You might just need all the help you can get this spring. Mitchell Gaynor, MD, and clinical assistant professor of medicine at New York City’s Weill-Cornell Medical College, says that this year’s pollen vortex (yup, that’s a thing) will make allergy season even worse than usual.
“We had such a harsh, cold winter and there hasn’t been the slow release of pollen into a gradual spring like we usually have,” says Dr. Gaynor. “I think this will be one of the worst allergy seasons in memory.” (Hoard boxes of Kleenex now?)
But there’s actually no need to extend your hibernation straight through until summer, according to Dr. Gaynor’s new book, The Gene Therapy Plan: Taking Control of Your Genetic Destiny with Diet and Lifestyle, out later this month. In it, he explains that even though your maddeningly itchy eyes and runny nose might be genetic, you can get rid of them with vitamins and food.
“You can control allergies with diet,” affirms Dr. Gaynor. “Certain foods work to alter the expression of your genes.” Consider it like the way you alter the expression of your tush with squats.
Here are five nutrients you want to makes sure you’re getting when the sneezing, itchy eyes, and sore throats strike.
1. Magnesium. The mineral “helps open up your airwaves,” Dr. Gaynor says. “You can take 200 mg by supplement or eat magnesium-rich foods like spinach, kale, and sunflower seeds” And if you want to up the ante on your salad, you can even soak in a magnesium-filled bath.
2. Probiotics. Your gut has close ties to your immune system, which means a lot of the same foods benefit both your belly and your sinuses. “It’s a good idea to take a probiotics, but fermented foods, miso, tempeh, low-fat Greek yogurt, and Kefir have also been found help allergies,” Dr. Gaynor says.
3. Vitamin C. Reaching for citrus is a no-brainer when you feel a cold coming on, but vitamin C can also help temper your sniffling, runny nose, and itchy eyes from seasonal allergies. “When you have allergies, your histamine levels are high,” explains Dr. Gaynor. “The vitamin C in citrus like oranges, bell peppers, tomatoes, and peas helps lower the release of histamine and breaks it down quicker.”
4. Bioflavonoids. Stock up on Brussels sprouts, mangoes, garlic, and green tea—Doctor’s orders. The healthy plant-based antioxidants found in these foods “help reduce the amount of histamine your body produces,” Dr. Gaynor says.
5. Quercetin. “This [antioxidant] nutrient helps suppress the part of the immune system that causes allergies, and it reduces histamines,” Dr. Gaynor says, so you want to load up on this one. It’s found in apples (especially Granny Smith), which the doctor recommends daily, plus onions, parsley, and sage. —Molly Gallagher
Searches for “can men get breast cancer?” skyrocketed during Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX after Novartis, a pharmaceutical company, ran an ad focused on encouraging women to get screened for breast cancer. Called “Your Attention Please,” the commercial showed multiple close-ups of cleavage and women going about their daily lives before featuring a message from cancer survivor and comedian Wanda Sykes.
chair for cancer research and a professor of medicine in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
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“Early detection for breast cancer is a game-changer, and why I’m able to be here today,” Sykes says in the ad. “So let’s get more women screened than ever before.” While the commercial didn’t mention men, male breast cancer is a real thing—even though it often flies under the radar. Oncologists (or, doctors who specialize in treating cancer) say it’s crucial for everyone, regardless of gender, to be aware that breast cancer can happen to them, too. Here’s what healthcare providers who treat male breast cancer cases want you to know.
How common is male breast cancer—and why does it happen?
Male breast cancer is rare, making up about 1 percent of all breast cancer cases in the U.S., according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Still, it happens often enough. “I probably see a male breast cancer patient every month to every other month,” says Richard J. Bleicher, MD, chief of the Division of Breast Surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center. “Most surgeons may see one male breast cancer patient a year.”
It's worth noting that people assigned female at birth are more likely to experience breast cancer due to higher levels of estrogen and progesterone (the two most common female hormones). These hormones can promote cell growth in the breast cells, including the growth of harmful cells like cancer. While people assigned male at birth don't have the same risk of breast cancer due to their hormone levels, there are other factors that can increase the risk of male breast cancer, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Aging
Inherited genetic mutations that can increase breast cancer risk, like BRCA1 and BRCA2
Family history of breast cancer
Personal history of undergoing radiation therapy to the chest
Taking medications that contain estrogen
Living with health conditions that affect the testicles
Having a diagnosis for Klinefelter syndrome (a rare genetic condition), liver disease, or obesity
“Men should look for any changes to the nipple,” Dr. Grumley says. “In men, breast cancer tumors commonly happen around the nipple because that’s where their breast tissue is predominantly located.” She lists scaling and retraction of the nipple (where it looks like the nipple is being pulled inward) as the most important symptoms to get checked out.
“Sometimes men will find a lump or swelling in the breast or under the arm, which can be a sign of breast cancer,” says Sharon Giordano, MD, MPH, chair for cancer research and a professor of medicine in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. A man with breast cancer may also notice bleeding from the nipple, she adds.
“Men should know what their breasts feel like,” Dr. Grumley adds. “If there is any difference from [their] normal, they should contact their healthcare provider.”
“Men usually end up finding a mass,” Dr. Bleicher says. This will usually feel “rock-like” and firm, he explains. “It can also be fixed to the skin of the nipple,” he adds. Healthcare providers may notice a mass during an annual physical exam, but it’s more common for men to detect a lump on their own bodies first, Dr. Giordano says.
