Pregnancy is accompanied by a lengthy list of do's and don'ts—take prenatal vitamins, no alcohol, exercise carefully, and eat well. But what about when an unplanned health issue presents itself, such as the necessity for a mammogram? For most women, this might not even be something they think about until they are in a position where breast cancer screening is an option.

Perhaps you're over 40 and in need of your yearly mammogram, or perhaps you have a history of breast cancer in your family and you want to keep your screenings current. More emergently, you've found a lump in your breast. So, can you have a mammogram when pregnant? The answer is yes, but there are several things to consider.

Pregnancy creates substantial hormonal changes that affect the body, as well as breast tissue. Estrogen and progesterone's rise causes the breasts to expand and condition to produce milk, which results in denser tissue. This increased density is more challenging to detect any abnormalities with using mammograms. Even post-delivery, should the woman be breastfeeding, milk-filled glands can also make the breasts denser and, as a result, make mammogram readings less clear.

While 3D mammograms have improved imaging technology to help navigate dense breast tissue, doctors often suggest postponing routine screening mammograms until after pregnancy if there are no symptoms or high-risk factors. However, if a lump or abnormality is found, your doctor may recommend immediate diagnostic imaging.

When Is a Mammogram Necessary During Pregnancy?

Mammograms are not done routinely if a woman becomes pregnant, yet there are specific situations where one might be unavoidable. Breast cancer in pregnancy does occur—1 in 3,000 times—but it's not common. If a lump is detected by a woman, she has constant breast pain and no explanation, or she is at high risk (e.g., strong history of breast cancer in her family or genetic defect such as BRCA1 or BRCA2), a physician will order a mammogram.

The process itself takes very little radiation exposure. The radiation employed by a mammogram is concentrated on the breast, and there is little to no radiation that reaches other areas of the body. A lead apron is also placed over the belly to shield the unborn child.

Alternative Breast Imaging Options During Pregnancy

For pregnant women requiring breast imaging, physicians may initially suggest an ultrasound. In contrast to a mammogram, an ultrasound is not done with the use of radiation and is deemed safe for pregnant women.

An ultrasound of the breast can establish whether a lump is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid tumor that needs further investigation. Yet ultrasounds are not always diagnostic, and in certain instances, a mammogram or biopsy is needed to determine or rule out cancer.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is also an imaging choice but has some drawbacks. The majority of breast MRIs employ a contrast material called gadolinium, which is able to pass through the placenta and to the fetus. Although risks are not entirely clear, physicians usually do not use MRI with contrast unless necessary. Some practitioners may offer an MRI without contrast as an option.

What If You Find a Lump In Your Breast During Pregnancy?

Breast changes throughout pregnancy are normal, but finding a lump should never be taken lightly. If you notice a lump, alert your medical provider right away. They will conduct a clinical breast exam and potentially have you get an imaging study such as an ultrasound or mammogram to see whether anything needs to be done.

If imaging indicates a suspicious mass, a biopsy can be suggested. Core needle biopsy is the most frequently used and is safe during pregnancy. It consists of numbing the skin with local anesthetic and inserting a hollow needle into the area to obtain a small sample of tissue to be tested.

Breast Cancer Treatment During Pregnancy

In the extremely uncommon event of a diagnosis of breast cancer while pregnant, therapy will be determined by the nature and extent of cancer and by how far along in pregnancy one is. The most frequent form of treatment is surgery—either mastectomy (surgical removal of the entire breast) or lumpectomy (surgical removal of the lump)—which is usually safe while pregnant.

Chemotherapy is also possible but usually only attempted after the first trimester, when it can damage developing fetal tissue. Radiation therapy is not used during pregnancy and is typically deferred until after giving birth. Hormonal therapy and targeted therapies are also omitted until after giving birth.

Can I Get a Mammogram While Breastfeeding?

Yes, you can have a mammogram while you are breastfeeding. The radiation in a mammogram does not impact breast milk or hurt the baby. But breast density is still high during lactation, and this might complicate detection of abnormalities. To enhance image quality, physicians usually advise breastfeeding or pumping 30 minutes prior to the mammogram.

Routine screening mammograms are usually delayed in pregnancy unless there is a high-level concern.

If a lump is detected, an ultrasound is typically the initial imaging study done, with a mammogram being a consideration if additional assessment is necessary.

• Pregnancy mammograms utilize minimal radiation and are safe when required.
• Breast MRI with contrast is usually avoided in pregnancy.
• Breast biopsy, when necessary, is safe during pregnancy.

If breast cancer does develop during pregnancy, there are available treatment options that can be adjusted to keep the mother and infant safe.

