Dear Red Hot Mamas, I am in perimenopause, age 48 and I have noticed a change in my gums. I appreciate it if you could let me know is this normal or not? I have an appointment with my dentist in September. Thank you. Olivia Dear Olivia, Thank you for writing to Red Hot Mamas. It is important for you to understand the impact of perimenopause can have on your oral health. It may pose some potential risks but by taking proactive measures, such as maintaining good oral hygiene, visiting the dentist regularly, and managing overall health, you should be able to minimize the chances of d ..read more

“Don’t Walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.” -Albert Camus Dear Red Hot Mamas, If we remodel our kitchen or bathroom, we usually do not hire the first contractor that is recommended. We never decide to hire a contractor first without consulting with him or her. But some of us seem to pick doctors from lists sight unseen because looking for a new doctor sometimes can be overwhelming and a daunting task. There are steps you should consider taking before selecting a doctor in whom you will invest your health ..read more

Women’s Congressional Policy Institute in cooperation with Reps. Kat Cammack and Susie Lee Co-Chairs, Bipartisan Women’s Caucus and Reps. Monica De La Cruz and Emilia Strong Sykes Vice-Chairs, Bipartisan Women’s Caucus Invite you to a Capitol Hill briefing on: Menopause and Midlife Women’s Health Tuesday, July 23, 2024 12 – 1:30 p.m. 2044 Rayburn House Office Building Speakers: Janine Austin Clayton, MD, FARVO, Associate Director for Research on Women’s Health, Director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health, National Institutes of Health (invited) Genevieve Neal-Perry, M ..read more

Dear Red Hot Mamas, I am 54, postmenopausal and starting to get dry eyes. Are there any self-help measures you can suggest? Thank you. Colette Dear Colette, Thank you for following Red Hot Mamas and writing to us. The first thing you should do is to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor who will run some tests to determine exactly why your eyes are dry and recommend the best way to treat them. Some self-help measures which you asked for include: Keep a dryness diary to see how often you are experiencing dry eyes and under what conditions may be causing this problem.&n ..read more

Too Much Exercise Could Actually Trigger a Hot Flash New study suggests that despite significant benefits of physical activity, acute increases in activity could increase the odds of hot flashes reported during waking and sleeping periods CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 29, 2024)— Hot flashes affect roughly 80% of women during the years around menopause. Despite how common they are and how much research has been conducted relative to what causes them, much remains unknown. A new study suggests that acute changes in physical activity, temperature, and humidity may play a role in the hot flash experience ..read more

Having conversations about #menopause with coworkers and peers is a vital step toward breaking down barriers, creating a supportive workplace culture, and normalizing menopause experiences. Check out the @Society for Women’s Health Research Menopause Workplace Resource Guide for Women: https://swhr.org/swhr_resource/menopauseworkplace-resource-guide-for-women #SWHRtalksMenopause Download (PDF, 3.37MB) The post Society for Women’s health Research (SWHR) Menopause Workplace Resource Guide first appeared on Red Hot Mamas. The post Society for Women’s health Research (SWHR) Menopause Workplace Re ..read more

From the Editor…Karen Giblin “Hair is the richest ornament of women.” – Martin Luther Dear Red Hot Mamas, My aunt was born in Italy but emigrated with my father and grandparents to the United States at an early age. She was always loving and filled with great passion. My aunt had a strong work ethic as she owned and operated our family restaurant in Little Italy in Baltimore for over sixty years. She was the matriarch in our family. My aunt lived to be 99 years of age. Why am I bringing up my aunt currently? It is because, she always had a sense to stay gorgeous. Oh my, she ..read more

Dear Red Hot Mamas, My doctor suggested told me incorporate more calcium in my diet to prevent osteoporosis. I do not like to take supplements, so I am looking for help with food choices. Thank you for your suggestions. Loretta Dear Loretta, Here are some good choices for you to consider when adding calcium rich-foods to your diet: Almonds Yogurt Cheese Milk Oranges Broccoli Kale Bok Choy Collard greens Spinach Canned sardines or salmon White beans Calcium-fortified cereals and/or juices Tofu Getting enough calcium per day can help keep your bones strong and reduce bone loss and ..read more

New study underscores the potential significance of hormone levels in influencing musculoskeletal health during the postmenopause phase CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 1, 2024)—Musculoskeletal pain is a prevalent menopause symptom, which helps explain why women typically experience more pain than men, especially around the age of 50 years. Beyond pain, muscle function and mass are also affected by menopause. A new study suggests premature surgical menopause can lead to an increased risk of muscle disorders. Results of the survey are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause S ..read more

Dear Red Hot Mamas, Since menopause I developed IBS symptoms. I can’t pinpoint why this is happening. Thank you for any information you might provide. Sharon Dear Sharon, There are many theories why some people get IBS but many of these theories require more research. However, triggers that cause you to have symptoms of IBS are easier to identify. Here are some triggers: Some foods contribute to IBS constipation and include, Breads and cereals made with refined (not whole) grains; processed foods such as chips and cookies; coffee, carbonated drinks, and alcohol; high-protein diets ..read more