Summer is almost here and that means lots of time outdoors. And while that’s a good thing, Marla Ahlgrimm explains that it also means potential exposure to warm-weather hazards, including Lyme disease.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, Lyme disease is the result of being bitten by a tick infected with a specific bacteria. Symptoms are mild at first and may initially appear as a rash with a bull’s-eye pattern. Not all people bitten by an infected tick will develop a rash. As Lyme disease progresses, it can present with fatigue, a stiff neck, body aches, headache, and fever, which can spike to 101° or higher.

Unfortunately, as Marla Ahlgrimm explains, Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed as its symptoms mimic those of the seasonal flu and a number of other less serious conditions. People who do not spend a great deal of time outdoors may reject the notion of Lyme disease altogether. Further complicating matters is that laboratory testing is not always conclusive until the infection has spread for two to three weeks.

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It’s normal to feel some anxiety at some point in your life, says women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. However, if your anxiety takes control of your actions and changes your day-to-day life in a negative way, you may be suffering with an anxiety disorder. Here, Ahlgrimm opens up about anxiety issues in women, which are affected twice as often as men.

Q: What is anxiety?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Anxiety can be best described as a sense of nervousness or worry. People often feel anxious when facing a stressful situation, such as a wedding or high-stakes academic testing. Usually, these feelings subside during the event or soon after it’s over. But anxiety that interferes with daily life can be debilitating.

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Christmas is nearly here and while you might have avoided overindulging at turkey time, December 25th brings in a whole new batch of temptation. Here, Marla Ahlgrimm answers a few common questions on how to maintain a balanced diet throughout the holiday season.

Q: I have so many parties to attend. I don’t want to be rude; what can I do to enjoy myself without snubbing the food?

Marla Ahlgrimm: How you manage your cravings and temptations starts with breakfast. You’ll be less likely to over-do it if you begin your day with something hearty and heart-healthy such as oatmeal, fruit, and a boiled egg.

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Without women like Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell and Dr. Mary Walker, Marla Ahlgrimm may have never had the opportunity to work in medicine. Here, the retired pharmacist reflects on her foremothers in the hopes that a new generation of female healthcare providers might remember that women were not always on top in the medical field.

Q: When were women first accepted as medical providers?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Women’s role in medicine actually dates back to ancient times. As far back as 1500 BCE, there were women studying medicine in Egypt. Greek mythology tells of four granddaughters of Apollo who were respected physicians.

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Marla Ahlgrimm, a veteran women’s health expert and retired compounding pharmacist, says heart disease isn’t what happens when you lose your first love. It’s the #1 killer of women and should be taken seriously from an early age. Here, Ahlgrimm answers a few questions about the condition.

Q: What is the most important things women should know about the heart?

Marla Ahlgrimm: I would encourage young women to take steps to keep their heart — and their entire body – healthy. Heart disease kills more women than any other health condition but it may be thwarted by a lifetime of healthy eating and the right amount of exercise. And women who do eventual develop heart disease can stave off many of its symptoms by modifying their lifestyle.

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Medicine has been a male dominated industry since the 1400s. Marla Ahlgrimm, one of the most prominent pharmacists and women’s healthcare experts of the last century, says that women have always played an important role in healthcare. Here, the author and speaker shares a peek into the history of two of the women who paved the path to her own career.

Prior to the 1400s, women were heavily involved in the health and medical care of those in their community, says Marla Ahlgrimm. That changed when Europe declared that only those with a university degree could practice medicine of any kind. At the time, and largely throughout the next 500 years, women were not allowed to attend college and therefore were ineligible for medical licensure.

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