To Sleep, Perchance to Snore
The Halloween candy has been handed out. The end of year holiday music has started (too soon for some). And the clocks changed.
That got us thinking. 2023 isn’t over yet. There’s still time to prioritize your health. There’s also time to break some stigmas.
Let’s do it.
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
Health Checks As We Count Down to 2024
Stop the Stigma: Women and Snoring
Midwives and Doulas – Who Are They?
Health Checks As We Count Down to 2024
With under two months left in the year, here’s your reminder to get in those checks that you haven’t gotten to yet this year. To make it easy, we’ve got a check list for you and we broke it down by age. Depending on your own health history or family history, you may need to do some of these earlier.
At all ages:
Primary Care Physician (PCP) Visit: Annual check up with your provider including bloodwork
Dentist Appointment: Oral health is overall health. Don't forget your regular dental check-up and cleaning
Dermatologist Check: Schedule an appointment for a skin check if you have a history of skin issues or moles that require monitoring
Eye Exam: Visit your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. Do you remember the last time you had one?
Well Woman Exam: Annual check-up with your healthcare provider, including a clinical breast exam and pelvic exam
Pap Smear: Generally, starting at age 21, it is recommended every three years. More frequently if you had an abnormal Pap
Immunizations: Stay up-to-date on vaccines, including the flu shot and any other recommended vaccines
In Your 20s:
HPV Vaccination: Up to age 45, the HPV vaccine is recommended
In Your 30s:
Mammogram: Starting at age 40, it's usually recommended every 1-2 years, but discuss with your doctor if there is a family history. You may start sooner
Blood Pressure Screening: Regular monitoring and management if needed
Cholesterol Test: Every 4-6 years, or more frequently depending on your history or family history
Thyroid Function Test: Periodic screening, especially if you have a family history of thyroid disorders
HPV Vaccination: You still have time!
In Your 40s:
Well Woman Exam: Time to start talking about perimenopause
Mammogram: Generally, every 1-2 years, but discuss with your healthcare provider. Remember to ask about breast density!
Bone Density Test: Begin screening for osteoporosis. This one is so easy
Diabetes Screening: Periodic screening, especially if you have risk factors
Colorectal Cancer Screening: Discuss with your doctor when to start, but the recommended is 45
HPV Vaccination: You’ve got time if you’re under 45.
In Your 50s and Beyond:
Bone Density Test: Continue screening, especially if you have risk factors
Colorectal Cancer Screening: Regular screenings, typically every 5-10 years, depending on the method used and risk factors
Cervical Cancer Screening: Continue based on your healthcare provider's recommendations
Eye Exam: Time to start to monitor for age-related vision changes
Osteoporosis Screening: Continue as recommended by your healthcare provider
Thyroid Function Test: Periodic screening, as advised
And while you’re at it, don’t forget mental health and financial health. For mental health, is it time to start (or continue) therapy? For financial health, have you run your credit score recently?
Let’s end the year strong!
Stop the Stigma: Women and Snoring
Raise your hand if you know that you snore and have admitted it (whether to a doctor, partner, or friend).
Anyone?
We’ve probably all been accused of snoring once or twice, and the typical answer that we give is an emphatic “OMG I do not snore!!” as if it's the worst insult someone could give us.
So once again, we/society/another unknown higher power, has taken something completely normal and very common – for men and women – and turned it into something negative and shameful, for at least one of those parties.
And what’s worse, this stigma could be preventing you and other women in your life from getting appropriate treatment for potentially life-threatening issues that snoring can flag.
Obstructive sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing several times during the course of the night, and has been linked to a variety of health issues such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.
The condition is estimated to be underdiagnosed in 90% of women with the disorder. We’ve got to start talking more candidly about these issues. If you’re being told you snore regularly – it's no reflection on you – and you should take it as a serious sign to talk to your doctor.
At the end of the day, everybody snores. It may happen to some more frequently than others, and if that’s the case we need to take it seriously and not brush it under the rug.
Midwives and Doulas - Who Are They?
Who’s a fan of Call the Midwife? Us too.
We’re also fans of birthing parents getting all the support they need and deserve. So we’re looking at two roles this week - midwives and doulas.
Midwives and doulas play crucial roles in the field of maternal and newborn care. They have distinct roles and responsibilities in the process of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Let's explore what each profession entails and the key differences between them.
Midwives
Midwives are healthcare professionals trained to provide a range of services to expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods. They typically have formal medical training and are licensed to provide comprehensive care to low-risk pregnant women. Here are some key aspects of what midwives do.
Midwives offer prenatal care, which includes regular check-ups, medical assessments, and support to monitor the health of both the mother and the developing fetus.
During childbirth, midwives can assist during labor and delivery, providing guidance, monitoring, and interventions when necessary. They often promote a more natural, non-interventional approach to childbirth.
After childbirth, midwives continue to provide care to both mother and baby, ensuring a smooth transition into the postpartum period and addressing any health concerns or complications that may arise.
Midwives can administer medications, provide pain relief options, and perform certain medical procedures as needed. They are equipped to handle low-risk pregnancies and uncomplicated deliveries.
Doulas
Doulas, on the other hand, are non-medical professionals who offer emotional and physical support to expectant mothers before, during, and after childbirth. Doulas do not provide medical care or interventions but focus on the emotional and psychological well-being of the mother. Here's what doulas do:
Doulas offer continuous emotional support, reassurance, and encouragement to mothers throughout labor and delivery. They help reduce stress and anxiety. They provide comfort measures such as massage, relaxation techniques, and breathing exercises to ease the pain and discomfort of labor.
Doulas can act as advocates for the mother, helping her communicate her preferences to the medical staff and ensuring her birth plan is followed as closely as possible.
Some doulas also offer postpartum support, assisting with breastfeeding, newborn care, and providing emotional support during the early days of motherhood.
We loved this piece from an Ob-Gyn who had a doula on her team.
As you think about your pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum team, consider adding these professionals to your team. They each can play an important part of supporting you and baby.
Medical Term of the Week
We’ve all had a terrible night’s sleep from time to time. So what kind of doctor do you see when it’s more serious?
Believe it or not, there is a Board of Sleep Medicine that certifies professionals in this subspecialty. They can be neurologists or pulmonologists who have additional training.
Want to learn more? Check out the American Academy of Sleep.
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