Category Archive: Breast Health

1. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

   September 30, 2022 9:45 am Leave a Comment

   

   Once again, we find ourselves in the pinkwashing month of October.

   Known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this time of year ushers in a flurry of pink ribbons, and the war-like mantra, “Catch it early, save a life and save a breast.”

   Yet we still have no cure in sight. Just treatments.

   Fortunately, there are options. Women can also consider using infrared imaging or thermography for their breast cancer screening.

   This technology can detect very small differences in temperature and “see” the blood vessels in breast tissue.

   Density, size, cysts, and other variables do not make any difference.

   Whatever the case may be, seeing blood vessels is important because tumors develop new blood vessels to supply nutrients for new growth, whereas lumps without a blood supply are at a much lower risk of being cancerous.

   That being said, this test provides early information about breast cancer risk that also allows ample time for lifestyle changes that can further minimize your risk of developing breast cancer.

   So, considering this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s focus on true breast health awareness by looking at ways to prevent cancer at the cellular level, such as minimizing our exposure to environmental toxins.

    

   True Breast Health Awareness

   I know I’ve addressed this in a previous blog, but it bears repeating that detoxing from foreign estrogens and chemicals is a must for maintaining good health in the long term.

   When it comes to breast cancer, the greatest concern is exposure to a group of toxins called endocrine disruptors, which are chemicals and byproducts that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body or cause estrogen to act in a way that isn’t normal.

   Using these products in combination with hundreds of other chemicals that we come in contact with on a daily basis may increase the risk of several cancers.

   The average adult is exposed to 126 chemicals every day just in their personal care products alone. So, if you want to be healthy, being educated on the latest toxins is a must!

   At the same time, it’s just as important to point out how we’re being exposed to these toxins.

   Much of our exposure comes from chemicals in household and personal care products, along with food, plastics, air, water, synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, and of course, exposure to ionizing radiation from health care procedures.

   Whatever it is you’re being exposed to, make sure to keep this stuff in mind so you can work to minimize the toxins you’re being subjected to in your daily life.

    

   The Connection Between Plastics and Breast Cancer

   The connection between plastics and breast cancer was first discovered in 1987 at Tufts Medical School in Boston by research scientists Dr. Ana Soto and Dr. Carlos Sonnenschein.

   In the midst of their experiments on cancer cell growth, endocrine-disrupting chemicals leached from plastic test tubes into the researcher’s laboratory experiment, causing a rampant proliferation of breast cancer cells.

   In addition, Spanish researchers, Fatima and Nicolas Olea, tested metal food cans that were lined with plastic.

   Around 50% of the cans tested were found to be leaching hormone-disrupting chemicals, and the levels of contamination were 27 times more than the amount a Stanford team reported was enough to make breast cancer cells proliferate.

   Reportedly, 85% of the food cans in the United States are lined with plastic. Both of these findings were published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

   So, if you want to reduce your exposure to these chemicals, make sure to do whatever you can to avoid exposing yourself to plastics, like only purchasing cans that say BPA-free.

   Whatever you choose to do, these studies show that plastics are simply not good for us, and this is reflected in the increase in breast cancer that has coincided with the proliferation of plastics. Prior to 1940, breast cancer was relatively rare; today it affects one in eight women.

   Now, let’s talk about polyester.

   This fabric is soft, smooth, and supple, but it is still made from plastic, and this contributes to our body’s burden in ways that we are just beginning to understand.

   For example, polyester is highly flammable, and it’s often treated with a flame retardant, which increases its toxic load.

   Now, at this point, many of you are probably thinking that there’s no need to worry, as you’ve lived this long being exposed to these chemicals and haven’t had a problem.

   But remember, the human body can only withstand a certain amount of toxins, and those endocrine-disrupting chemicals that don’t seem to bother you could end up affecting you years down the road.

    

   What You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk

   

   A healthy lifestyle, coupled with an effort to minimize your exposure to toxins can help protect your breasts and lower your risk.

   At the same time, experts say early detection methods are key, and thermography is the earliest and most effective way of detecting breast cancer without radiation, in tandem with an ultrasound.

   Thermography can also identify your levels of estrogen dominance and environmental contaminants, such as xenoestrogens and Bisphenol A (BPA), which attach to the receptor sites of breasts and mimic our natural estrogens.

