Family Health Corner

News That Affects Your Family's Health

FAMILY HEALTH CORNER
News That Affects Your Family's Health

WOMEN

Concept of “Mommy Juice” Can Lead to or Mask Drinking Problems

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You’ve likely seen shirts that say, “I’m not a regular mom — I’m a wine mom,” the stemless wine glasses with the words “mommy juice” printed in fancy font, the memes that make light of mom groups day-drinking on playdates. These days, “wine mom” culture — a term that refers to moms who drink to escape the stresses of parenthood — is pervasive. Moms are inundated with the message that drinking wine comes with being a mother. And while it may seem harmless and a funny, wine mom culture has become a major public health concern.

Drinking To Escape Parenting Stress

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 6 adults binge drink once a week. For women, binge drinking is defined as drinking four or more alcoholic beverages on the same occasion, at least one day in the past month. One 4-ounce glass of wine is considered to be one drink.

Wine mom culture touts drinking alcohol to cope with the demands of everyday life. Kids stressing you out? Drink. On a playdate with fellow moms? Drink. Exhausted after a long day? Another excuse to have a drink.

This mindset can turn into a drinking problem quickly. A 2017 study found that problem drinking increased by more than 80 percent among American women between 2002 to 2013.

Wine mom culture may seem harmless, but it can lead to dependence on a nightly glass or two. Consistent drinking can lead to less diligence when supervising play and can cause long-term health damage.

Long-Term Effects on Women

Women tend to metabolize alcohol more slowly than men, which can lead to getting drunk faster. That, in turn, causes the effects of alcohol to last much longer. That’s why “moderate use” of alcohol is considered to be one glass of wine for women.

Women are more likely to develop long-term health conditions and issues from drinking alcohol, including:

●       Brain damage: Cognitive decline and brain shrinkage because of alcohol consumption develops more quickly for women than men.

●       Cancer: Regular alcohol use is linked to an increased cancer risk, particularly breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon cancer.

●       Heart disease: Women are at increased risk for heart damage from prolonged alcohol consumption.

●       Hormonal imbalances: Alcohol can affect hormone production and exacerbate some menopausal symptoms.

●       Liver damage/disease

●       Peptic ulcers

●       Osteoporosis

Healthy Ways To Deal with Parenting Stress

Parenting can be stressful and exhausting, even on the best of days. But there are ways to relax and de-stress without turning to alcohol. Consider trying healthy outlets for stress relief rather than drinking, including:

●       Exercising

●       Developing a hobby

●       Playing a musical instrument or listening to music

●       Reading

●       Taking time out for yourself each day

Talk with your healthcare provider if you are worried that you may be drinking too much or abusing other substances. They can put you in touch with the appropriate resources and referrals for counseling if needed.

When Is Drinking a Problem?

Enjoying an occasional glass of wine with your friends or spouse is OK. But pay attention to how much and how often you are drinking. One or two drinks at the end of the day quickly adds up to a dozen drinks over the course of a week.

If you have depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions, it may be tempting to turn to alcohol to relax. But drinking wine to alleviate the symptoms of a mental health condition can worsen your struggles and may lead to substance use disorder.

Overcoming the urge to drink alcohol is not always easy, but it is possible. If you think you may have a drinking problem, there are resources available to help.

False Claims that Vaccines Cause Infertility Deter COVID Shots

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False claims that COVID-19 vaccines can cause infertility deter Americans from receiving the shots and let health professionals persuade patients that the stories they have read online have no basis.

Among the worst examples of this misinformation spread on Facebook are that immunized men can make unvaccinated women sterile through sex, that 97% of vaccine recipients become sterile, and that the blows are “sterilizing. a whole generation ”.

With the absorption of the vaccine already slowing down, the claims are a threat to the Biden administration’s goal of securing herd immunity in the United States.

Research published earlier this month showed that about two-thirds of those who said they would “definitely” not be vaccinated were concerned about the impact on their fertility.

And about half of unvaccinated people say they are concerned that “the COVID-19 vaccine could negatively affect their fertility in the future,” said Ashley Kirzinger, associate director of public opinion and survey research. of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit study organization.

50% of women and 47% of men aged 18 to 49 who had not yet been vaccinated say they have these fears.

The initial exclusion of pregnant women from COVID-19 vaccine trials created room for falsehoods, and the latest effort by vaccine groups coincides with fewer people advancing for inoculations.

“They mostly just recycle things that scare people about previous vaccines in these new vaccines, whether it makes scientific sense or not,” said Devon Greyson, a professor of health communications at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The messages are aimed at women because “fertility is just one of those things we react to so strongly and it’s so personal,” Greyson added. “So if you’re looking for a bogeyman man, ‘It’ll make you infertile’ it’s really good.”

