Heart to Heart about your health

June 29, 2022

We had a very different note to open the newsletter planned for this week. However, we are committed to bringing our authentic voices to Eve Was Framed and that means we won’t be silent on the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. 

Part of our mission is to break the frame around women’s health as only reproductive, gynecological, and breast health. That narrow view plays out in research, bias in healthcare, and even in our own understanding of our bodies and health.  

It also plays out in the legislation of reproductive rights, privacy rights, and a woman’s autonomy in making decisions for her own health and body.  The impact will be significant and far-reaching.

As we bring you the planned content this week on heart health, dental health in pregnancy, and the importance of equity in research, we are furthering our goal to unleash the power for women through access to more information and education about our bodies and our health.

The journey continues.

Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik  

The Tasting Menu 

• Women’s Heart Health

• Your Dental Health During Pregnancy

• You’ve heard of Equal Pay Day. What’s Equal Research Day?

Women’s Heart Health -Part 1

Are you among the 56% of women know that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women in the U.S.? That awareness has been on the decline over the last decade according to a study from the American Heart Association with younger women contributing more to that decline than older groups. 

There is an intersection between reproductive health and cardiovascular health

• Women with endometriosis have a 52% greater risk for heart attack

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease over their lifetime and, during childbirth, an increased risk of heart-related issues.

• 20% of pregnant women experience a high blood pressure disorder. For those women, risk for cardiovascular disease are higher as early as 10 years after pregnancy

• Other health risks during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes increase the risks of later developing cardiovascular disease.

In next week’s issue, we’ll explore the challenges in diagnosing heart attacks for women.

Pregnancy and Dental Health

Did you ever think that being pregnant could have an effect on your teeth? You’d think that oral health issues (whether they occur during pregnancy or not) were two completely separate things. But our bodies are amazing things and everything is so interconnected. Pregnancy can impact your oral health – and that can have an impact on your pregnancy (a vicious cycle).

OK so what are the contributing factors:

• Increased levels of hormones - estrogen and progesterone - can loosen the tissue and bones that hold your teeth in place, making them feel loose

• Pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing cavities and somewhere between 65-75% have gingivitis

• Morning sickness can weaken tooth enamel, leading to higher risk of cavities - alongside eating more often which can introduce enamel weakening acids to your mouth.

How can this affect your pregnancy? Bacteria from cavities can be passed onto babies, and while there are some studies examining the link between gum disease and premature birth, this the CDC does note that there’s still a lot to be learned.  

We’ve seen a lot of women talking about this on social and it’s a side effect we certainly weren’t aware of! The takeaway here is to make sure to stay on top of your regular dental visits during your pregnancy and other standard dental hygiene. 

You’ve heard of Equal Pay Day. What’s Equal Research Day?

The biotech company, Evvy declared June 10th, 2022 the first annual Equal Research Day as part of its mission to promote inclusion in research. You may ask, what’s the significance of June 10th? 

On June 10, 1993, Congress signed a law requiring that women be included in NIH-sponsored clinical trials. In 1993! You read that correctly. 

From 1977, when the FDA excluded women of “childbearing potential” from most clinical trials until 1993 women were routinely excluded from clinical research. It’s part of a long and complicated history of inclusion in medical research.

There is promising news as well. The journal, Nature Medicine, raised its standards for including sex and gender analysis in the studies it reviews and publishes. Along with many other journals and funders, they are encouraging the use of Sex and Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) guidelines. 

These guidelines were introduced in 2016 with the help of 13 experts globally and surveys of over 700 journal editors, publishers, and scientists. They include items such as:

• Clarity in the use of the terms gender and sex and the meanings of each.

• Distinguishing gender, as shaped by social and cultural circumstances, has an additional impact on research.

• Reporting in the research how sex and gender were taken into account in design and execution.

For a quick visual of the myriad ways this plays out in research, we recommend you take a look at the Women’s Health Access Matters graphic.

Medical Term of the Week

Bone mineral density (BMD) test aids in the detection of osteoporosis and the likelihood of bone fractures. It measures how much calcium and other types of minerals are in an area of your bone. 

The preferred method is a painless test, like having an x-ray, called a central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). It’s recommended for all women over 65 or those in postmenopause if they have risk factors.

Spotlight

Are you self-sabotaging with your wine o’clock habit? 

Many women are under the impression that drinking wine is a heart-healthy choice but is it working against you? Alcohol has been proven to disrupt sleep cycles, spike anxiety and increase cancer risk. These are just a few of the negative impacts of what is commonly portrayed in movies, TV and ads as a sophisticated habit. Jennifer Rose Gallizzo is a life coach that no longer chooses to drink alcohol. It is a health choice that has changed the game for her. Now she helps women make the same positive shift. Her clients call the work that they do with her “life-changing.” You can read her story here.

The Latest

Sometimes the things we tell ourselves are the harshest. Let’s add “mom brain” to that category. Julie Bogen shares her thoughts and research from various experts on the topic. (From the Atlantic)

Investing in women’s health is good for us and good for the economy. That’s why 25 organizations are asking Congress to step up. (From Being Patient)

Product reviews are fun. Here’s one on 5 Menopause Cooling sprays (From Well and Good)

Uterine cancer is on the rise as are mortality rates. These increases are having a disproportionate impact on Black, Latina, and Asian women. (From the New York Times)