   Estrogens affect breast tissue, showing up as distinct heat patterns that can be seen on thermal imaging. The textbook appearance is one of “leopard spots” or hypervascularization.

   Routine hormonal panels do not test for these estrogens, which are linked to the alarming and increasingly common issue seen in thermographic screenings known as fibrocystic breast syndrome AKA estrogen dominance.

   With that in mind, if you want to maintain the health of your breasts, you need to know what’s going on with them, and only thermography can provide you with a visual image that can assess the severity of this syndrome.

   This can be used as a preventative adjunctive screening for identifying signs of abnormal pathology years before conventional anatomical screenings.

   It’s safe, environmentally friendly, radiation-free, and also safe for pregnant or nursing mothers, young dense breasts, fibrocystic breasts, and even implants.

   In any case, it’s time for women to take action to reduce their risk, become informed consumers, and make concerted efforts to analyze their environments.

   This involves things like reading product labels to avoid purchasing products that could harm you or your family.

   You can also work with a holistic healthcare practitioner to detoxify your body.

   All things considered, practicing radical self-care is becoming increasingly important, and living in a sea of toxins is not to be ignored. Health is wealth!

   That being said, if you want to prioritize the health of your breasts by evaluating and monitoring them on a cellular level, thermographic imaging is your best option.

2. Breast Cancer Risks of Cell Phones in Bras

   August 2, 2022 7:04 pm Leave a Comment

   

   The following article was originally written by Daniel T. DeBaun and reprinted with permission from Defender Shield.

   It seems as though fashion designers forgot to think of practicality or function when designing women’s clothing.

   With annoyingly small pants pockets that can’t fit more than a key or a lipstick tube, with some “pockets” that are sewed shut or simply try to give off the appearance of a pocket, women have had to improvise on their own.

   Hence, the phone-in-the-bra phenomenon.

   Bras were not designed to hold phones and cash, yet females are stashing their accessories in this make-shift pocket for lack of a better option. Whether it’s at the gym, getting drinks downtown, or running errands, this desperate act has become a commonplace trend.

   Now, designers—who are finally thinking of female clothing practicality—have even put pockets on bras and sports bras!

   However, as much as we understand the necessity of it, holding a cell phone in your bra can be compromising your health.

   Cell phones may seem harmless, yet recent research shows there may be a link between non-ionizing cell phone radiation and tumor growth in the breast. This connection has prompted a proliferation in research on cell phone radiation and the discovery of non-intuitive correlations between cell phones and breast cancer.

   How Cell Phone Radiation Affects Breasts

   In a 2013 University of California study, four women between the ages of 21-39 were found to have multi-focal invasive breast cancer or breast cancer that arose from more than one location on the breast tissue.

   These women had no family history of breast cancer and tested negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 and other known genetic breast cancer risks.

   However, these women all regularly carried their smartphones directly against their breasts in their brassieres for up to 10 hours a day for several years. Each developed tumors in the areas of their breasts, immediately underlying their phone placement.

   

   Mammograms show clustered calcification (in white) corresponding to multiple sites of disease for case patient 1. Source: PubMed

   • Case 1 involved a 21-year-old female, who experienced spontaneous bloody nipple discharge. She kept her cell phone tucked in her bra on the left side for several hours each day.
   • Case 2 involved another 21-year-old female who discovered a hard mass in the area where her cellular phone was kept in direct contact with her left breast. She had placed her cellular device in her bra for 8+ hours a day for the course of 6 years. Later studies showed that her cancer had spread to the bone.
   • Case 3 involved a 33-year-old female who discovered two masses in the upper outer quadrant of her right breast, directly underneath where her cellular phone was placed against her bra. She had placed her cell phone in her bra intermittently for 8 years. Routinely, she would place her cell phone in her bra and use the GPS application to determine her location while jogging. Cancer had spread to her lymph node.
   • Case 4 involved a 39-year-old female with three distinct masses in the area of cellular phone contact with her right breast. She had placed her cell phone in her bra while commuting to work and used Bluetooth to talk for hours each day for the past 10 years. Multiple lymph nodes tested positive for spread of the disease.

