Q: What are phytoestrogens?

Marla Ahlgrimm: These are weak estrogens that occur naturally in plants. They are chemically similar to the estrogens found in a woman’s body. Phytoestrogens are considerably less potent than natural estrogens produced by the body.

Q: How do phytoestrogens affect the body?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There is very little definitive evidence that they have any major impact on the body. However, it’s accepted that plant estrogens may affect hot flashes, breast and heart health and bone strength. Phytoestrogens may be beneficial in helping to prevent heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol levels.

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Q: How does progesterone typically affect the female body?

Marla Ahlgrimm:  Progesterone is one of the body’s major hormones, helping to regulate and stimulate various functions. In women, it plays an important part in maintaining pregnancy. This hormone is produced by the adrenal glands, the ovaries or the placenta during pregnancy. It  also prepares a woman’s body for pregnancy and conception, as well as regulates her menstrual cycle.

Q: What are the effect of a decreased level of progesterone?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Decreased progesterone is often believed to be responsible in part for PMS symptoms such as mood swings and breast tenderness. Be aware that many of these symptoms can coincide with symptoms of other issues, however.

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A growing number of medical professionals have warned patients against the habit of sitting at their desks for lengthy periods of time. As a benefit for today’s cubicle dwellers, pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm provides a few recommendations for people who are often sedentary throughout the day.

Q: How does leading a sedentary lifestyle affect a person’s health?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Sitting for hours on end has been associated with heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and other troubling conditions and ailments that may lead to premature death. By introducing activity breaks into a daily routine, people have the opportunity to increase blood flow and create good habits that last a lifetime.

Q: Are there certain suggestions that have worked for your friends and colleagues?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Set a timer on a cell phone or computer that makes a sound every hour. When this alarm goes off, complete the task and then enjoy a brisk five-minute walk around the building or down the street. Even for those who are active outside the office, a short timeout every once in a while is necessary to ward off unwanted health complications.

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Many American women devote much of their day to sedentary activities like working at a desk or watching television, and that can pack on the pounds. For a woman to maintain a healthy body weight, women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm, encourages a regular workout program to get the blood pumping. Vigorous exercise in the form of jogging, swimming and dancing and other physical activities can all reduce disease risk and body fat. Since so many women are juggling responsibilities at work and home,  pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm, recommends walking around the block during lunch hour as a suitable alternative. Using the stairs instead of an elevator can also produce results.

The location of body fat has been shown to be a key factor in health conditions, says Marla Ahlgrimm. Extra fat located in the stomach area has been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, early heart disease and several forms of cancer. It presents a greater health risk than extra fat in the thighs and hips. Focusing on the abdominal region during workouts can help to keep a woman slim and trim while boosting her energy levels.

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Q: What is the history of testosterone therapy in the United States?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Health professionals in the United States have prescribed testosterone therapy as far back as the late 1930s. In women, the adrenal glands and ovaries produce testosterone.

Q: Why has the perception of testosterone therapy changed over the past decade?

Marla Ahlgrimm: With further recognition of the benefits of testosterone in women, support for this therapy have continued to grow. Researchers are beginning to discard long-held notions in the medical community about the usage of hormones. Tens of thousands of American women have begun to achieve promising results from testosterone therapy prescribed by their physicians.

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According to women’s health pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm, women are at higher risk of developing a urinary tract infection than their male counterparts. Here, Ahlgrimm describes the most effective treatments for a urinary tract infection, along with tips on how to reduce the likelihood of developing one.

Q: How does a UTI typically affect the human body?

Marla Ahlgrimm: A UTI may have a major impact on any area of the urinary system. By definition, the urinary system consists of the kidneys and ureters, as well as the urethra and the bladder. The upper urinary tract includes the ureters and kidneys.

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