Think Pinker

There’s been a lot of fan fare in recent weeks as President Obama takes the reins from President Bush. There’s been a lot of excitement and positive energy flowing since Obama’s win and rightfully so.

One of President Obama’s biggest challenges is his vow to create a better health care system and a better medical insurance system.  Right now many Americans don’t’ have health insurance and that means women aren’t likely getting the mammograms they should.

Your risk for breast cancer will depend on your risk factors. Do you have a mother or sister that has had breast cancer? Do you smoke? Do you exercise? Do you eat a well balance nutritious diet? Remember knowledge is power!

The biggest problem many Americans face when it comes to their health is their lack of health insurance, and that’s going to get a whole lot worse with the recession.

That means women are not only getting the screening they need, they are often not visiting a doctor when they first discover a lump, instead opting to take a wait and see approach. Sadly in some cases this can be the difference between life and death.

While easier more affordable access to medical professionals and treatments will certainly help, we must also remember that there is a great deal we can do ourselves to help stay healthier. What that means is it needs to be a joint effort.

The changes President Obama is talking about making could play a role. While it may not reduce the number of breast cancer cases a year, it could increase survival rates and that’s important.

We’ll have to take a wait and see attitude when it comes to what the new President has up his sleeve, but you should never take a wait and see attitude when it comes to your health!