   In the study, all four cases showed striking similarity. All tumors were hormone-positive, low-intermediate grade, and possessed nearly identical morphology. Lesions were found in the breast tissue. MRI scans lit up and showed dense masses.

   Due to the similarity of the disease and cases, the authors strongly emphasize the need for more safety data on the effects of prolonged direct contact with cell phones. They point out that breast cancer is typically uncommon for women in their 20s and 30s, as less than 5% of women in this age range typically get the disease.

   Usually, when one has this disease, it is associated with a genetic predisposition, of which, none of these women had. The researchers concluded that there is probable evidence that the non-ionizing cell phone radiation causes breast cancer.

   In another meta-analysis conducted in 2014, 16 research reports of case-control studies published between 2000 and 2007 were analyzed to look for the relationship between exposure to cell phone radiation and breast cancer. The researchers found that low-level radiation may increase the risk of breast cancer in women with the relative risk being 1.10 overall, and 1.25 in the non-menopausal group. The relative risk in the menopausal group was not significant (1.04).

   As is necessary to prove any theory, a relationship would need to be confirmed on a much larger scale with more test subjects. Because there is little laboratory or clinical evidence in existence to-date, these studies were only able to show suggestive evidence and are not considered conclusive.

   Unfortunately, researchers know very little about cancer to-date and only a small amount of work has thus far been done in this particular area. Scientists are still working on understanding the disease of cancer itself and have only recently elucidated its mechanism of action. Interestingly, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has only classified Radio Frequency (RF) waves of the electromagnetic spectrum, the form that cellular devices emit, as a possible human carcinogen.

   Limited Attention to the Issue

   Unfortunately, not many people seem to be aware of the health risks of cell phones, and a woman with a cell phone sticking out of her bra or bra strap is a normal—and frequent—occurence.

   Efforts, though, have been made to inform the public of the correlation between breast cancer and cell phone contact. Popular television personalities, including medical doctor, Dr. Oz, have even gone so far as to devote entire segments to this issue. Dr. Oz released a segment entitled, “Why You Should Keep Your Cell Phone Out of Your Bra.”  Local news segments also aired when the research first came out.

   Nonetheless, the general public seems to be largely ignorant of the potential danger or have forgotten the research results, if they were ever informed. A Google search on the keyword “breast cancer and cell phones” yields very few results, most outdated by a year.

   Surprisingly, even on the Susan G. Komen website, cell phones are listed as one of the factors that do not increase the risk of breast cancer. Perhaps this is because there has been limited study and experts provide confusing information.

   On the American Cancer Society website, they acknowledge that there may be a link of women developing cancer from cell phones placed in their bras, but also that it may all be a coincidence. We just don’t know because there has been such limited study. Yet, the amount of information presented on another page of the American Cancer Society website is so overwhelming, it is hard to decipher the final conclusion on what types of cancers may or may not be caused by cell phones, how many, and what type of studies were done where.

   What Women Can Do

   Until more data becomes available on cell phone radiation, it is generally recommended by experts to avoid any kind of skin contact with cell phones.

   In the fine print, many cell phone manufacturers have actually even placed a warning in their manuals, stating that direct contact with skin should be avoided. For instance: the iPhone user manual advises that the phone be kept 6 inches or 15 cm (5/8 inch) or more away from your body.

   More research is clearly needed on cell phone radiation, in order for any kind of regulation to make its way through and be noticed by the public. While consumers are waiting for science and laws to catch up, it is important to do what you can to be safe.

   Avoid unnecessary exposure to cell phone radiation. Tell your friends and loved ones about this, too. The risk of breast cancer from cell phone radiation is not worth the convenience of storing your cell phone in your bra.

    

3. Physiology is Key in Thermography

   April 24, 2022 5:00 am Leave a Comment

   

   by Anthony Piana, DC, FPACT

   To understand the process of using thermography for detecting breast cancer, we must first understand physiology. We are not looking for breast cancer itself per say, but physiological changes that may be involved with its formation and growth. Breast cancer can cause inflammation due to tissue disruption, or through the development of new blood vessels that feed the tumor — a process known as angiogenesis.

   However, some physiological changes can also make it more difficult to detect breast cancer, such as a symphatic response that causes hypothermia in the tissue around a tumor. This is why following up is so important, as thermography and other anatomical tests can evaluate the body over time and under different physiological states. Physiology is key, and we should be mindful of the signs and obstacles when trying to detect breast cancer as early as possible.

