One common concern among child-bearing-age women is whether taking antibiotics could have an effect on birth control. The answer, Marla Ahlgrimm asserts, is yes, specifically for women taking estrogen-based oral contraceptive.

Marla Ahlgrimm reports that antibiotics can have a negative effect on estrogen-based oral contraceptives. This is because antibiotics, which are meant to kill bacteria that trigger infection and illness, also attack healthy bacteria in the gut that activates certain types of birth control.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, one of the first indications of antibiotic interference is mid-cycle bleeding, spotting outside of a period. This is a good sign that any oral birth controls being taken may be less effective and that sexual contact should be avoided if other forms of birth control are not immediately available. It is important to note that topical antibiotics, such as creams and gels, are not likely to affect birth control as they are not absorbed into the bloodstream. These are ointments used to heal cuts and scrapes.

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If you’ve ever needed an extra reason to curl up under a warm blanket, keep reading as Marla Ahlgrimm answers questions about why sleep is so important and how to get a restful 40 winks each night.

Q: What are the health benefits of sleep?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Getting a good night’s sleep is vital to your health. Not only does it help keep your memory intact, but getting the right amount of sleep, between seven and nine hours each night, may actually extend your life.

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March 4, 2018 marked the end of Eating Disorders Awareness Week. But, as Marla Ahlgrimm points out, the issue is one that must be acknowledged throughout the year if we are to make any impact on the number of females – mostly teenage girls – affected by this complex mental disorder.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains there are three primary types of eating disorder: binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. An individual with a binge eating disorder may experience uncontrollable urges to overeat and then immediately feel guilty for the food they consumed. Bulimia is characterized by eating then soon after force-vomiting in an effort to forgo weight gain from eating too much. Anorexia, which is perhaps the most dangerous eating disorder, presents as an irrational fear of weighing too much. Typically people who are already underweight suffer with anorexia.

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The most recent flu season was one of the worst in history, says Marla Ahlgrimm. And while the spread may not be stopped completely, there are a few things to keep in mind before the next flu season, which typically begins in October of each year.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, the flu is a type of virus that affects the respiratory system. Often, the throat, nose, and lungs are affected. While most influenza outbreaks cause mild to moderate symptoms, it can cause more severe issues in the very young, the very old, and those with a compromised immune system.

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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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