Many people wish to healthy for their complete lifetime. Exercising on a regular basis and having healthy eating habits are great ways to maintain both healthy bodies and minds. Many people like to swim in order to stay healthy and many people have a strict eating regimen in order to stay healthy. Moreover, yoga is a very popular and pleasurable way to exercise. Most people in the health industry believe that people ought to exercise at least three times a week. Also, people should attempt to follow the food pyramid daily as closely as possible. In addition to exercising regularly and eating correctly, it is essential for people to get yearly medial checkups. A yearly medical checkup for women could include a mammography for the detection of breast cancer. Getting a mammography for the detection of breast cancer is supposed to begin for women at age forty. Of course getting a mammography for the detection of breast cancer can and should start sooner than age forty if there is a history of breast cancer in the woman’s family. There is a myth that men don’t ever get breast cancer, however, the myth isn’t true. This is because men do have breast so they can and often do get breast cancer; although men getting breast cancer is rarer than women getting breast cancer. However, men should consult their doctor if they believe that they could have breast cancer or that they are at risk for getting breast cancer.

Mammography is the process of using low dose X-rays in order to examine the human breast. It is used to look for different types of tumors and cysts. Mammography has been proven to reduce morality from breast cancer. No other imaging technique has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer, but self breast examinations and a physician examination are essential parts of regular breast care. In some countries such as the United States, routine mammography for older women is encouraged as a screening method to diagnose early breast cancer. Screening mammograms were first proven to save lives in the research published by Sam Shapiro, Philip Strax, and Louis Venet in 1966. Therefore, getting a yearly mammography for the detection of breast cancer is a good way to remain healthy.

Like all X-rays, mammograms use doses of ionizing radiation to create the image. Then, radiologists analyze the image for any abnormal growths. It is normal to use longer wavelength X-rays than those used for the radiography of bones. During the procedure, the breast is compressed by a dedicated mammography machine to even out the tissue in order to increase the image quality and to hold the breast still; this prevents motion blur. Both front and side images of the breasts are taken. Deodorant, talcum powder, and lotion may show up on the X-ray as calcium spots, therefore, women are discouraged from applying these products on the day of their mammography.

At this time, a mammography for the detection of breast cancer along with a physical breast examination is still the modality of choice for screening for breast cancer.