    

   More on ANGIOGENESIS…

   by Kimberly Lavoie, ACNP-BC, CCRN, SCRN

   As Dr. Piana stated, angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from previously existing blood vessel plexus. This process involves the growth of endothelial cells, which line the inside walls of blood vessels. It is supportive in the healing of wounds and granulation of tissues. Physiological angiogenesis is a normal and vital process in growth and development specifically, during fetal development, female reproductive cycle, and tissue repair. The fine balance between pro-angiogenic growth factor (GF), anti-angiogenic GF, and cytokines tightly regulate angiogenesis.

   Whereas, an uncontrolled or inadequate balance of angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in pathological angiogenesis and promotes the formation of neoplasms, retinopathies, coronary artery disease, and other various disease processes. Tumors are dependent on angiogenesis and need vascular growth to transition from a benign to a malignant state. In the absence of vascular growth, tumors are not sustainable. With increased vascular activity generating heat, thermography can aid in early detection.

   

    

   Excessive/uncontrolled balance

   • Cancer
   • Rheumatoid arthritis
   • Psoriasis
   • Blindness

   Insufficient balance

   • Neurovascular infarcts/strokes
   • Cardiovascular Disease
   • Scleroderma

    

4. Why Are Dense Breasts Stigmatized?

   February 16, 2022 5:00 am Leave a Comment

   

   by Anthony Piana, DC, FPACT
   

   The mammogram industry has created a view towards dense breasts that is rather demeaning, as if having dense breasts is similar to a disease. The truth of the matter is, dense breasts are perfectly healthy and normal.

   The reason dense breasts have been stigmatized is because mammograms have a difficult time identifying tumors within higher density breasts. This could be caused by the breast being as dense as the tumor, making it hard to distinguish. A way of understanding this is if you were taking an X-Ray of an ice cube that was frozen in a slab of ice. This would cause it to appear no different than the rest of the surrounding area, because the density is the same.

   

   Standards for mammograms have been specifically created around this idea that dense breasts are a nuisance or disease. This is why a few years ago the age recommendation for a mammogram was increased to the age of 50, based on the idea that breast density lowers with age. Still, many women in their 50s have dense breasts.

   Another issue is that research studies related to the accuracy of mammograms have adjusted their research perimeters to not include women with dense breasts, despite them being over half of the population. The findings of the studies have shown greater results for mammogram screening, but ultimately they do not reflect well for the general population when identifying tumors.

   This isn’t to say that other tests are perfect, though. As an example, thermography has similar limitations when it comes to breast size, obesity, and breast implants. This is why it is important to discuss information with your clients, so they understand that a combination of tests provide the best results — especially when dealing with dense breasts.

   Breast Density and Cancer Risk

   by Kimberly Lavoie, ACNP-BC, CCRN, SCRN

   

   Medical literature is often misleading when describing the impact of breast density on cancer risk. Many studies illustrate the risk probability by comparing women in the 10% highest density category (extremely dense) with 10% in the lowest density category (almost entirely fatty breasts). Comparisons such as these are not statistically meaningful to the remaining 80% of women in the middle, nor should risk comparisons be related to such a small subset population.

   

   More on Dense Breasts

   
   Dense breast tissue is a common finding and is not abnormal. Statistics have shown that approximately 50% of women have dense or highly dense breasts.

   However, mammography imaging can make it difficult to detect cancer in women with breast densities. Consequently, mammography is less sensitive in women with dense breasts — that is, it is more likely to MISS cancer. This is precisely why Dense Breast Notification Laws have been implemented.

    

   

   False-negative mammograms result in about 1 in 8 missed cases of breast cancer whereas as false-positive findings can result in over-diagnosis. Over-diagnosing can lead to additional diagnostic testing, invasive procedures, and over-treatment.

   According to the American Cancer Society, about 50% of women getting annual mammograms will receive a false-positive finding over a 10-year period. The probability of false-positive findings is even higher when comparison imaging is not available. More than ever we need to continue to educate and help spread THERMOGRAPHIC AWARENESS !!!