Katharine O’Connell White, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine, agreed that “concerns about fertility with vaccines affect what it means to be a woman for many women.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine said in a joint statement that “there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility.”

Despite the death toll of more than 500,000 Americans from COVID-19, the hesitation persists and has left doctors having to reassure patients that their fears about not being able to have children are out of place.

“I tell my patients all the time, to print everything you find that makes you nervous and scared. And let’s talk about it, “said White.

But most vaccine skeptics don’t believe their doctor or ask for his advice.

Abinash Virk, an infectious disease doctor and co-chair of the COVID-19 vaccination effort at Mayo Clinic, said people who are firmly opposed to receiving the vaccine either don’t ask for it or don’t go in.

A history of health problems of women most likely to be rejected by health professionals increases the problem.

“The needs of women have historically not been included in research studies. It’s often because the person designing the research study is not a woman, ”White said.

With women, often the default health administrators of their families, and people making decisions about whether to vaccinate their children, misinformation is especially important, as the U.S. has opened Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to 12-year-olds. or more.

A large part of the population, including children, will have to be inoculated to achieve herd immunity, when the proportion of people with antibodies greatly prevents the spread of the virus.

And vaccine falsities obstruct an authorized health guideline.

“The misinformation is catchy,” White added. “It’s much more sticky than the old, boring truth.”

There’s a Long-Standing Gender Gap in Orthopedics

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At the current rate of change, it will take more than 200 years for orthopedic surgery to achieve gender parity with the overall medical profession, according to a study recently published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.

Alexander J. Acuña, from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and colleagues used the National Provider Identifier registry to determine trends in overall, regional, and subspecialty percentages of women among 31,296 currently practicing orthopedic surgeons (April 2020).

The researchers found that 8 percent of currently practicing orthopedic surgeons were women. Nationally, there was an increase in the proportion of women orthopedic surgeons between 2010 and 2019 from 6 to 8 percent, with the lowest growth in the West and the South. By subspecialty, adult reconstruction and spine surgery had the lowest growth. With a compound annual growth rate of 2 percent, it would take 217 years to achieve gender parity with the overall medical profession (36.3 percent women in orthopedic surgery) and 326 years to achieve gender parity with the overall U.S. population.

“We are missing out on outstanding talent and doing a disservice to our patients,” Julie Samora, M.D., president of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, a support and networking group for women orthopedic surgeons, said in a statement. “The time is now to commit to action, to have intentional efforts to increase the representation of women in orthopedics.”

More Women Graduate with Improved Access to Birth Control

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Access to free or low-cost birth control may be an important factor in improving young women’s futures, according to new research from Colorado.

When access to affordable birth control increased, the percentage of young women leaving high school before graduation dropped by double digits, while the rates of pregnancies and abortions also dropped. The study, led by University of Colorado at Boulder researchers, followed more than 170,000 women for seven years.

“One of the foundational claims among people who support greater access to contraception is that it improves women’s ability to complete their education and, in turn, improves their lives,” lead author and assistant professor of sociology Amanda Stevenson said in a university news release. “This study is the first to provide rigorous, quantitative, contemporary evidence that it’s true.”

The Colorado Family Planning Initiative (CFPI) began in 2009, expanding access to inexpensive forms of birth control, like condoms and oral contraceptives, but also more costly long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants.

It was funded with a $27 million grant from a private donor, augmenting funding for clinics supported by federal grant program Title X, which provides low-income women with reproductive services.

Between 2009 and 2015, birth and abortion rates for teens age 15 to 19 both declined by half. They also declined 20% among women age 20 to 24.

To determine additional impacts, researchers used U.S. Census data to examine the educational attainment of more than 5,000 Colorado women. They compared those whose high school career occurred before the policy change with those in high school after the change. The researchers looked at the same changes in the outcomes of women of similar age in 17 other states.

They found that the program decreased the percentage of women who left school before graduating by 14% in Colorado. That means that 3,800 Colorado women who were born between 1994 and 1996 received a high school diploma by age 20 to 22 because of CFPI.

Overall, high school graduation rates in Colorado increased from 88% before CFPI was implemented to 92% after. About half of that gain was due to the program. Improvements were even greater for Hispanic women: Graduation rates rose from 77% to 87%. Researchers attributed 5% of the increase to CFPI.

“Supporting access to contraception does not eliminate disparities in high school graduation, but we find that it can contribute significantly to narrowing them,” said Stevenson, who believes the Colorado results translate to other states.

Accessible contraception also promotes higher graduation rates, said co-author Sara Yeatman, an associate professor of health and behavioral sciences at University of Colorado at Denver.

“We think there is also an indirect effect,” Yeatman said in the release, suggesting contraception access is empowering. “The confidence that you can control your own fertility can contribute to a young woman investing in her education and in her future.”

