AWARE: What do peanuts, celery, umbrellas, noodles, breast implants and athletic training have in common?

What a question!

The answer is the month of March. All of these things, plus many more, are commemorated in some form during the month.

Yes, even breast implants.

We are making light of the situation, but in all seriousness, implants aren’t just for those looking to enhance their bust line. Implants are often used for cancer patients for reconstruction rather than cosmetic reasons. There are risks involved, and we would encourage anyone considering implants to research the risks and speak to a medical professional.

Would you believe breast augmentation was first attempted in the 1890s? It was paraffin injections, but the substance leaked into other parts of the body.

Incidentally, it wasn’t until about 20 years later that men decided to wear helmets while riding motorcycles.

Priorities.

Different attempts at breast augmentation proved unsuccessful until silicone implants were invented by Frank Gerow and Thomas Cronin in the 1960s. In 1992, silicone implants were recalled due to adverse reactions. Saline implants became the standard. In 2006, the FDA cleared silicone implants for patients 22 and older.

Now on a separate topic — celery. There is a National Celery Month in March. ‘Per serving, the crunchy vegetable has 16 calories. It’s a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Add it to snacks to benefit from its anti-inflammatory qualities,’ says National Day Calendar.

On a much more serious note, March is awareness month for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, bleeding disorders, kidneys, traumatic brain injuries, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, endometriosis, colorectal cancer and trisomy.

It is also self-harm awareness month.

Studies say 17% of people will self-harm in their lifetimes. It can look like cutting, punching, burning, pulling hair or choking oneself.