    

   

   MORE examples of mammograms that were reported as “normal” and less than one week later, MRI reveals “CANCER”

   

   Has your state implemented Dense Breast Notification Laws?

   Currently, 38 states and the District of Columbia have enacted dense breast notification laws mandating radiologists to include language in their reports informing women of risks related to dense breasts. If you live in a state that does not have a dense breast notification laws, I encourage you to reach out to your local representative today and let your voice be heard.

   

5. How Medical Thermography Can Be Used to Improve Breast Health

   December 22, 2021 5:00 am Leave a Comment

   

   Back in June, I was delighted to have the opportunity to be interviewed on The Root of Our Health podcast, hosted by Elizabeth DiCristofano, a functional medicine health coach who focuses on empowering women over 40 to get to the root cause of their health issues.

   We had an amazing chat, and we went over several topics, including:

   • Preventative measures to thwart breast cancer
   • Why mammogram radiation should be avoided
   • Thermography: What it is and how it can benefit breast health
   • How breast cancer is linked to hypothyroidism and oral hygiene
   • Why thermography is increasingly being used to detect breast cancer

   If you want to know more about techniques you can use to prevent breast cancer, factors linked to breast cancer, and how thermography can be used for better prevention of breast-related health issues, you’ve got to check out this podcast!

   Interested in learning more about breast health and thermography, including the healthcare decisions you can make to improve your chances of keeping your breasts healthy? You should read my new book, Thermography and the Fibrocystic and Dense Breast.

   Yours in radiant health!
   Patricia

6. How to Discuss Thermography with Your Doctor

   August 17, 2021 1:41 pm Leave a Comment

   

   Tips on Working with Your Doctor for Total Breast Health Care

   Patients are always asking me if their doctor will understand their thermography report.

   There’s a large spectrum of responses I’ve heard from my patients’ doctors.

   Some doctors support thermography so much so, they highly suggest all their patients to have an annual full-body scan. The full-body scan will assess an individual’s current health status by listing any abnormal hot or cold spots throughout the entire body.

   Medical thermography is infrared imaging.  Ideally, you would use thermography for cancer prevention, but it can also be early cancer detection which could save your life (70% of those who have diagnosed cancers from anatomical testing, could have been found up to 10 years earlier on a thermography scan).

   Other doctors have never heard of thermography. Most are somewhere in between.

   Here are some tips on working with your doctor:

   • Let them know we are not looking to replace the traditional tests, only add to them.
   • Email your report to them and ask for a consult appointment to review your results. A thermologist will compose your thermography report much like how a radiologist will write a report on an X-ray or ultrasound.These reports are meant for your primary care physician to offer you further recommendations based on your results if any are needed.

   If you’d like a sample report to review with a Breast Thermography International (BTI), I am happy to discuss it with you or your doctor. Contact me to set up a review.

   There is a wide range of suggestions your doctor could give you to improve your next thermography report.

   Here are some examples they may recommend:

   • Change parts of your diet or balance your hormones.
   • Relieve muscle and joint tension with yoga or other forms of exercise.
   • Have a chiropractic adjustment.
   • Meditate with calming music or breath practices, since most diseases can be caused by stress.
   • Sometimes, although we try our best to live a healthy life, we still may need to reduce toxins with a detox program.
   • Also your doctor may want to order diagnostics testing from the findings in your report.

   These are just some of the many recommendations you and your physician can discuss to work toward a healthier life.

   And go ahead and share your thermography report with your family and friends. This might encourage them to include thermography into their own annual health regimen.

   Remember, early detection saves lives and prevention is ideal.

   Yours in radiant health!
   Patricia

7. Breast Cancer: The Information You Need To Know

   August 11, 2021 6:08 pm Leave a Comment

   

   This August I was invited to be invited on Mo Akins’ podcast, Health Your Own Way.

   Mo and and I had a lovely chat, covering breast cancer symptoms to watch out for, breast cancer prevention, the importance of the immune system, and everything in between. Watch it now!

   Learn more about breast health, including clear medical choices that will increase your chance for maintaining healthy breasts, in my new book Thermography and the Fibrocystic and Dense Breast.

8. The Surprising Link Between Bras, Anxiety and Panic Attacks

   April 27, 2021 1:02 am Leave a Comment

   

   Stress in this time of rapid change is a number one health concern and for good reason. In fact, the US Public Health Service has made stress reduction its number one health-promoting goal.

