Marla Ahlgrimm is an author, entrepreneur & women's health expert.
In 2015, the American Cancer Society made the recommendation to delay initial breast cancer screening by five years in women with normal risks. Here, Marla Ahlgrimm answers common questions related to these new guidelines.
Q: How common is breast cancer?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Breast cancer is the second most dominant cause of cancer-related deaths for women in the United States, with approximately 230,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year.
In October 2015, the results of a collaboration between five major Spanish universities studying the relationship between alcohol intake and breast cancer were released. The study found that alcohol consumption greatly increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, reports Marla Ahlgrimm. Here, Ahlgrimm takes a look at the study results and stresses the importance of limiting alcoholic beverage consumption.
Q: How many women took part in the study?
Marla Ahlgrimm: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition included 334,850 women. These volunteers were followed over the course of 11 years and their alcohol consumption noted. The study was organized in an effort to confirm previous data, which indicated alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer in women.
In this brief Q&A session, Marla Ahlgrimm discusses vulvovaginal troubles and touches on the alarming trend of postmenopausal women forgoing care.
Q: What types of vaginal issues are common after menopause?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Dryness and irritation are two of the most reported. However, these seem to go hand in hand with other pelvic issues, including vaginal discharge and odor.
Q: Do symptoms such as these impact women’s lives?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Yes! A recent research project jointly conducted by Yale, Dartmouth, and the Connecticut Healthcare System found that over three quarters of the study’s sexually active participants acknowledged vaginal issues as having a negative effect on their sex lives. One third mentioned an overall impact on their lifestyle.
As an experienced women’s health professional, Marla Ahlgrimm has studied breast health and its impact on the lives of women worldwide. According to this leading voice in women’s health, skin changes like dimples, redness, puckers or scales in the breasts may indicate a more significant problem. By offering suggestions about diet and exercise routines, Ahlgrimm hopes to prevent women from receiving a breast cancer diagnosis.
Q: How can women improve their overall health and reduce their odds of a breast cancer diagnosis?
Marla Ahlgrimm: A number of recent medical studies have advised both men and women to reduce their intake of red meat. A diet consisting of meats such as hamburgers and steaks may promote cancer cell growth. Instead, people of all ages should try to incorporate more plant-based foods into their daily routines.
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, affects nearly half of all women of childbearing age, according to pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm. Its symptoms are different for each sufferer and can range from irritability and severe mood swings to migraines and seizures in those women most adversely affected by PMS.
Common symptoms of PMS
Marla Ahlgrimm explains that, although PMS is associated with over 150 symptoms, most women tend to report a combination of two or more of the following:
Women with PMS should eat six complex carbohydrate snacks a day to better manage the symptoms of PMS, says Marla Ahlgrimm.
Proper nutrition is vital to a healthy body, says pharmacist, Marla Ahlgrimm. This is especially true of women who suffer from PMS. According to Ahlgrimm, studies conducted since the 1950s have linked low blood sugar to many symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Low blood glucose levels trigger the body to release adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone. When adrenaline is flowing through the blood, the body cannot metabolize other hormones – like progesterone – properly. Adrenaline, says Marla Ahlgrimm, also perpetuates feelings of aggression, panic, and tension – all outward symptoms of PMS.
Additionally, Marla Ahlgrimm explains that low blood sugar causes the body’s cells to eject any sugar that it may be storing, in order to compensate. Empty cells are flooded with water which can cause bloating, water retention, and weight gain.
Marla Ahlgrimm has co-authored two ground-breaking books, The HRT Solution-Optimizing Your Hormone Potential (Avery 1999) and Self-Help for Premenstrual Syndrome (Random House 1999).
