Who’s the expert here?
Shout out to our readers who forwarded the NY Time article, Women Have Been Misled About Menopause. It was a highlight of the week to hear that our community is sharing back to us!
The piece is a great reminder that being educated will help you advocate for yourself. The guidance on hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopause has changed. And some doctors haven’t caught up.
In fact, did you know in training for Ob/Gyns that menopause education is an elective!?!? And only 20% of them take it. The good news is practitioners specializing in reproductive health for women over 40 are becoming more common.
Another article from March also covered the impact of medical providers undervaluing women and people of color’s reporting of symptoms. We’ll keep bringing you information so you can advocate for yourself and encouring you to remember, the medical provider works for you! You’ve hired this expert. But you’re the expert on your own body and symptoms!
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
Making Time for Mental Health
What is a Periodontist?
5 Facts on Celiac Disease
Prioritizing Your Mental Wellness
Caring for your mental health isn’t all about therapy. Although we are big fans of therapy! There is a strong connection between physical wellness and mental wellness.
And yet, many of us let mental wellness fall even father behind. In fact, people report they don't know where to get started or don’t have the time to spend on mental wellness. We’ve got actionable, easy suggestions for prioritizing this.
Make a social connection. Your friends, especially female friends, are a great source of mental wellness. And we don’t mean social media. Send a text, WhatsApp message, or email. Even pick up the phone! Set up a weekly in-person connection with at least one person outside your household
Say no to something. Setting boundaries and turning down additional work or a social event when your calendar is full protects time you can spend on self-care
Stay hydrated. Did you know that research supports that proper hydration decreases risk of anxiety? Find your water boring? Maggie adds lemons, cucumber and mint or basil to hers. It’s like being at a spa! Get a waterbottle with measurements on it and set a daily goal
Learn to reframe negative thoughts. We love the Mayo Clinic’s tips on identifying negative thinking and counteracting it.
If you or someone you know needs emergency services for mental health, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (dial 988 on your phone) or call 911.
Understanding the Role of a Periodontist
Maggie and I both have had to visit the periodontist over the years. In some cases, you may never need one, but they can be helpful for your oral health. So why are they important and maybe first, what the heck are they? According to the American Academy of Periodontology, a periodontist is “is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease”. Essentially anything having to do with your gums, bones supporting the oral bones, as well as dental implants and tooth extractions. A periodontist trains for an additional three years after dental school to specialize in these areas.
So, if you’re seeing a dentist regularly - how do you know if you need to see a periodontist. In Stephanie’s case, the periodontist was a referral from her dentist. “I had a cavity in tooth in the back of my mouth - in order for the dentist to be able to do what she needed to do to fix the cavity, I had to see a periodontist to have a procedure to remove some of the bone and gum tissue to create more room to work.” (Sorry for any TMI)
Other signs a periodontist might be a good person to have on your healthcare team:
Consistent bleeding of gums when brushing or flossing
Chronic bad breath
Loose teeth or a gum recession
What does any of this have to do with women’s health? Well, as we go through hormonal changes throughout our lives, it can increase our risk for periodontal disease – all live stages from puberty to pregnancy to being on hormonal birth control and menopause/post-menopause. For example, some people who menustrate may experience menstruation gingivitis. And there have been connections linking gum and periodontal disease and other specific women’s issues like breast cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease to name a few.
So, if you’re having gum issues or your dentist refers you to a periodontist – please make sure to give the a visit so they can help combat or prevent gum disease!
5 Facts About Celiac Disease
Many people have reduced or cut gluten from their diets. This is different than “cutting carbs”
And the reasons to reduce or eliminate gluten are varied. One of them is celiac disease. It is an autoimmune disorder that results in damage to your small intestine when you ingest gluten. This is not the same as gluten intolerance (for more on that check out the medical term of the week.
Here are 5 facts you should know about celiac:
Celiac disease is genetic and runs in families
Symptoms go beyond the digestive system and can include tingling in the legs, early osteoporosis, and discoloration of the teeth.
It shared symptoms with Crohn’s disease or Irritable Bowl Syndrome.
A biopsy of the small intestine is the most accurate way to diagnose it. However, a blood test for certain antibodies is the first step.
Once you stop eating gluten, the damage to your small intestine should heal in 3 to 6 months.
For more information, check out the Celiac Disease Foundation. They have an excellent guide to gluten-free living including meal plans!
Medical Term of the Week
Now that we’ve shared information on celiac, here are other gluten-related terms we think you should know.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is when you don’t test positive for celiac but experience negative symptoms when you eat gluten. These may look like the same symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea or joint pain.
Wheat allergy causes symptoms such as irritation and swelling in the throat and mouth, nausea, and vomiting. It can be life-threatening if it triggers anaphylaxis.
The Latest
Medication abortion through the mail provides critical access and the medication can also be used in managing miscarriages. There is a case in a Texas court which seeks to reverse FDA approval for the drug, which has been on the market for over 20 years. (from NPR)
Some women are being advised to have fallopian tube removal during other gyecoloical surgeries to reduce ovarian cancer risk (from The Washington Post)
Current breastfeeding guidelines are to breastfeed for 2 years. Now a judge steps in and orders a moter to bottlefeed to accommodate a custody battle (from The Washington Post)