   No one is immune to having experienced some form of stress and anxiety. Women may be even more prone due to wearing tight bras that could be undermining their capacity to breathe correctly.

   If you are like me, when I get  home, the first thing I take off after my shoes is my bra! I’ve been known to take my bra off even while driving.

   Let’s explore the relationship between bras, stress and anxiety, and breathing.

   Tight Bras and Women’s Health

   As a thermographer, I see first hand the marks that tight bras leave on a woman’s rib cage, which can set the stage for chest or shallow breathing.

   The tighter the constriction on the rib cage, the greater the possibility of the breath rising high into the chest.

   Chest breathing calls on the sympathetic nervous system, the flight and flight breath or the breath that can create anxiety and even panic attacks.

   

   Thermographic scan of woman who has not been wearing a bra for 15 minutes. Lymphatic backup.

   Correct breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing, is a parasympathetic nervous system breath. Also called the ‘rest and digest breath,’ or the calming breath, this type of breathing is difficult in tight bras.

   Bras, it seems, over the years have become more constrictive, with push up pads, underwires, Spanx, super tight sports bras, and all kinds of crazy shapes and sizing. Some of these restrictive options aren’t too far-removed the archaic Victoria corset.

   Sadly, during the era of the corset, many women were dying of ‘consumption,’ another term for tuberculosis during Victorian times. By wearing a corset, the breath could not reach the bottom of the lungs, where oxygen reaches the alveoli and is exchanged into the blood. Corsets were not the cause, but they contributed to the rise in lung disease.

   In response, ‘health corsets’ became popular, made with elastic fabric that were introduced as a way to alleviate pressure on the ribs caused by the heavily boned corsets of the Victorian era.

   Women at this time were also prone to fainting because they could not breathe. They even created fainting rooms for women. This was also a time when some women were considered ‘hysterical’ and ‘nervous ninnies.’ Doctors told women they needed to have orgasms to calm down. Imagine that!

   This fascinating article from the Smithsonian explores the impact of fashion and corsets on women’s health. It’s a real head-shaker of stupidity.

   But some of the bras on the market today have similar issues, creating breathlessness that leads to anxiety and stress. If you love your bras and they are tight, buy a bra extender. They come in multiple sizes of hooks and colors. Or consider wearing bralettes, which are less constrictive.

   Bras and Your Breath

   

   Many people use shallow or chest breath patterns that are undermining their physical, mental and emotional health. Bras can exacerbate this constriction, contributing to greater chest breathing and over-breathing.

   The rib cage is triangle-shaped, with the diaphragm tucked under at the widest bottom of the rib cage. When breathing properly, the bottom of the ribcage expands and the diaphragm descends, billowing out the belly.

   Tight clothing like bras that constrict the rib cage will force the breath high into the chest, hence the term chest breathing.

   Chest breathers are often associated with Type A personalities. How do you know if you are a chest breather? Sit up straight. Place your left hand on your chest and right hand on your abdomen. Take a few deep breaths. Which hand moves first? If it is the left hand, you are a chest breather.

   When you breathe with your chest, you are using your secondary breathing muscles instead of primary muscles. Efficient breathing uses the diaphragm, but in chest breathing we are using the intercostals and abdominal muscles.

   Moreover, chest breathing depends on weak upper chest and neck muscles, such as the trapezius, scalenes and pectorals. Therefore, chronic chest breathing can lead to chronic tension in the upper thoracic, shoulders and neck. The abdominals are usually chronically tight and all the organs of the body suffer from poor circulation.

   There is strong scientific evidence linking chest breathing to high blood pressure and heart disease. The most alarming thing that happens during chest breathing is that the diaphragm is prevented from descending completely, which has an immediate impact on the blood flow back into the heart. Tight jeans can also exacerbate this.

   Are You Over-Breathing?

   Panic attacks are becoming more common. This could be the times we are in, or maybe it’s due to ribcage constriction or stress and anxiety causing over-breathing.

   Over-breathing, or ‘hidden hyperventilation,’ happens when you experience 16 or more breaths per minute. It can mimic serious health concerns that can result in misdiagnosis and over-medicating, which are attributed to sixty percent of urban ambulance calls!

