Marla Ahlgrimm: Winter Sun Remains Dangerous to Skin

Winter has a way of sneaking up on us and so do the dangers that come along with UV exposure, says author and women’s health advocate Marla Ahlgrimm. Keep reading as Ahlgrimm sheds light on the issues of winter UV exposure.

Q: How does snow affect a person’s exposure to ultraviolet radiation?

Marla Ahlgrimm: All it takes is one look at a winter wonderland to see how much brighter things look with fresh snow. Snow, which is primarily made up of tiny ice crystals, can reflect back up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays. This essentially doubles your exposure to UV radiation.

Women’s Health with Marla Ahlgrimm: Bleeding Disorders

Retired pharmacist, women’s health expert, and entrepreneur Marla Ahlgrimm explains bleeding disorders, which affect up to 10% of women.

Q: What is a bleeding disorder?

Marla Ahlgrimm: A bleeding disorder is a health condition that affects the body’s ability to properly clot blood. People with bleeding disorders tend to bleed for extended periods and bleed out more so than those with normal clotting abilities.

Q: Are bleeding disorders unique to women?

Marla Ahlgrimm: No, anyone can be affected with bleeding disorder. However, reproductive-age women are at a greater risk of complications due to menstrual periods and childbirth.

Q: Are heavy periods an indication of a bleeding disorder?

Marla Ahlgrimm: While a heavy menstrual period is not always a sign of a bleeding disorder, it can be. A woman with a bleeding disorder may experience bleeding for seven or more continuous days and may need to change their pad or tampon every 60 to 120 minutes. While clotting is normal with menstrual blood, clots larger than a bottlecap may indicate abnormalities. A woman with a bleeding disorder may experience a significant disruption in her day-to-day life while on her period.

Q&A with Marla Ahlgrimm: HPV

HPV, or human papilloma virus, is, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, the most widespread form of sexually transmitted disease in the US. Approximately eight out of 10 women will contract at least one form of HPV throughout their lifetime.

Q: What is HPV?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The human papilloma virus is a blanket name for more than 100 different types of viruses, 40 of which are passed via sexual contact. It is estimated that approximately 79 million people – including 80 percent -- of all women currently have or will have an HPV incident.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Anxiety

Contrary to popular belief, it is perfectly normal to feel anxious from time to time. But according to Marla Ahlgrimm, when anxiety becomes difficult to control, it can become a problem. Approximately 20 percent of the adult population suffers with anxiety and women are more than twice as likely to experience this potentially debilitating condition as men.

Q: What is anxiety?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Anxiety is simply a sense of fear, nervousness, or concern regarding a specific situation or event. It is a normal reaction to things such as an exam, upcoming childbirth, or job change. At its most extreme, anxiety may result in an inability to complete day-to-day tasks.

Q: What are the different types of anxiety disorder?

Marla Ahlgrimm: The vast majority of anxiety disorders fall in the category of generalized anxiety (GAD). This results in constant worry about things others perceive as normal. For instance, a person with GAD may experience a virtual inability to cope with minor issues, such as a higher-than-expected water bill. Panic disorders are another common type of anxiety disorder and is typified by sudden sense of doom and panic in situations with no danger.

Marla Ahlgrimm | Autoimmune Diseases

The human body contains an amazing series of cells and organs that defend against foreign invaders, including germs and bacteria. But, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, the immune system isn’t always reliable. Here, the retired pharmacist and women’s health entrepreneur answers questions about autoimmune disorders, which affect women more than men.

Q: What are autoimmune diseases?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There are more than 80 types of condition considered autoimmune diseases. These happen when the body can no longer make the distinction between normal germs and bacteria and those that cause disease.


Q: Why are autoimmune diseases so widespread?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Autoimmune diseases, in various forms, affect more than 23.5 million men and women in the United States. They are considered the number one cause of disability and death. Fortunately, many of the worst are quite rare while others, including Hashimoto’s disease, affect a significant chunk of the population.

Marla Ahlgrimm | False Positives Common with Mammogram

Despite advanced technology, or perhaps because of it, there are a few things that can trigger a false positive on a mammogram. Marla Ahlgrimm explains in this brief post.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, the process of the modern mammography has saved countless women from succumbing to breast cancer. However, the more sensitive testing equipment becomes, the more it picks up on non-cancerous malformations hiding beneath the tissue. The most common are cysts, dense tissue, benign tumors, and calcium deposits. However, misdiagnosis may also be triggered by outside influences.

Breast implants, reports Marla Ahlgrimm, can make it difficult for the machine to read the entire breast during an imaging session. Silicone and saline fillers increase breast tissue density and can result in further testing. Women who have had a breast augmentation procedure should specifically seek a mammogram clinic specializing in women with implants.

Marla Ahlgrimm Explains Skin Color Changes

Often harmless, many women experience mild to moderate changes in their skin pigmentation throughout their lives. However, as Marla Ahlgrimm explains, dermal anomalies are worth checking out.

Vitiligo

Marla Ahlgrimm reports that one of the most common reasons for loss of pigmentation is vitiligo, especially in people of African or Southern European descent. Vitiligo often start out as a slight bleaching of the skin and gradually becomes more noticeable with age. While not harmful, vitiligo may indicate other issues, such as a thyroid disorder.

Pregnancy

Melasma, the mask of pregnancy, is the opposite of vitiligo. When a woman is pregnant, her skin cells sometimes produce more pigment, which can result in a brown to gray-brown tint on the face. 90% of melasma cases are in women and it is widely believed to be associated with hormones, says Marla Ahlgrimm.