Acclaimed women’s health and hormone expert Marla Ahlgrimm discusses the many benefits of physical activity for women.

Q: What are the advantages of staying active?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Physical activity has a host of benefits for girls and women of all ages. Staying active increases muscle strength and flexibility as well as helps you maintain your weight and energy levels. Physical activity further helps your body develop and maintain strong bones and protects against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, and insomnia.

Q: Are there certain types of exercises that are best for women?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Women should strive for a combination of aerobic and strength training activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most healthy adults should strive for around two hours of moderate physical activity each week, including two to three days of muscle strength training exercises.

Q: Should I talk to my doctor before beginning a new physical fitness program?

Marla Ahlgrimm: No matter your physical condition, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting something new. Your physician may have insight on your chosen exercise routine that could impact how it’s executed. During this conversation, your doctor will address any medical conditions that may inhibit your ability to exercise. Never began a new exercise regimen if you’re pregnant without speaking to your doctor first.

Q: How do I know when I’ve done too much?

Marla Ahlgrimm: As with all good things, moderation is the key where exercise is concerned. This is especially true for women who are not used to intense workouts. If you notice that your muscles are extremely sore or you experience pain in the hours and days following an exercise, that’s a good sign that you should take it easy. Respiratory issues and extreme fatigue as well as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and an irregular heartbeat are a few ways your body expresses that it has had enough.

Adrenal disorders can cause a number of disparaging symptoms, says women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. When the adrenal glands – glands that control cortisol and aldosterone – fail to produce, essential life functions take a hit.

Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency (AI)

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that AI may cause excessive fatigue, dizziness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and severe joint pain. Untreated, AI may eventually lead to weight loss, insatiable salt cravings, and darkening of the skin.  People with adrenal disorders may feel fine one day and barely have the energy to get out of bed the next.

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Teen pregnancy rates in the US have declined drastically over the last 25 years, says Marla Ahlgrimm, a women’s health expert and author of The HRT Solution. In 2015, the number of live births to high-school age mothers was 249,078, which represents a birth rate of 22 in 1000 in this age group; in 1991, that number was 62 in 1,000.

Marla Ahlgrimm says the exact reasons for the sharp drop in teen pregnancy is not clear, though a cultural shift toward delaying sexual activity and widespread availability of birth control may have contributed.

A racial divide

Teen pregnancy rates vary between ethnicities, says Marla Ahlgrimm. Hispanic girls were the most likely to conceive between the ages of 15 and 19 (41 in 1000) followed by African American girls (39 in 1000). Caucasian females had lower numbers (18 in 1000) with young Asian women experiencing the lowest number of teenage pregnancies (9 in 1000). Socioeconomic factors, including access to education, family stability, and income all play a role in the occurrence of teen pregnancies. Marla Ahlgrimm notes that girls in the foster care system are more than twice as likely to have a baby as their peers in a family environment.

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HIV is a virus that affects the T-cells of the body, which work to fight disease. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, women with HIV are more prone to cervical cancer and severe pelvic inflammatory disease.

Transmission

HIV is a virus spread most commonly through unprotected sexual intercourse. Marla Ahlgrimm notes that people who use intravenous drugs may contract the virus if they share a needle with an HIV+ user. In women, HIV is typically contracted during unprotected vaginal sex.
Symptoms

HIV develops in three stages before culminating in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), says Marla Ahlgrimm. Once the virus enters the body it takes approximately two months for symptoms of the primary infection to emerge. These include fever, swollen lymph glands, rash, sore throat, and headache. Beyond the primary infection, swollen lymph nodes are usually the only symptom of the clinical latent infection stage. Marla Ahlgrimm describes the signs of an early symptomatic HIV infection as similar to the primary infection with the inclusion of extreme fatigue, persistent oral yeast infections, shingles, diarrhea, and unintentional weight loss.

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A normal pregnancy results when a fertilized egg develops inside the uterus. When that fails to happen, the pregnancy is referred to as ectopic. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, an ectopic pregnancy is not viable and poses an immediate risk to the life of the mother.

Most ectopic pregnancies take place in the fallopian tubes; however, they may occur in an ovary or, rarely, on another organ. Signs of ectopic pregnancy can mimic other conditions, asserts Marla Ahlgrimm. Vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain of any kind, weakness, fainting, or shoulder pain are all signs of a possible ectopic pregnancy in women of childbearing age. These symptoms may arise before pregnancy is even suspected.

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Being pregnant doesn’t mean you are simply “eating for two.” The moment you become pregnant, you are  drinking, breathing, exercising, and living for yourself and another precious life, asserts Marla Ahlgrimm. It’s vital to the health of your baby to carefully consider what you do to your body. Everything you take in, from asparagus to alcohol, goes directly to your unborn baby.

Smoking

Smoking can affect the reproductive system before conception. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that smoking can make it more difficult for a woman to get pregnant. During pregnancy, the toxins in cigarette smoke can cause problems with the placenta, premature birth, low birth weight, and miscarriage. Smoking during and after pregnancy has been found to be a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a cleft palate or cleft lip. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that electronic cigarettes are not a safe alternative during pregnancy. The liquid in e-cigs contains nicotine and other harmful ingredients.

Alcohol

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, there is no safe amount of alcohol that a woman can consume while pregnant or trying to get pregnant. She stresses there is also no safe time during the pregnancy to drink. Wine, beer, and liquor are all dangerous to an unborn baby. When a mother drinks, the alcohol passes through her blood into the umbilical cord and then on to the baby. Drinking during pregnancy puts the child at a greater risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. There are a number of disabilities associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, one of the most well-known disorders affecting infants of alcoholic mothers. A few of these include:

• Small head size
• Hyperactive behavior
• Attention deficit disorder
• Impaired memory skills
• Significant learning disabilities
• Small stature
• Language delays

Drugs

Marla Ahlgrimm stresses that there are no known illegal drugs that are safe to use while pregnant. As well, many over-the-counter and prescription medications pose a high risk to an unborn baby and mother. Cocaine, for instance, can cross the placenta and may cause placental abruption and fetal or maternal death.