Marla Ahlgrimm: Hair Loss And COVID-19

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, more and more people are noticing hair loss in 2020. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic may be partly to blame. Does COVID cause hair loss? Not directly, but there is a correlation.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that coronavirus-related hair loss is not triggered by the virus. Instead, it’s due to an unfortunate side-effect of stress – either physical or emotional – known as telogen effluvium. This is effectively the premature relaxation of the hair growth pattern when individual strands fall out naturally. However, as the body recovers from physical trauma, the process is hastened.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Fall Is In The Air

Fall is getting there and you can feel it in the air. Aside from cooler temperatures, Marla Ahlgrimm says there are plenty of irritants swirling around. And that means allergies.

Fall allergies are just as bad as those you get in the spring, says Marla Ahlgrimm. While in the spring things are blooming, allergens, such as pollen, sagebrush, and ragweed, kick up production in late summer and into the early weeks of fall.

An itchy throat, headaches, nasal congestion, and watery eyes are just a few of the symptoms of fall allergies. Unfortunately, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, there are only a few ways to actually reduce the chances of being affected. These are to stay indoors when your primary allergen is high or take an antihistamine. Neither option is guaranteed, however, and it may take some trial and error before you find an antihistamine that works for you.

Menstrual Bleeding After Menopause | Marla Ahlgrimm

If you’ve made it past menopause, one thing you can absolutely look forward to is a blessed absence of menstrual bleeding. However, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, some women do experience spotting, and this could mean a serious problem.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains the postmenopausal bleeding is not a normal bodily function. Women who experience even light spotting months or years after their final period should contact their doctor for an exam. While vaginal bleeding after menopause does not necessarily point to a life-threatening issue, it could mean endometrial cancer. This occurs in about 9% of women with postmenopausal bleeding.

Marla Ahlgrimm: Where’s My Hair?

If you are a woman in menopause, you may have noticed an unsettling side-effect: hair loss. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, menopause-related thinning may not be completely avoidable, but there are ways to help mitigate the unfortunately visible alteration of your appearance. Keep reading for more information on hormones and hair loss.

Q: How do I know if I’m experiencing hair loss?

Marla Ahlgrimm: For many women, it is gradual at first. Sometime around their 50th birthday, they may notice a few longer strands of hair on the shower floor. Hairbrushes may seem to get full quicker. Others may experience a more rapid thinning, and a visible near-bald spot at the crown of the head may appear virtually overnight.

Marla Ahlgrimm | Back To School

The 2020/2021 school year is going to look markedly different, says women’s health care advocate Marla Ahlgrimm. As teachers, parents, and students gear up for a new year, it’s a good idea to take a look at how schools can keep everyone safe.

Physical distancing

By now, we are all familiar with the term social distancing. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers similar advice for students. However, realizing that space is limited, most healthcare and education providers recommend having desks spaced approximately three feet apart. School systems may also request that students wear masks, which may be particularly important in the older grades, says Marla Ahlgrimm.

Marla Ahlgrimm | A Second Wave May Be On The Horizon

When the coronavirus first made its entrance in the United States, it came in hard and fast. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, a second wave, one that’s every bit intense as the first, may be on its way.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that many health experts believe late fall and early winter may trigger an uptick in COVID-19 cases. It is almost impossible, however, to accurately predict how a novel virus will react from one season to the next. What we do know is that warm weather was not the savior we all expected.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains further that large crowds, such as unsanctioned gatherings and protests, may usher in localized epidemics.

COVID-19 Affects The Sexes Differently, Says Marla Ahlgrimm

Since the beginning of its known existence, the COVID-19 virus has affected men proportionately much more than women. Unfortunately, men have much higher mortality rates than their wives, daughters, and sisters, despite being equally at risk of contraction. This is in line with 2003 information culled from research studies during the SARS outbreak.

But why?

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, males may be more affected because they tend to experience heart disease far more commonly. Liver disease, high blood pressure, and other disorders make the symptoms of the coronavirus much stronger and harder to shake.

Another potentially significant contributor is that men tend to smoke much more than women. Marla Ahlgrimm cites global and historical World Health Organization statistics that note around 40% of men smoke compared to just 9% of women. Smoking is an obvious trigger for lung disease, and considering that the coronavirus attacks the respiratory system, it makes sense that smokers are more at risk.