Conversation Starter for Thanksgiving
Even though our newsletter will be taking a Thanksgiving break next week, that doesn’t mean your health has to. In fact, maybe that’s why Thanksgiving Day is also National Family Health History Day. We’re here to help you make the most out of that opportunity with our first Tasting Menu item!
Our one takeaway for you this week is simple. Put mental health on the menu next week. Whether that is adding mental health history to your family medical history, setting boundaries with family members, having an alcohol-free holiday or, simply, taking time to do one small thing for yourself, you deserve it.
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
P.S. Remember The Fall 2022 Eve Was Framed Swag giveaway is going on right now. Share your unique Share the Health code at the end of this email and you’ll get entry points for one of our three swag packages.
The Tasting Menu
Taking a Full Family Medical History
Skin Changes in Pregnancy
Breaking Down the Hot Flash
Taking a Full Family Medical History
Nothing says holidays like an awkward conversation, right? And talking about family health history might be awkward for your family. Or maybe think of taking a family health history as a way to change the topic away from something else!
Here is the basic information you need to know about your family health history:
Who needs to be in your family history?
More than you might think. Go back to at least your grandparents. Include your parents' siblings (yes, even half-siblings). Add in your sibling and half-siblings and their children. Keep track of your children’s health history as well.
Right about now, you’re either grateful for having a small family or lamenting having a large one!
Need help organizing all of this? The American Medical Association has an Adult Family History that can be helpful.
What information do you need about each person?
In addition to the conditions family members have had, there are a few details on each that are important. First, keep in mind that you want to collect a full history. Knowing what a relative died of is important but so is knowing all other conditions they had, such as:
Specific conditions
Age at the time of diagnosis
Age at time of death, if they have passed away
Contributing factors such as smoking
Specific conditions or illnesses to ask about
Here are a few of the conditions to ask specifically about. We know at least one person who found a family history of eye illnesses only because they asked about it.
Cancer including colorectal, breast, and skin
Heart Disease
High Blood Pressure
Osteoporosis
Cataracts
Stroke
Diabetes
Autism
Kidney disease
Vision or hearing loss
Don’t forget about mental health and substance abuse disorders
So what do I do with all this information?
Talk with your healthcare professional about screenings and lifestyle changes that are relevant given what you’ve uncovered. For example, you may consider starting mammograms earlier or getting a colonoscopy more frequently based on familial history.
Ways Your Skin Changes During Pregnancy
We’ve covered before how our skin can change during different life periods. From puberty to your thirties and as you age our skin, like the rest of our bodies, is constantly changing. Pregnancy is no different and what you might experience during your pregnancy can be different than others - so we’ll cover some common skin issues that you might encounter.
The most common changes you might experience during pregnancy are:
Acne - as your hormones change and fluctuate, you may experience more breakouts than before. This is due to increased estrogen and progesterone which can kick oil glands into high gear
Melasma - freckle-like spots that are darker than your normal skin tone. Since it occurs so often during pregnancy, you may hear it referred to as the “mask of pregnancy”
Stretch marks - because your body grows faster than your skin can stretch, many women will experience stretch marks. While lotions and hydration can definitely help, generally whether or not you develop stretch marks comes down to genetics
In many cases, acne and melasma will disappear in the postpartum period once your hormones get back to normal. However, keep in mind if you choose to breastfeed, that it may take a bit longer since your hormone levels remain high during that period.
There are also several types of pregnancy rashes that you may develop. While most are harmless to mom and baby aside from some uncomfortable itching. That said, there are a couple to be aware of as they can indicate more serious issues or pose higher risks:
Pemphigoid gestationis (PG) can look like herpes (but it’s not related!!) which shows up as blisters on your stomach, a circular rash, or fluid-filled bumps. It's rare, affecting 1 in 50,000 pregnancies, but can potentially lead to premature birth, fetal growth rate, or low birth weight
Impetigo herpetiformus is a rare psoriasis-like condition. If you develop crusty red lesions accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or hypovolemic shock in the third trimester - seek out a doctor. It can have similar effects as PG on the fetus including lack of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and stillbirth
Cholestasis of Pregnancy doesn’t appear as a rash, but more like jaundice - a yellowing of the skin - accompanied by severe itching. It’s a sign that your liver isn’t functioning the way it should. It also generally appears in the third trimester and while treatable can impact the fetus
These rashes are rare - pregnancy can also aggravate existing eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis - but as always you should know what to look out for!
Breaking Down the Hot Flash
Perhaps the best-known symptom of menopause is the hot flash. Because you know about it, doesn’t mean it’s well understood. So let’s break it down.
What’s happening?
The root cause of hot flashes isn’t well known. What we do know is that the drop in estrogen causes the hypothalamus to think the internal temperature is too high and to react.
Boom - our blood vessels widen, sweat glands go to work and your heart rate goes up. From a short burst to several minutes long, our body is trying to cool itself off based on an incorrect signal that we are overheated.
How does this fit into the perimenopause/menopause transition?
If you experience them, hot flashes can be part of your life for a decade or more. They start in perimenopause, tend to peak in the first two years after menopause, and then continue for several years after.
Awesome, what I can do about them?
Hormonal therapy can assist in managing hot flashes along with other symptoms
Some medications for other conditions like high cholesterol might trigger more hot flashes. It’s a good time to review with your healthcare provider what you’re taking
The North American Menopause Society compiled a list of natural remedies
We loved this list from Oprah’s Daily on various products. From relatively inexpensive wipes and sprays to medium-expense new sheets to high-end bedding solutions
Medical Term of the Week
Not unlike the thermostat in your house, your body needs to be able to maintain its internal temperature within a certain range. That’s from 98 to 100 degrees for most of us. The process is called thermoregulation and it’s handled by the hypothalamus.
When your temperature falls above or below this range, the hypothalamus activates the different parts of the body to get you back to homeostasis or balance. That might be widening or constricting your blood vessels under the skin or messaging sweat glands to cool you off. Again, kind of like your thermostat telling your AC or heating systems to kick on. Aren’t our bodies amazing?
Company Profile
The best resources come from people solving their own problems. That’s exactly what Gabrielle Iorio Sylk, Founder of Bumpdate, did.
The Bumpdate app is a private social network for pregnancy and parenthood, helping friends and family stay connected on their journey. It’s full of amazing features and keeps you up to date on your own milestones and those you love.
We love their tagline “Be the friend who remembers”. You can download the Bumpdate app by clicking here or learn more on their website.
The Latest
After a 10-year phase 1 trial, there is hope for a breast cancer vaccine (From Axios)
It’s your body and we want you to feel confident and empowered to ask your healthcare provider all the questions you have. A recent study shows almost 50% are afraid to ask questions and leave appointments confused. (From SWNS Digital)
The reasons that sleep is important for you health keep growing. This time its eye health. (from Medika.life)