Pregnancy is a period of significant change, and health issues particularly those involving breast health, are anxiety-provoking. Routine mammograms are typically postponed until after giving birth, but diagnostic testing can be done if necessary. The best you can do is discuss changes you notice in your breasts with your healthcare provider in an open manner. Early detection and prompt treatment can make a very big difference in the health of both mother and fetus.

People around the world frequently worry about aging, worrying about physical decline, illness, and a loss of independence s they grow older.

However, researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health have found that women who worry over their declining health may actually speed up the aging process due to the related-psychological stress.

Mariana Rodrigues, a PhD student at NYU School of Global Public Health and the first author of the study, said: "Our research suggests that subjective experiences may be driving objective measures of aging. Aging-related anxiety is not merely a psychological concern, but may leave a mark on the body with real health consequences."

"We know from previous research that anxiety, depression, and mental health in general are associated with a number of physical health outcomes, but until now researchers haven’t focused on whether there is a correlation between worrying about aging and the process of aging itself.

“Women in midlife may also be multiple in roles, including caring for their aging parents. As they see older family members grow older and become sick, they may worry about whether the same thing will happen to them".

After analyzing data from 726 women, the researchers while worrying about declining health, had the strongest associations with biological aging, anxiety about declining attractiveness and fertility were not significantly associated with it.

They theorized that this may be because research shows that health-related concerns are more common and persist over time, while worries about beauty and reproductive health may fade with age.

“Aging is a universal experience,” said Rodrigues. “We need to start a discourse about how we as a society—through our norms, structural factors, and interpersonal relationships—address the challenges of aging.”

Warning Signs You May Be Aging Faster

• Constant fatigue and loss of energy: Everyday tasks feel harder, and the body tires more quickly than before.
• Skin and hair changes: Reduced collagen and keratin production leads to sagging, wrinkles, and thinning or loss of hair.
• Cognitive decline: Memory lapses, difficulty in planning, and problems with calculations may point to aging-related changes in the brain as grey matter begins to shrink.
• Chronic conditions: Lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension are often tied to aging, linked to reduced insulin production and thicker, slower blood flow.

Can Premature Aging Be Prevented?

Excessive exposure to the sun speeds up skin aging, a process known as photoaging. This alone causes about 90% of the visible changes we see in skin, such as wrinkles, age spots, and rough texture. UV rays also damage cells, which raises the risk of skin cancer.

Blue light and infrared light: The remaining 10% of skin damage comes from high-energy visible (blue) light and infrared light. Blue light comes from the sun and also from screens, while infrared is the heat we feel. These don’t raise cancer risk but they do weaken collagen and elasticity, making skin sag sooner.

Other lifestyle factors that speed up aging include:

• Smoking: Nicotine toxins break down collagen and elastin, causing sagging skin, wrinkles, and a hollow look.
• Poor diet: Diets high in sugar and refined carbs may speed up aging, while diets rich in fruits and vegetables help protect the skin.
• Alcohol: Heavy drinking dehydrates and damages skin over time.
• Lack of sleep: Poor or insufficient sleep has been linked to faster cellular aging.
• Chronic stress: High cortisol levels from stress reduce substances like collagen and hyaluronic acid that keep skin smooth and firm.

Taking semaglutide can lower your risk of heart attacks and other major adverse cardiovascular events, regardless of how much weight you lose or if you have diabetes, according to a study published in The Lancet.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) have found that taking semaglutide drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus can reduce the risk of MACE (Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events, defined as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) by four percent for every 5kg less body weight or 5cm smaller waist.

The Novo Nordisk-funded study analyzed 17,604 people from 41 countries aged 45 years and over, who were overweight and had cardiovascular disease (CVD) but did not have diabetes.

The involved scientists said this finding “suggests there are multiple ways the drug benefits the heart, rather than its protective effect on cardiovascular health being due solely to weight loss”, which may include “supporting the health of the lining of blood vessels, reduced inflammation, improved blood pressure control and lower lipid levels“.

Lead author John Deanfield, professor of cardiology at the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, said: “Abdominal fat is more dangerous for our cardiovascular health than overall weight, and therefore it is not surprising to see a link between reduction in waist size and cardiovascular benefit. However, this still leaves two-thirds of the heart benefits of semaglutide unexplained.

“These findings reframe what we think this medication is doing. It is labelled as a weight-loss jab but its benefits for the heart are not directly related to the amount of weight lost. In fact, it is a drug that directly affects heart disease and other diseases of ageing.”

Can Obesity Raise The Risk Of Death?

Researchers from the UK and Finland, who analyzed over 500,000 people, found that those with a BMI of 30 or higher were at a significantly higher risk compared with people with a healthy BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. The risk escalated as body weight increased.