If you or a man in your life are experiencing changes in your breast health, seeing a healthcare provider is paramount. They will first conduct a physical exam and then can order imaging scans to look for a tumor. “Oftentimes, they’ll get an ultrasound, but some men have enough tissue to get a mammogram,” Dr. Grumley says. A needle biopsy (a procedure that removes a small amount of tissue or fluid from the breast) will be the next step, Dr. Bleicher adds. The biopsy sample will then be sent to a lab to be analyzed to see if the lump is, in fact, cancer.
What's the prognosis, doc?
Due to the lack of screening guidelines in place for male breast cancer, men usually receive a breast cancer diagnosis at later stages than women do, Dr. Bleicher explains. “The challenge is that many men aren’t as aware as women of the fact that they can get breast cancer,” he says. As a result, a man may be more dismissive of his symptoms early on and wait to seek an evaluation, Dr. Bleicher adds.
But if you receive a diagnosis for male breast cancer, the prognosis and treatment options are the same, regardless of gender. Every person's cancer journey is unique. While the most common treatment options for breast cancer are surgery to remove the tumor or the breast(s) completely, chemotherapy, and radiation, your treatment plan will depend on the stage of cancer you're in, Dr. Grumley explains.
The bottom line
It's often easy to dismiss breast cancer if you identify as male—and a big part of that is because there's not enough awareness in place that anyone, regardless of gender, can be at risk of the condition. While male breast cancer cases only make up a tiny sliver of all breast cancer diagnoses, knowing the symptoms and checking in with your healthcare provider if you notice any concerning signs is essential.
“Early detection is important,” Dr. Bleicher says. “If a man does feel a mass in the breast, it’s important to seek out help from a provider or specialist.” Doing so sooner rather than later just might save your life.
Woods, Ryan W et al. “Image-based screening for men at high risk for breast cancer: Benefits and drawbacks.” Clinical imaging vol. 60,1 (2020): 84-89. doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2019.11.005 ↩︎
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There are approximately five thousand days in the month of January—and yet somehow February (and its mid-month celebration of *all things love*) always creeps up on you. But don’t panic: The latest TikTok trend has you covered this Valentine’s Day, whether you’re showering your romantic partner, all your besties, or yourself with TLC.
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At 1.2 billion TikTok views and counting, bae baskets are making a major splash, and for good reason. The concept isn’t complicated: Put together a care package of sorts, filled with simple-but-swoon-worthy goodies that feel unique and personal to your recipient. It’s a super thoughtful (not to mention low-effort) way to show your A team you notice and care about the things that bring them joy—and the best part? It can be totally wallet-friendly, and definitely doesn’t seem like you waited until the last possible second to grab them a gift.
To get you inspired to build your own Valentine’s Day gift basket, we scoured the shelves at CVS—because nothing can beat the convenience of CVS if you’re a last-minute shopper—and rounded up eight essentials that anyone on your love list is guaranteed to appreciate and *actually* use. Think: cozy pillows for your favorite homebody, candles and beauty products for the self-care connoisseur, and plenty of sweet treats for, well, everyone.
Bonus: They’re all under $25—which you can brag about to your friends who love to budget, or keep as your best-kept secret (we won’t tell)—and with CVS ExtraCare, you can get additional savings and Extrabucks back on tons of Valentine’s Day finds. So grab a wicker box, a shower caddy, or a canvas bag, and start filling bae baskets for every love in your life (reminder: that includes you).
Start your bae basket with a festive and romantic base (extra points for one that fills up some space). This white, faux fur pillow is a fun seasonal add to any couch, bed, or cozy chair, and serves as an understated invitation to snuggle.
You can never have enough candles, and this soy blend—made with rose and tonka for a warm, sweet, and spicy scent that’ll linger in any space—serves as a reminder to relax and relish in a little self-care. Mood lighting, activated.
Keep the self-care session going strong with healing bath salts that help relax the body and moisturize the skin (and they smell like summertime). The hibiscus and berry extracts form a soothing foam and give the tub a red tint that feels *very* seasonally appropriate. Feeling fancy? Toss in some rose petals to really give your bath-themed basket some extra pizzazz.
There’s no greater love than BFF love—and adding friendship bracelets to your bae basket is a sweet way to acknowledge that. Gift your #1 this pack of eight, dish them out to your closest crew, or stack them all on your own wrist (because, ICYMI, it’s very cool to be your own best pal).
The TikToksphere loves bae baskets almost as much as it loves Stanley tumblers. Skip the investment and nestle this heart-fluttering dupe into your care package for better hydration on Valentine’s Day and beyond. Toss in a couple boxes of Sweethearts Conversation Hearts to round out the theme.
A new tube of lip tint will have all your beauty-loving besties blowing kisses. This long-lasting formula from Maybelline glides on smoothly and leaves a soft, matte finish on your pout—and it comes in 10 buildable and blendable shades. From February 9 to 15, you can get $6 Extrabucks when you buy two tubes, so go ahead and grab one for yourself.
No bae basket is complete without chocolate (yes, even for the S.O.s who claim they don’t like dessert). From coconut, to raspberry velvet, to sugar cookie, there’s a surprise filling for everyone in this box of 14 truffles.
No need to choose between chocolate or gummies this Valentine’s Day (or, um, ever). Instead, pair your Godiva chocolates with this heart-shaped carton of classic Haribo bears. With ExtraCare, you can buy one and get the second box 50 percent off. How sweet is that?
