Day or Night? When to Exercise
Week’s high:
Did you see that Superbowl ad from Astellas Pharma? The one about vasomotor symptoms VMS)? Yes, that was menopause content and the Super Bowl! The one thing that could get Maggie clapping at the game.
Week’s low:
We are anxiously watching a case in the Texas courts which could impact the availability of mifepristone nationwide.
If you aren’t familiar with the medication, it is one of two regularly prescribed for medical abortion and is part of a protocol to manage early miscarriage. The medication is available by mail with a prescription. It was approved two decades ago and has been thoroughly studied and proven safe.
Movement on the case was originally expected last week, however, the judge extended the deadline until February 24th. If you are interested in reading more about the case, this article in Slate was particularly helpful.
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
Becoming Your Parents’ Caregiver
What’s the Best Time of Day For A Workout?
Graves’ Disease 5 Facts
Becoming Your Parent’s Caregiver
11 million of us and counting are part of the “sandwich generation”. We are simultaneously raising children and caring for aging parents. That doesn’t account for people whose children are grown and find themselves in their 50s and 60s caring for parents or younger adults without children responsible for caring for a parent.
All told AARP found that number of caregivers topped 53 million folks in the US with more than 60% of caregivers being women. Those caregivers spend an average of $7,242 out of pocket on caregiving and spend more than 20 hours a week on caregiving.
Here are some factors to keep in mind if you are caring for aging parents or any other adult caregiving (or may need to in the future):
Your own needs. Too often caregivers neglect their own medical and physical health. When creating a care plan for others, include the care and support you need
Research support and resources available to you. In the resources section, we’ve got a link to state-by-state. You may have resources through work such as an Employee Assistance Program or other benefits
Get financial and legal documents in order early. Gathering information on finances including bank accounts, deeds or insurance policies as early as parents are open to sharing them will save stress and confusion later. Revisiting or creating an estate plan including power of attorney and living wills can be hard to talk about but will make things easier once these are needed
Is everyone on the same page? Understanding your family member’s wishes, what you are able and willing to do and any disconnect between those two is better to settle early than later. We know who person whose parents were shocked that she had purchased a home with no space for them to move in, should the need arise. She had no idea they were expecting she would care for them in her home
Resources:
Family caregiver support by state from the Family Caregiver Alliance
7 Steps to take when aging parents need help
10 Factors to consider before moving your elderly parents in
What’s the Best Time of Day For A Workout?
Let’s get this out of the way. The best time to exercise, is the time that works best for you. Stephanie, for example, sometimes cranks it out in the morning if the day and/or evening is busy - or might schedule a workout during the workday to break up her time. Some people are morning people, other people are night people, so do what is best for you and your schedule.
Shortest article ever.
All that aside, depending on your fitness goals, there may be certain times of day that will help you achieve your goals faster. A May 2022 study published in Frontiers in Physiology evaluated the effects of morning and evening workout times in both women and men.
The findings?
For women, morning workouts helped to reduce abdominal fat and blood pressure, while evening workouts contributed to enhanced muscle performance. Men experienced lower blood pressure and fatigue and increased fat breakdown with evening workouts.
So, if you’re trying to build endurance – working out later in the day after you’ve had a couple of meals to help fuel you – could help you reach your goals better. While morning workouts might be more beneficial if you’re trying to target stubborn fat or other weight loss.
Several articles summarized the study – we’ve linked to them below (a bit of an easier read than the scientific paper):
Women's Health – “Study indicates the 'best time' to exercise for women, depending on your goals”
Healthline – “The Optimal Time of Day for Exercise Might be Different for Men and Women”
Today – “What is the best time of day to work out?”
Graves’ Disease 5 Facts
An autoimmune disease of the thyroid, Graves’ Disease is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism. It impacts between 1% and 2% of the US population. It is more common in women and is more likely if you have another autoimmune such as rheumatoid arthritis.
It’s not clear what causes Graves’ disease or why it causes your immune system to produce too much of an antibody stimulating the overproduction of thyroid hormones.
Here are 5 facts we do know:
A third of people with it develop Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) an eye disease causing myriad symptoms including bulging eyes, sensitivity to light, and eye pressure or pain
Treatment is targeted at reducing hyperthyroidism including beta blockers and antithyroid medications
There is no cure at this time for Graves’ Disease. However, with proper care thyroid levels can be managed
Symptoms include anxiety, sensitivity to heat, change in menstrual cycles, and heart palpitations
To diagnose the illness, your provider may order several kinds of tests including blood work to check thyroid-stimulating hormone or radioactive iodide uptake to measure the presence of iodine in the thyroid
Medical Term of the Week
Thyriod-stimulating hormone (TSH)
You may think TSH starts in the thyroid. Well, it starts in the pituitary gland and sends the message to the thyroid gland to produce the hormones that regulate many bodily functions and metabolism. This is the hormone level checked for hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
Exciting new tech gives a new view of the placenta (From NIH)
Ok. Whether or not mommy brain is real, moms need more support. (From CNN)
The rising cost of healthcare, even for people with employer sponsored plans is eating into earnings. (From Medical Lifesciences News)