Dr Solja Nyberg, of the University of Helsinki and the study's first author, noted the problem could worsen and said: “As obesity rates are expected to rise globally, so will the number of deaths and hospitalizations from infectious diseases linked to obesity.

“To reduce the risk of severe infections, as well as other health issues linked with obesity, there is an urgent need for policies that help people stay healthy and support weight-loss, such as access to affordable healthy food and opportunities for physical activity.”

In the meantime, she added, it was “especially important” for those living with obesity to keep up to date with their vaccinations.

According to the World Health Organisation, obesity has been linked to 3.7 million deaths globally in 2024. If strong action is not taken, the number of people living with obesity is expected to double by 2030. Recently, the WHO released its first-ever guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, or GLP-1, therapies for managing obesity as a chronic and relapsing condition.

“Obesity is a major global health challenge that WHO is committed to addressing by supporting countries and people worldwide to control it effectively and equitably. Our new guidance recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Childhood Obesity: The Silent Crisis

Childhood obesity is a long-term health condition that develops when a child’s weight is above the healthy range for their age, height, and sex.

According to Mayo Clinic, doctors define it as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for children 2 years and older. In recent times, India has begun seeing a worrying rise in childhood obesity cases, especially in cities where lifestyle changes, unhealthy diets, and less physical activity are driving the trend.

In the United States, CDC data from 2017–2020 showed that about 19.7% of children and adolescents between ages 2 and 19 had obesity, roughly 14.7 million young people. Among them, 12.7% were between ages 2–5, 20.7% were 6–11, and 22.2% were 12–19.

Dr Vivek Jain, Senior Director & Unit Head, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital explains that in recent years, obesity among children has risen sharply due to many factors. Kids are spending more time in front of screens, getting less outdoor play, and attending online classes, all of which cut down their activity levels. At the same time, fast food, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks have become a regular part of diets.

Modern lifestyles also encourage frequent dining out, reliance on processed meals, and irregular eating. Add limited access to safe play areas, heavy academic schedules, and family history of obesity, and the risks become even higher.

Without intervention, obesity in childhood often continues into adulthood, increasing chances of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and even some cancers.

"I'm not scared of a germ, I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats," said the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr. Now 72, he said during a Theo Von podcast that he continued with in-person rehab meeting during pandemic due to his addiction because of his robust approach to infection.

In a statement, he said, "I said, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting every day’,” he told Von. “I said, ‘I’m not scared of a germ — I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats — and I know this disease [addiction] will kill me if I don’t treat it, which means, for me, going to meetings every day … for me, it was survival.”

Read: RFK Jr. Removes Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee

What Is Wrong With RFK Jr's Statement?

While toilet seat may not be the dirtiest item in an average household, as scientists, including professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, Dr Chuck Gerba told BBC that there are other dirtier items too. The statement to snort off a toilet seat could have a wrong tone.

While there exist other items with more bacteria than toilet, it is no safe to snort things off toilet seat and absolutely not to do drugs and to brag about it. This feels especially off when it comes from a Health Secretary.

On an average, a toilet seat typically has around 50 to 3,000 bacteria per square inch. A toilet seat could have many bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, norovirus and Shigella. They can cause gastrointestinal distress.

What is wrong with RFK Jr.'s statement is that having frequent encounters with fecal bacteria will not scientifically make him immune against the respiratory viruses which were common during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read: Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Controversial Nominee for U.S. Health Secretary?

This is because bacteria are single-celled, living organisms that can live independently, while viruses are much smaller, non-living agents and require a host cell to reproduce. The basic difference in its composition and how they function after entering the body is the reason why exposure to bacteria does not necessarily means one is protected or has immunity against a virus.

RFK Jr And His Anti-Vaxxer Stance

He is the nephew of former US President John F Kennedy popularly known as JFK, who was a democratic candidate. However, RFK Jr., who earlier filed candidature as a Democrat, then switched to an independent candidate and endorsed Trump heavily.

RFK Jr. works closely with many anti-vaccine activists who work for his nonprofit group Children's Health Defense. While in his recent speech, he said that he has "never been anti-vax and have never told the public to avoid vaccination", his track record shows otherwise.

In a podcast interview, he said, "There is no vaccine that is safe and effective" and told FOX News that he still believes in the now long-debunked idea that vaccines can cause autism. In another 2021 podcast, he urged people to "resist" CDC guidelines on getting their kids vaccinated. "I see somebody on a hiking trail carrying a little baby and I say to him, better not get them vaccinated," he said.

His non-profit also led an anti-vax campaign sticker and he appeared next on the screen to a sticker that read: "If you are not an anti-vaxxer you are not paying attention," reports AP.