   Couple overbreathing with wearing a mask all day and you have a potent brew for anxiety and even panic attacks.

   Chronic or Hidden Hyperventilation is usually not recognized except in it’s extreme forms, although it can be both chronic and subtle. In fact, it is chronic low grade overbreathing that may be one of the most under-diagnosed health problems of our time.

   When you are sitting quietly you breathe 13-15 breaths per min. Women usually breathe 12-14 breaths. But when we develop the habit of hyperventilating we breathe fast no matter what we are doing. This type of breathing has the patterns of chest breathing.

   When the diaphragm is not used to its full extent this results in limited lung capacity and less oxygen being taken in. Most people will compensate by breathing in more breaths, thus causing over-breathing.

   The first thing that happens with over-breathing is one loses too much carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the crucial ingredient in helping maintain the right acid-alkaline balance in the blood. The slightest alterations in the pH of the body can make marked alterations in the rates of chemical reactions in the cells, slowing some down and speeding others up. When the body loses too much carbon dioxide the metabolism shifts from acid to alkaline.

   Muscular tension and pain can manifest in cramps, tight occipitals, neck, shoulders, pain between the scapula, twitching and stiffness. As far back as 1978 the Journal of American Medical Association produced a list of symptoms thought to be associated with chronic or hidden hyperventilation. They include but are not limited to fatigue, exhaustion, heart palpitations, rapid pulse, numbness and tingling in the limbs, shortness of breath, yawning, stomach pains, cramps, difficulty swallowing, dry throat and mouth, belching, flatulence, abdominal bloating, acid reflux, heart burn, stiffness, anxiety, nightmares, insomnia, sweaty palms, impairment of concentration and memory and a feeling of losing one’s mind!

   Focus On Your Breath

   That’s why we need to wear less restrictive clothing, and bring our focus back to our breath. Breath is one of the greatest gifts we have been given, but often it goes unopened.

   Breath is the simplest most effective stress-reducing tool in your survival kit, providing you are breathing correctly. By engaging with the breath, we increase our lifespan, relax chronic muscle tension, regain a clear mind and increase immune function – thus increasing our vitality. Yet, by ignoring the breath, we can lay the foundation for ill health.

   Be mindful of your ribcage constriction, tight pants, poor posture and the depth and quality of your breath. Loosen your bra. And practice deep, mindful breathing, like I outline below. It is one of the fastest ways to come home to yourself and have peace of mind.

   Long Complete Deep Breath

   Sit straight. If the spine is in a balanced position, the ribs and muscles are able to move freely.

   Begin to breathe into the abdomen, then into the chest and finish with the clavicle. All three are done in a smooth motion. As you exhale, start by relaxing the clavicle then slowly emptying the chest. Finally pull in the abdomen and force out any remaining air.

   What this exercise will do for you:

   • Relax and calm you
   • Give you clarity, cool headedness and patience
   • Reduce and prevent build up of toxins in the lungs
   • Stimulate the chemicals in the brain to fight depression
   • Build the aura in strength
   • Lung capacity is expanded

   Yours in radiant health and deep breathing,
   Patricia

9. Beauty and the Beast – The Perverse Relationship Between Breast Cancer and Environmental Estrogens

   March 12, 2021 12:27 pm Leave a Comment

   In October 2020 I was honored to be invited as a guest speaker for the Beljanski Foundation Breast Cancer Healthy Tuesdays show.

   Watch my presentation below on Beauty and the Beast – the Perverse Relationship Between Breast Cancer and Environmental Estrogens along with other health specialists on the panel that day.

   Find out more about Thermography and the Fibrocystic and Dense Breast in my book here.

10. Is Iodine Deficiency Putting Your Breast Health at Risk?

    February 25, 2021 2:46 pm Leave a Comment

    

    The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has been increasing dramatically in recent years.

    As a thermographer I can attest to this as I have personally seen an increase in women with fibrocystic breast, suspicious thermographic findings and breast cancer over the past 2 years.

    Aren’t we getting tired of these statics?

    One out of eight women is diagnosed with the disease with a staggering 4,000 new cases diagnosed weekly.

    Every year in the United States, more than 186,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 41,000 die because of the disease. With the billions dedicated to cancer research only 1-3% spent in research goes to prevention.

