Marla Ahlgrimm on Mood Swings and PMS

PMS is a familiar acquaintance to the majority of women of childbearing age, says Marla Ahlgrimm. The retired hormone specialist explains that PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is not one specific symptom but a collection of physical and emotional changes in the days leading up to the period. Here are a few common questions and answers about PMS.

Q: What causes PMS?

Marla Ahlgrimm: A naturally occurring shift in hormones is the most logical cause. Specifically, fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen are likely responsible for the mood-related changes many women experience during PMS. Both of these hormones also influence the body’s output of serotonin, a hormone that, when deficient, can lead to irritability, insomnia, and food cravings.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Folate Important for All Women

Marla Ahlgrimm says that folate is something many women only pay attention to when they are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. However, this B vitamin does more than protect the unborn from birth defects.

Folate is essential in the natural process of red blood cell formation. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, these red blood cells are what carry oxygen throughout the entire body. When the body doesn’t get enough oxygen to its systems, the result can be a condition called anemia. Specifically, in this case, folic acid anemia.

Women need folate at every stage. However, it’s most important to the system during the childbearing years. Folic acid can help prevent neural tube defects during fetal development. It’s suspected that receiving enough of this nutrient may also play a role in fetal viability. In other words, intaking enough folate may help prevent early miscarriage.

Marla Ahlgrimm Encourages Women to Break Barriers

Marla Ahlgrimm started her career as a pharmacist back in the 1970s. Then, it was definitely a male-dominated industry. It took years of hard work and unwavering persistence, but Ahlgrimm fought her way through each barrier with grace and poise. Despite a closing gap, there is still a great deal of gender inequality in the workplace, especially in STEM fields, including medicine and technology. The now-retired women’s health expert continues to encourage women to break barriers, but says there are many challenges that face the fairer sex.

Q: Why other fewer women than men in the tech industry?

Marla Ahlgrimm: There are potentially many reasons for this. I suspect that one is that it takes an advanced degree and lots of experience to be successful in things like computer programming and hardware design. Since women often choose to start a family and take time out of school or work to do so, they may feel as though they cannot dedicate the resource of time to pursuing a profession in IT.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Follicle Stimulating Hormone

The follicle stimulating hormone is one that doesn’t get a lot of attention, says Marla Ahlgrimm. But despite its relative obscurity, it’s an important hormone to be familiar with.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, the follicle stimulating hormone is essential to the healthy growth and development of males and females during puberty. It triggers the growth of follicles in the ovarian tubes in women and is part of the process that allows young men to begin producing sperm.

Follicle stimulating hormone is made and released by the pituitary gland and is part of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. Follicle stimulating hormone is distributed throughout the body via the blood. In addition to controlling some aspects of puberty, Marla Ahlgrimm explains that this hormone has ebbs and tides throughout a woman’s reproductive cycle. As levels fall to the end of the menstrual cycle, the follicle stimulating hormone and others trigger additional production in the pituitary gland.

Marla Ahlgrimm on Medicare Part D

Seniors age 65 and older typically rely on Medicare for their health needs. However, while Medicare is a valuable asset, it’s not a comprehensive solution, and there are gaps. One area Medicare lacks significantly is in drug coverage. Part A and B, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, don’t provide any financial assistance with prescription medications. Most seniors choose to purchase a separate Medicare Part D plan or enroll in Medicare Advantage, which often includes prescription coverage.

Q: What is Medicare part D?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage and is separate from hospital and doctor insurance. Those enrolled Original Medicare may purchase a prescription plan at an added cost. For 2019, Medicare Part D premiums tend to average around $30 per month.

Q: Does Part D cover all prescriptions?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Not necessarily, and seniors are often responsible for a copayment even when drugs are covered. The vast majority of seniors wishing for prescription drug coverage choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, which is also a form of private insurance.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Advancements in DNA Sequencing and Health

Genetic testing has become available to the masses thanks the companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com. Marla Ahlgrimm says this has given individuals more power to take control of their health since many of the tests are FDA-Approved to screen for genetic markers associated with health conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. In 2018, Michigan State University researchers took things one step further.

Q: What can DNA predict?

Marla Ahlgrimm: People inherit DNA from both of the parents, who, in turn, inherited DNA from their parents and so on. It’s widely accepted that children inherit approximately 50% of their genes from their mother and 50% from their father. These genes share markers with certain populations that can help predict things such as eye color, skin tone, and an individual’s region of genetic origin. But they can also offer insight into more important subjects, such as medical risk.

HVP, a Common STD with a New Vaccine | Marla Ahlgrimm

Medicine has come a long way since Marla Ahlgrimm began her career in women’s health back in the 1970s. PMS is now an accepted medical condition, women have access to breast cancer screenings at any time, and there are new vaccinations to help prevent common diseases. Here, Ahlgrimm touches on one of the newest additions to women’s sexual health, the HPV vaccine.

Q: What is HPV?

Marla Ahlgrimm: HPV, or human papillomavirus, is not one but a collection of 150 (or more) viral infections. It is a sexually transmitted disease that is so commonplace that virtually all sexually active people will have an infection at some point in their lives.

Q: Is it dangerous?

Marla Ahlgrimm: While many HPV infections are benign, there are forms of the virus that can cause noticeable issues. Genital warts is one example. Thankfully, the dozen or so viral infections that cause genital warts are low-risk. Higher risk strains can cause cancer but are are less common. HPV can be detected during a PAP exam.