Q & A with Pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm – Early Screenings for Breast Cancer

Prompt medical care and early detection are critical factors in terms of breast cancer treatment, according to women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. Here, she explains why recent medical developments are improving survivorship rates among women across the United States.

Q: How has the health security of American women increased in the last 20 years?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Owing in large part to greater communication through social media and online forums, health groups and organizations throughout the U.S. continue to raise funds and create programming that draws attention to breast cancer education and research. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is one such valuable initiative.

Marla Ahlgrimm on Menopausal Weight Gain

The hormonal changes associated with menopause may result in weight gain around the thighs, hips and abdomen, reports women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. In this Q & A, Ahlgrimm presents some tips on leading a more active and fulfilling lifestyle without the additional pounds.

Q: Are hormonal changes the primary reason for weight gain in middle age?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Although hormonal changes are a common cause in this situation, a number of genetic and lifestyle factors may also be contributing factors. If close relatives have acquired extra weight in the midsection, it’s likely that this trait will carry out into future generations. Along with other stressors and pressures at work and in the home, the instinct to eat sweets and salty snacks is even greater.

Marla Ahlgrimm on the Health Problems Associated with Sedentary Time

Sedentary time has been directly linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and diabetes, according to pharmacist and health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. In this brief article, Ahlgrimm presents a few convenient ideas for getting away from the desk and including more movement into a daily schedule.

Taking a phone call or answering client emails while standing is a terrific way to incorporate physical activity into an inactive routine, suggests Ahlgrimm. By performing these everyday tasks in an upright position, it is possible to increase blood flow and keep bones and muscles healthier.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, many people have found success by setting an alarm on a phone that rings once an hour. At the sound of the chime, they simply finish the task at hand and then embark upon a quick five-minute stroll down the hallway or across the street. In order to stay hydrated and alert, Marla Ahlgrimm recommends taking a walk to the kitchen and filling up a water bottle for the long day ahead.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Knowing Normal and Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

Every woman has discharge from the vagina, according to women’s health advisor Marla Ahlgrimm. The discharge is necessary for normal function and is needed to provide moisture to the mucous membrane of the vagina that prevents the vagina from drying out. Only under certain circumstances is the discharge abnormal, notes Ahlgrimm.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, normal discharge is clear, smooth, and has a very slight smell that can be described as soapy or sweet. On the other hand, discharge that is discolored, smelly, itchy, or irritating, might be a sign of infection and a reason to see a doctor, notes Ahlgrimm. An abnormal vaginal discharge is also any discharge that has blood in it when the woman is not menstruating and it is typically thicker in consistency. If a woman experiences any of these symptoms or is worried about her vaginal discharge she should speak with her doctor, cautions Marla Ahlgrimm.

Q&A with Women’s Health Advisor Marla Ahlgrimm: Estrogen and Women's Moods

According to pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm, estrogen doesn’t just regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle. In fact, estrogen is linked to mood disruptions in women, including premenstrual syndrome and postpartum depression. Here, Ahlgrimm explains the wide range of effects estrogen has on the female body and brain.

Q: What exactly is estrogen and what is its function?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Estrogens are hormones that are important for sexual and reproductive development, particularly in women. Estrogen is produced mainly in the ovaries, but is also produced by fat cells and the adrenal glands.

Q: How does estrogen play a role in women’s mental health?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Estrogen plays a significant role in women’s mental health. Sudden decrease in blood levels contribute to significant mood lowering. After childbirth, nearing menopause and after menopause, low levels of estrogen can also prompt depression.

Tips from Marla Ahlgrimm – Easing the Discomfort of Menstrual Cramping

In the days prior to starting a monthly period, women often experience painful menstrual cramps that put a damper on their regular routine, reports women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm. These cramps may cause moderate to severe pain in the thighs, back and lower belly. Some women, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, may experience fainting, dizziness, nausea, constipation, diarrhea and headaches.

Most women are stricken with menstrual cramps at some point in their lives, though cramping generally goes away in a woman’s mid-20s when her hormone levels stabilize. Marla Ahlgrimm notes that women in their 30s and 40s may also have cramps. On certain occasions, menstrual cramps are associated with another health issue such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis. To treat these cramps requires the treatment of the underlying health issue.

Food Cravings: A Natural Mood Moderator, Says Pharmacist, Marla Ahlgrimm

Women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm explains why women crave certain foods during the menstrual cycle. 

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, while some women keep track of their menstrual cycles with cramps, bloating, and fatigue, others simply look at their plates. Many women, explains Ahlgrimm, crave certain foods during and just after ovulation. It is not uncommon for women to have specific cravings that often include chocolate or salty carbohydrates.

Over the course of her professional experience, Marla Ahlgrimm has noted a woman’s craving for chocolate may actually be linked more to her body’s need for magnesium than an actual weakness for sweets. Since chocolate is a perfect combination of sugar and fat, it may be the ideal food for boosting endorphin levels which typically surge in the days before ovulation. A craving for salty carbohydrates, like chocolate, may also be the body trying to replenish certain types of fats and/or energy expended during the menstrual cycle.

Phytoestrogens Linked to Decreased Cholesterol Levels in Women, Says Pharmacist, Marla Ahlgrimm

A cardiologist at LA’s Cedars Sinai recently completed a study that observed a correlation between high phytoestrogen levels and a decreased amount of total cholesterol. Marla Ahlgrimm explains.

Nationwide, women are struggling with high levels of cholesterol, according to pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm. With that in mind, researchers at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles have looked for a non-medical way to prevent an overabundance of bad cholesterol. In an observational study – meaning the subjects were simply observed and not asked to change their routine – Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz found that those who ate ample amounts of foods containing phytoestrogens had lower levels of LDL.