    Breast cancer is an industry that focuses on treatment, not prevention.

    The rhetoric of the war on breast cancer is just that…rhetoric, women want answers to prevent, treat and gain remission from the grip of breast cancer.

    Informed women are aware of the actions they can take to minimize their risk of developing breast cancer like reducing exposure to environmental estrogens and other toxins in their body, including:

    • eating healthy organic produce,
    • consuming hormone -free animal products,
    • using natural skin care products,
    • maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D,
    • exercising on a regular basis,
    • maintaining a healthy weight,
    • ditching their under-wire bras,
    • healing sexual trauma and
    • getting a yearly thermogram to monitor the health of their breasts.

    However, there is one secret weapon many women are not aware of: the essential mineral known as iodine.

    Iodine helps your hormone receptors function properly, giving your hormones the ability to communicate with ease and allowing your moods to be regulated. The breast tissue also requires iodine to remain healthy.

    There is growing evidence linking iodine deficiency and:

    • breast cancer,
    • fibrocystic breast,
    • uterine fibroids,
    • thyroid nodules,
    • breast cysts,
    • pancreatic cancer,
    • prostate cancer,
    • thyroid cancer and
    • lower IQ.

    Estrogen production becomes unbalanced and dysfunctional, and breast tissue becomes more sensitive to estrogen. Cystic changes occur, increasing the risk of breast cancer. Iodine turns on cancer cell death, apoptosis.

    Dr. Dave Derry, breast health specialist, states “iodine enables the excess cells [in the breasts] to be cleared out, and the breast can return to its natural state as the fibrocystic disease slowly disappears from the breast. A lack of iodine in the body can lead to the development of fibrocystic breasts.” You can read more at www.theiodineproject.webs.com

    Results obtained in studies of breast health noted that all forms tested: molecular iodine, sodium iodide and potassium iodide produced beneficial results; the best results were achieved with molecular iodine. Molecular iodine comes from sea vegetables.

    Without the proper amount of iodine, breast tissue can become fibrocystic or develop precancerous and cancerous lesions.

    Recent research shows prolonged deficiencies of iodine can exacerbate or be a contributing factor in the development of breast cancer. Animal studies conducted over 40 years ago showed breast tissue of animals with iodine deficiency developed cancer when the deficiency was not corrected.

    The same study showed the risk of breast cancer was directly related to the length of time the iodine deficiency was present. Iodine deficiency is also known to cause fibrocystic breast disease.

    It is a pre-cancerous condition of the breast tissue, which makes your breast very painful and fibrous.

    Due to the fibrous and dense nature of breast tissue in a fibrocystic state, it is very difficult for doctors to detect the presence of breast cancer.

    Iodine supplementation has been shown to significantly decrease breast pain, tenderness, and nodules of women with fibrocystic breast disease.

    Iodine can also decrease uterine fibroids.

    Japanese women consume a diet high in iodine-rich seaweed, which provides them with an iodine intake twenty-five times higher than the average American woman.

    Japanese women also have breast cancer rates roughly one-third of those found in American women, and that disappears in Japanese women who immigrate to the US, where they consume considerably less seaweed.

    If you have Graves Disease, or Hashimotos, please consult your physician before supplementing with iodine.

    There are three beneficial forms of iodine to nourish multiple body systems. Three forms are optimal because different tissues in the body prefer different forms.

    For example, your thyroid tissue absorbs iodine best as potassium iodide, while breast tissue takes up iodine in the form of molecular iodine. Additionally, there is evidence using sodium iodide enhances absorption of the other forms. Iodine supplementation is not just for preventing goiter.

    Actually, only a small amount of iodine is really necessary for preventing goiter. But today, doctors have found that all tissues of the body require iodine.

    The breasts, ovaries, uterus, thyroid, brain and prostate tissue require iodine.

    This is far from a definitive guide to iodine as there is so much information and science out there on the subject. We need to know of its importance in breast health as well as in all endocrine health. Look for the continuation of iodine in the next blog or grab a copy of by book: Thermography and the Fibrocystic and Dense Breast that provides further information.

    When we are educated about our breast health, it is empowering. No one loves her breasts as much as you do, and you want to keep them for the rest of your life!

    Here’s to your health, happy breasts!