The research team is now looking to see whether increased access to birth control may influence women’s futures in others ways. They hope the findings inform the conversation as lawmakers throughout the United States consider proposals to boost Title X funding, lift restrictions requiring that teens get parental consent for birth control and increase access.

Causes of Nausea And When To Seek Treatment

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We all know the feeling. A sour stomach, sometimes mixed in with some lightheadedness and dizziness, and that feeling that you might puke your guts out at any second. Not only is it not pleasant, but feeling nauseous can be embarrassing. Not to mention disturbing if it’s a regular occurrence.

According to Christine Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic, there are a number of reasons you may feel like you’re “always” nauseous. The first thing you should determine is if it’s mild and temporary—it comes and goes without intensity and needing any intervention. “If you find yourself frequently experiencing nausea that doesn’t resolve itself quickly and persists, you should get it checked out to get to the root of the problem,” she says. “Symptoms such as vomiting blood, inability to keep anything, including water and saliva, down, high fevers, intense pain and shortness of breath are definitely causes for concern.” Meaning, get to a doctor now.

But if you’re not vomiting and you frequently feel nauseous, discover some potential causes and when you should seek professional help.

1) You started taking a new medication

Nausea can sometimes be a side effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, so consult your doctor if this is the case and to see if switching to another painkiller or anti-inflammatory might be a safer bet for you.

2) You’ve had anesthesia or chemotherapy

If you’ve just had surgery and are loaded up on pain medications or narcotics, or you’ve been receiving chemotherapy as cancer treatment, nausea is a common side effect you should be aware of, Dr. Lee says. Don’t hesitate to talk to your medical team about what to expect.

“Nausea and vomiting is very common when you wake up after having received anesthesia, so your provider should ask if you have this history and provide you with anti-nausea medications beforehand, if necessary,” she says.

3) You have a balance disorder, or you’ve been sick

Balance disorders such as vertigo, labyrinthitis, and vestibular neuronitis are commonly accompanied by nausea, Dr. Lee says. In this case, getting to the root of the problem can help you manage your nausea.

You may also experience feelings of nausea after a cold or other upper respiratory tract infection. Even a lack of sleep could bring it on.

4) You have motion sickness

“If you experience motion sickness where repeated motions such as with riding on a boat or experiencing turbulence on a flight, or even when moving on a rollercoaster or a car ride, you should still talk to your doctor,” Dr. Lee says.

Persistent nausea could be related to inflammation; it’s worth seeing a gastroenterologist to see if this is the case. If you’re otherwise fine and experiencing common motion sickness, “you might find ensuring you’re well-hydrated can help you get to the root of the problem and possibly avoid it in the future.”

5) You have underlying medical conditions

No surprise here that nausea can be tied to a digestive or gastrointestinal disorder, such as gastroparesis, gastritis, PUD (peptic ulcer disease), GERD (gastrosophageal reflux disease), inflammatory diseases, pancreatic disorders (such as pancreatitis or gallstones), intestinal obstruction (such as constipation, bowel obstruction or appendicitis), Dr. Lee says.

Similarly, other more rare but serious causes can be vascular disorders such as heart artery blockages blood clots, or a brain-related issue such as meningitis or a hemorrhage.

Finally, hyper- or hypoglycemia (too high or too low blood sugar), DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), dehydration, and heat stroke can also be contributing causes of nausea. If you are really always nauseous, meaning it’s frequent and recurring, you want to see a doctor to rule out these serious conditions.

6) You’re extremely hungry

It may seem counterintuitive that being hungry could bring you the point of wanting to puke, but it’s fairly common, as allowing yourself to get extremely hungry can lead your body to feel overwhelmed by the buildup of stomach acid, Dr. Lee says.

In an effort to constantly be “on” for work, it can be easier than you think to skip breakfast, lunch or a snack. Similarly, not properly fueling for a workout can make you have to stop exercising because of feelings of nausea, dizziness or lightheadedness. Don’t skimp on a pre-workout snack, especially if you’re going to get your sweat on later in the day.

7) You have symptoms of anxiety

Acute stress situations and the feelings of nervousness, stress, and fear you have can bring on butterflies in your stomach or even nausea, Dr. Lee says. It would be great if you could control the stress, but that’s easier to say than to do. To take down the nausea, make sure you’re properly hydrated and fed. Keeping caffeine to a minimum can also help avoid feeling nausea.

The bottom line on frequent nausea

Because the range of reasons you feel nauseous all the time is so wide, it’s important to focus not just on the symptoms, but to know all of the possibilities.

If you have unexplained nausea—it’s not because you’re hungry, tired, or carsick, for instance—and it’s frequent, you should get it checked out by a doctor. “The earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis and outcome, so the message we want to send is to seek medical attention to make sure it’s not anything serious,” Dr. Lee says.