You might be familiar with your respiratory system and your cardiovascular system, but Marla Ahlgrimm says that many people aren’t quite as acquainted with the endocrine system. The author and women’s health expert says this is a shame since the endocrine system is more or less the body’s control panel.

Q: What is the endocrine system?

Marla Ahlgrimm: This is an extensive network of glands that both manufacture and deliver hormones throughout the body. The endocrine system releases hormones that play a role in heart, tissue, and bone development. Its health also determines whether or not you develop certain diseases, including growth disorders, diabetes, and hormone disorders.

Q: How many glands make up the system?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There are more than a dozen glands within the endocrine system. The thyroid, for example, is a gland in the neck with the very important job of keeping your metabolism in check. The lesser-known pineal gland is located deep inside the brain and affects sleep. Specifically for women, the ovaries are another important part of the endocrine system and are essential to human reproduction.

Q: What are some common endocrine disorders?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Diabetes is the most well known. This is when your body is unable to use or produce insulin, a hormone related to blood sugar (glucose) usage. Less common is acromegaly, or gigantism, which causes people to grow exceptionally fast. The thyroid gland can be affected with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism which is where the body produces too much or too little thyroid hormone respectively.

Q: Are endocrine disorders treatable?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Some are. Modern medicine has made it possible to identify and treat common system disorders. Some women with ovarian disorders may find hormone therapy effective while others may need to have tumors or other lesions removed to return the body back to normal. Diabetes and thyroid issues can often be managed with medications.

Depression is one of the most common complaints among women, says Marla Ahlgrimm. In fact, across the globe, and despite economic status, race, and social standing, women overwhelmingly experience downturned emotions more often than their male counterparts.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, including depression, than men. One potential reason for this is that women are often more open to being treated for depressive symptoms. However, women’s bodies experience many more hormonal changes than men, which no doubt contributes to the instances of depression among the fairer sex.

There is much that science still has to learn about the brain and how hormones affect it. One thing that is known, however, is that hormones are dictated by certain brain functions and that many of the same hormones can have a negative influence on the parts of the brain that regulate mood and emotion. An area this is seen is in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD. This group is at a higher risk of depression than those who do not report premenstrual symptoms.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, there are ways to offset the symptoms of depression. The first, she explains, is to pay attention to your overall health. This will include eating well, spending time with friends and family, and sleeping at least seven hours every night. These actions work together to give the mind and body everything they require to be strong and healthy.

Women who experience long-lasting depression that gets worse during their period may benefit from talking to their doctor about hormonal birth control. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that birth control can be used to help stabilize hormones. The drawback of this, however, is that it is virtually impossible to become pregnant while taking birth control. Marla Ahlgrimm cautions that women who are already depressed may be at a greater risk of postpartum depression and should consult with their healthcare team prior to conception.

For as long as records have existed, women have been taking steps to enhance their appearance. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, one way that modern women do this is by undergoing elective procedures to re-form problem areas in an effort to look more attractive. Breast implants are quite common, and many women today are also choosing to have implants inserted into their derrière.

Unfortunately, all surgical procedures come with risks, and some of the materials used for these types of implants have been linked to anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a type of blood cancer. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that more than 600 women worldwide have been diagnosed with the disease after receiving textured breast or gluteal implants. 16, including nine in the United States, have died.

The vast majority of implant -related cancers were triggered by breast implants. In 2019, it was confirmed that butt implants caused the condition in at least one woman one year after the surgery. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that gluteal implants are filled with silicone and are used to augment the shape of a woman’s buttocks. In 2017, more than 36,000 gluteal augmentation procedures were scheduled and performed by surgeons globally.

[Read more…]

Spring is in the air, and the daffodils are blooming throughout much of the country. Marla Ahlgrimm says that now is the perfect time to focus on safety. If you don’t already have a first aid kit, you should spend some time putting one together.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, small injuries, such as scrapes and bug bites, can often be treated at home. However, you have to have the right tools to do it. This is where a first aid kit comes in handy. The first thing to put into your first aid kit is an up-to-date first aid manual, which your doctor may be able to provide. You will also want to keep information handy relating to any medical conditions suffered by members of your family.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that a first aid kit should include an assortment of sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape. Gauze is absorbent and can help larger injuries, such as would be sustained by a small bicycle crash, stay clean and heal faster. You should also have antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, and hydrogen peroxide available.

If you’re going to be going on vacation, or if you have a family boat or swimming pool, you should keep a fully-stocked first aid kit in your luggage, boat, or near the pool. Instant cold packs to treat swelling and heat exhaustion along with calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream will also come in handy throughout the spring and summer months. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that tweezers and alcohol wipes are essential when you have children, especially if they like to climb trees or run barefoot in the yard.

Your first aid kit should also include a few non-prescription medications such as ibuprofen and Tylenol. Keep a thermometer and small package of Kleenex available to help treat summer colds.

Once you have your first aid kit together, Marla Ahlgrimm says that you should make a point to keep it out of reach of children. Check your kit twice per year and replace anything that has been used or is expired.

As women, we’ve long been conditioned to do our hair and makeup daily. But there’s plenty of reasons to skip the foundation and let your natural beauty shine through. Marla Ahlgrimm says that just four of these are:

1. You’ll save money

If you’ve ever walked into an Ulta or Sephora, you know that makeup is big business. A name-brand foundation can easily set you back $40 or more. Good powder isn’t much less. And considering that makeup should only be kept for six months before hitting the trash bin, it isn’t hard to spend $50 to $100 per month on makeup. Marla Ahlgrimm says this money may be best spent on skincare — moisturizer and gentle cleansers can make your skin look more radiant than any tinted product.

[Read more…]

Menopause is a time in a woman’s life when things begin to change. These changes are due to hormones and often involve the reproductive system. But according to Marla Ahlgrimm, menopause does not just indicate the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Every system in the body is affected, including the musculoskeletal system.

Q: What is osteoporosis?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Osteoporosis is a term that literally translated is “porous bones.” Essentially, it means that the bones have begun to weaken. While men experience some bone loss, osteoporosis is most closely related to women, and specifically women undergoing menopause.

[Read more…]