Marla Ahlgrimm | RIngworm Doesn’t Have To Keep Your Daughter On The Sidelines

As the parent of a young female athlete, you're no stranger to accidents and injuries. However, there are other hazards that our daughters have to contend with, and these can be even more embarrassing than a black eye or bloody nose. Ringworm is one of these.

What Is Ringworm

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, ringworm, unlike its name might suggest, is not a worm but a fungal infection. It is not a serious condition, but one that’s highly contagious and can show up anywhere on the body, causing young female athletes to be self-conscious of their appearance. Girls who wrestle are especially prone to ringworm.

Recognizing Ringworm

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, ringworm usually looks like a scaly, circular rash with slightly raised edges. You can find it anywhere on the body, including the face, limbs, and scalp. Ringworm may cause itching, burning, dry, cracked, and scaly skin. Female athletes experiencing ringworm on the scalp may also experience temporary hair loss.

Understanding Women's Cardiovascular Health with Marla Ahlgrimm

For many generations, heart disease was considered a "man's disease." And while Marla Ahlgrimm says that men are certainly at risk of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide. However, women's heart health presents unique challenges and requires a deeper understanding.

Why Are Women Different?

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, women's and men's heart health varies for many reasons. First and foremost are hormonal influences. Estrogen, the key female hormone, does offer some protection against heart disease. This, however, is only applicable during her reproductive years, and as estrogen levels decline during menopause, women's risk of a cardiovascular event significantly increases.

Autoimmune Diseases In Women | Marla Ahlgrimm

Around 8% of the population of the United States lives with an autoimmune disorder, says Marla Ahlgrimm. Many of these are women who may find they face new challenges with their health during menopause.

What is an autoimmune disorder?

An autoimmune disorder/disease is a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, it can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life at any age. These conditions can appear during any stage of life, but the aging process can exacerbate symptoms for some women.

The Role of Hormones

Hormones play a role in everything to do with our bodies, says Marla Ahlgrimm. And estrogen tends to be the lead player when it comes to immune regulation. Estrogen has anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating properties. Marla Ahlgrimm says that some autoimmune diseases may become “imbalanced” as estrogen declines throughout menopause. This can lead to greater disease activity as well as systemic inflammation.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, there are a few autoimmune disorders that hormone levels may have a greater impact on. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus are examples.