly-on-the-wall sample from real-world practice shows us that’s not happening,” he added. Reuland is director of the Carolina Cancer Screening Initiative at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill.

“A lot of people [with positive screening results] undergo surveillance, additional scanning, and some people undergo invasive procedures who don’t have lung cancer,” Reuland said in a University of North Carolina news release.

Potential harms and benefits

“The problem is weighing a small chance of benefit in the form of prolonged life versus a larger chance that a given patient will incur some kind of physical or psychological harm, plus out-of-pocket costs. It’s important to talk about those potential harms and benefits with patients when deciding about screening,” he suggested.

The US Preventative Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (CT) for adults 55 to 80 years old who have been heavy smokers.

^{Image credit: iStock}

Putting on a condom may seem second nature to you by now, but are you actually doing it the right way? Sadly, research suggests you might not be.

Researchers from Indiana University analysed 50 studies on condom usage, and after crunching the numbers on 16 years of data, they found a laundry list of errors. Could you be making one of them? Check out the top 15 things that couples are doing wrong when gearing up for getting down.

Read more: 8 ways to be a gentleman after sex

1. Late application

Across the numerous studies, between 17 and 51.1% of people reported putting a condom on after intercourse has already begun. (Which doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to STD prevention.)

2. Early removal

Between 13.6 and 44.7% of the respondents reported removing the condom before intercourse was complete.

3. Completely unrolling the condom prior to application

Between 2.1 and 25.3% of people admitted to completely unrolling the condom before sliding it on. How does that even work?

4. No space at the tip

Failing to leave space for semen at the tip of the condom was reported by 24.3 to 45.7% of the respondents.

Read more: How to use the latest tech to have better sex and improve your relationship

5. Failure to remove air

When looking back to their last sexual encounter, 48.1% of women and 41.6% of men reported that they didn’t squeeze the air from the tip before use.

6. Inside-out condoms

Between four and 30.4% of participants reported they began rolling the condom on inside out, but then flipped it over and continued its use. And that’s bad, since it can expose her to your pre-ejaculatory fluids, which can get her pregnant.

(Nope, that wasn’t just a lie your gym teacher told you.)

7. Failure to completely unroll the condom before use

When looking back to their last sexual encounter, 11.2% of women and 8.8% of men had began intercourse before the condom was unrolled all the way.

8. Exposure to a sharp object

Between 2.1 and 11.2% of people had opened condom packets with sharp objects. The problem: If it’s sharp enough to rip the wrapper, it’s sharp enough to rip the condom. Duh!

Read more: Does pulling out during sex actually work? Here’s what you need to know

9. Failure to check for damage

When removing the condom from the package, 82.7% of women and 74.5% of men reported that they fail to check for damage before use. What to look for: Make sure the wrapper isn’t worn down or ripped open, keep your eyes peeled for expired dates, and check for visible imperfections while unrolling.

10. No lubrication

Between 16 and 25.8% of people reported using condoms without lubrication. The trouble? If you’re having sex for an extended period of time, the condom is more likely to tear without lubrication.

11. Lubrication complications

Roughly 3.2% of women and 4.7% of men reported using an oil-based lube with a latex condom. That weakens the latex, which can make it prone to breakage.

12. Incorrect withdrawal

Nearly 31% of men and 27% of women reported that (post-sex) they failed to promptly and properly withdraw after ejaculation. No matter what the Cranberries sang, guys, this ain’t a time to let it linger.

Read more: How does circumcision really affect your sex life? Here are the facts

13. Reusing a condom

Between 1.4 and 3.3% of people reported reusing a condom at least twice during a sexual encounter. Gross.

14. Incorrect storage

Between 3.3 and 19.1% of people in the studies had stored their condoms in conditions that did not comply with the recommendations on the package. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight or your wallet – both can degrade the latex.

Read more: What guys can learn from watching “porn for women”

15. Not wearing one at all

This wasn’t actually part of the study, but we should add that #15 is this: Not using one at all. According to the (most recent) National Survey of Sexual Health and Behaviour, only 45% of men ages 18 to 24 used a condom with their last sexual partner. And as the age groups increased, the stats only got worse: Only 29.3% of men ages 25 to 34 used condoms and 21.3% of men between ages 35 and 44.

^{Originally published on www.mh.co.za}

^{Image credit: iStock}

Madeline Haller