"Pap tests don't check for or find endometrial cancer, and most women who get it have normal Paps," says Nita Karnik Lee, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago Medicine. In order to detect the disease, your doctor would have to order a transvaginal ultrasound or CT scan (along with a biopsy)—which of course isn't standard or advisable unless there's a strong reason to suspect you might have cancer.
To protect yourself, start by knowing your risk factors: You can get endometrial cancer anytime, but it's most common between ages 45-74. Being overweight, having diabetes, and taking estrogen-only hormones ups your risk. So does going through menopause later than normal or having gotten your first period at an extra young age.
But the most important thing you can do, really, is to know the warning signs. (If you catch endometrial cancer early, it's highly curable.) Here are some worth bringing to your doc's attention:
It's 2 a.m. and you're wide awake. Again. What's the deal?
First of all, understand that waking up in the middle of the night is completely normal and part of our human DNA, says Jose Colon, MD, founder of Paradise Sleep and author of The Sleep Diet.
"Nobody sleeps through the night," Colon says. In fact, he says even 4 to 6 nocturnal awakenings are considered normal. "This goes back to our caveman days where one would wake up, scan the environment, make sure there are no tigers, and then go back to sleep," he says.
That last part is key: You should be able to go back to sleep. If you can't, one of these 5 sleep stealers may be standing between you and a good night's rest:
Arugula, also known as rocket and rucola, is a lesser known cruciferous vegetable that provides many of the same benefits as other vegetables of the same family — broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts.
Arugula leaves are tender and bite-sized with a tangy flavor. Along with other leafy greens, arugula contains very high nitrate levels (more than 250 milligrams per 100 grams).
High intakes of dietary nitrate have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise, and enhance athletic performance.
This article provides a nutritional breakdown of arugula and an in-depth look at its possible health benefits, how to incorporate more arugula into your diet, and any potential health risks associated with consuming arugula.
