Supporting yourself during cold and flu season
It’s that time of year again! Cold and flu season lasts from October to May, although we all know you can get sick with influenza or another flu-like illness pretty much anytime. Upper respiratory infections are well-named: they lead to symptoms in the upper respiratory tract, the throat, nose, and sinuses. Most of the bugs that cause these upper respiratory infections (URIs) are viruses. (more…)
Is it the flu, a cold, or COVID-19?
October officially marks the start of influenza season, which lasts until May. During these months, doctors’ offices across the world start to see increasing number of runny noses, coughs, sore throats, and fevers.
This year, your scratchy throat and congested nose might bring up some more confusion than previous years. You might think (more…)
Air quality health effects in pregnancy and what you can do about it
Wildfires continue to affect much of the West Coast, as we are all aware. But what exactly is the health impact of these fires? The biggest culprit – and the one on everyone’s mind – is the smoke and what it does to our air quality. Portland, Oregon has had the worst air quality in the world this past week, clocking in at an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 516 on September 13, 2020. The number looks huge, especially considering Oregon is usually home to some of the best air quality in the world with AQI (more…)
Breathe Carefully
Breathe Carefully; The impact of wildfire smoke exposure and strategies for maintaining health.
I’m writing today from Portland, Oregon, my home and the home of our clinic of course, A Woman’s Time. As you all know, our forests and several towns and areas are burning dramatically. The worst in our history. Governor Brown had stated several days ago that 900,000 acres had burned in 3 days vs the previous maximum of 300,000 acres a year. Those of us who are not (more…)
Infertility – Part 1
Important to know the Underlying Cause
What is infertility?
The definition of infertility differs based on the age of the female trying to conceive because age is the single most influential factor when it comes to fertility. It is generally regarded that female fertility begins to decline after about age 30. This is because females have all of their eggs at birth and over time the reserve of eggs dwindles resulting in a lower number and quality of eggs available. Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant after trying for a year. However, this definition is amended to a (more…)
HPV of the Cervix and Vaccines
HPV of the Cervix and Vaccines
Human papilloma virus, HPV, is the most common cause of both sexually transmitted infections and of cervical cancer worldwide. This virus is a particularly tricky one, sometimes evading the immune system for years. In addition to hiding from the immune system, it can cause changes to cells of the cervix, called cervical dysplasia. Left unchecked, this dysplasia can lead to cancer. In fact, over 99% of cervical cancer cases can be directly linked to specific high-risk strains of this virus. Annually, (more…)
Four Uses of Melatonin
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain and plays a key role in the maintenance of the sleep-wake cycle. In addition to its function regarding sleep, melatonin has been proposed to have many varied properties as it also functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Because of melatonin’s diverse characteristics, it has been studied for a (more…)
Does what and how we drink impact breast health?
Roughly 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. With this outstanding number in mind, many women ponder what can be done to reduce breast cancer risk. While a genetic predisposition for development of cancer cannot be altered there are other factors that can be modified. One such modifiable risk factor is alcohol consumption.
Does alcohol increase risk for development of breast cancer?
Compared to women who drink less than one drink daily, women who regularly drink 1-2 alcoholic drinks per day have a statistically significant increased lifetime risk for the development of breast cancer. This risk further increases when consumption exceeds 3 drinks per day.
Is it Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Is it Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten-free eating, cooking, and living has been increasing in popularity over the past decade. Some skeptics consider this a fad, while others swear they feel better eating a strictly gluten-free diet. Gluten-free bakeries and restaurants speckle metropolitan areas,and now even body-care and cleaning products are hopping on the bandwagon, labeling their lotions and scrubs as “gluten-free”. So, is it hype, or is there a medical need for eating sans gluten?
Top 10 Ways to Support the Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system. This term sounds complex, but it is actually just what it sounds like: the body’s internal (“endo”) system that responds to cannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is so named because it was first discovered when scientists were studying the effects of cannabis on the body.1 The ECS is perhaps most notable for its role in regulating the limbic system, a part of the brain responsible for emotions, motivation, and our stress response. This system responds to our body’s own endogenous cannabinoids, anandamide and 2-AG, and to exogenous cannabinoids. A well-toned endocannabinoid system can help us recover from major stresses, prevent stress-related overwhelm, regulate cortisol levels, and will naturally increase during times of stress.
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