Meditating or Mindful for the Holidays
It’s hard to believe this is our last edition for 2022. In fact, when 2022 started, Eve Was Framed was not even a fully formed idea. It was a nagging thought in Maggie’s head…Where is my sex-ed 2.0 resource?
We thank you for joining us on the launch of this journey.
We are looking forward to sharing the health in 2023 in exciting new ways.
We wish you and your loved ones a happy end of 2022 and a wonderful healthy start to 2023.
We’ll see you on the other side of New Year’s Day!
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
Confusing Meditation with Mindfulness
Healthcare Deserts
Winter Skin Routines
Confusing Meditation with Mindfulness
Have you tried mindfulness?
If your response to that question is: “Meditation is not my thing.” You may be conflating the two mental wellness techniques. There are benefits to both and you become more skilled at each through practice over time.
Meditation is a practice of focusing your concentration on a single thing and often using your breath intentionally to create a relaxed state. Think of this as sitting in a quiet area and simply counting as you breathe in and out, trying to make your exhale last longer than you inhale (Maggie’s favorite meditation technique).
Whereas mindfulness is the habit of being present in the current moment with awareness of our actions and not being overwhelmed by our surroundings or what’s happening in them. Well, that sounds awesome. This can be as basic as sitting on your couch drinking a soothing cup of tea and looking at the Christmas tree. (another of Maggie’s favorites).
Either are great practices for your mental health and don’t take a lot of time. If you find yourself with 5 minutes between tasks, try one of them and let us know how it goes!
Resources:
How to Be Mindful Without Meditation
Top 25 Best Meditation Resources: Guided Meditation, Meditation Music, and Meditation Apps (on this list is Insight Timer, a personal favorite of Maggie’s - it’s free!)
Healthcare Deserts
Healthcare equity and access are important to us at Eve Was Framed. To understand the gaps here we started researching healthcare deserts in the United States.
If you aren’t familiar with the term, a healthcare desert is an area where people do not have adequate access to key providers. Adequate access includes:
Providers within a 30-mile radius or pharmacies within a mile in urban areas
Access to all types of providers such as primary care providers, pharmacies, hospitals as well as low-cost health centers and specialists.
Affordability of transportation to providers or low barriers to public transportation.
Estimates are that 77% to 80% of people in the U.S. are living in healthcare deserts right now. The impact on maternal and newborn health in particular is troubling. These tend to be people living in rural parts of the country. Women are more likely to be dependent on primary care providers for specialized women’s health needs, like gynecological and obstetric care, in these areas.
In addition to geographic areas that lack adequate numbers of facilities and providers, there are situational care deserts. Distance may not be an issue. The lack of affordable providers, especially specialists, or the absence of pharmacies and clinics within the neighborhood issues in urban settings make access an issue. Situational care deserts have greater concentrations of BIPOC communities.
Is there a solution?
The rise of digital health and telehealth options are promising for access to some types of care. However, the issue can be compounded by access to technology.
Additional reading:
Mapping Healthcare Deserts: 80% of the Country Lacks Adequate Access to Healthcare
Millions of Americans Live in 'Care Deserts'—Here's What That Means and Why It's a Huge Problem
Keeping Your Skin Healthy This Winter
Have you ever noticed your skin get drier when the weather gets colder? Maybe your skin flakes more or your knuckles crack. Just as our skin can change as our hormones go up and down, the changing seasons also have an effect on our skin.
Depending on where you live, when summer fades into fall and winter, that’s accompanied by lower humidity, stronger and harsher winds, and an increase in indoor heat, which all contribute to pulling moisture out of the skin and more dead skin build up.
Use richer moisturizers
In summer months, our goal is to keep things light when it comes to moisturizers. But in the winter as our skin is drier, the light and airy moisturizers may not cut it.
Control temperature and moisture in the air
We can’t control the weather, but we can control some things at home - such as how much moisture is in the air, heat, and the temperature of your water. Consider using a humidifier or lowering the temperature a bit (high heat can dry you out)
Scale back on product intensity
If your skin is getting dry and irritated in the winter, it might be tempting to exfoliate more or use some stronger products. Swapping harsh cleansers with gentle, calming cleansers can give tired skin a break.
Sunscreen is still needed
Sunscreen should be a part of your skincare routine through all seasons! Winter is no exception.
For more on the topic, check out the full version of this piece in our blog.
Medical Term of the Week
The enteric nervous system (ENS)
You know the expression “gut feeling” to explain a decision? Well, maybe there is a (sort of) second brain in your gut.
It’s called the enteric nervous system and it runs through your gastrointestinal tract. It appears to communicate with your central nervous system. This may explain the connection between digestive health and mood or how stress can lead to disruption in our digestion.
A new study shows 1 in 18 people are misdiagnosed in ERs (from CNN)
It’s hard to get our daily dose of vitamin D in the winter. Learn why and how to fix it. (from The New York Times)
Don’t let a doctor tell you that you are being dramatic about pain. Studies show they don’t take women’s reports of pain seriously. (from The Washington Post)