All posts by Iris Farrou

Swimming is a wonderful way to exercise, relieve stress, practice less strenuous physical therapy, and many other benefits. Especially in the summer, we use swimming not only as a way to cool down, but also as the primary relaxation technique. After all, what is summertime without imagining ourselves by a pool or by the ocean?

We are already deep into the summer season, so our bodies have most likely been deep into pools, fresh water, or the sea. Along with the many positive effects that swimming can have on our physical and mental health, there are some elements that pose a threat to female hygiene and vaginal health: the widely dreaded yeast infections.

How are they caused?

Yeast infections are, essentially, fungal infections that cause irritation and discharge, as well as extreme itchiness. They thrive in conditions that help fungi develop: water with bacteria, or water with chemicals, as well as lounging in our swimsuits after swimming—innocently drying off in the sun while giving bacteria ample space to thrive.

How do we prevent them?

Currently over 138 million women suffer from recurrent candid, another name for yeast infections, so sound advice and safe habits can go a long way in preventing swim-induced infections.

1. Immediately rinse off in a shower after swimming and change into dry swimsuit bottoms or fresh underwear. This drastically reduces the risk of bacterial development.
2. Wash your swimwear when you get home. Use dye-free or sensitive laundry detergent, or if unavailable, rinse thoroughly with fresh water for several minutes. Hang your swimsuit up to dry completely before using it again.
3. Reduce or eliminate your exposure to chlorinated water, especially in a hot water environment like a hot tub. This is a more drastic measure meant for those of us who are very prone to UTIs and candida, are pregnant, on antibiotic or certain medications, have diabetes, or a weakened immune system that may lead to yeast infections developing more easily.
4. Keep your body hydrated with clean drinking water to assist your bladder in flushing out the bad bacteria and keeping the good bacteria. Remember that the female vagina is almost like a self-cleaning oven, and you can assist it in keeping itself healthy. Eating probiotic foods or taking liquid probiotic supplements, as well as reducing our intake of alcohol and sugary foods can also fortify vaginal pH balance.

What are some symptoms?

• If you experience increased frequent need to urinate, painful urination, chills, burning urination or even lower back aches, you may have developed a urinary tract infection as well.
• Increased discharge that potentially smells stronger and is gray colored, along with vaginal itching, tenderness and/or swelling are all signs of yeast infections.

As always, pay attention to what your body is feeling and doing.  If something doesn’t feel, look or act normal down there, contact your gynecologist or general practitioner immediately. Yeast infections and UTIs are nothing to be embarrassed about, and important to address quickly for physical and mental wellness.

 

During times of high heat and temperatures, it is not uncommon to experience excessive sweating. Additionally, women are all too familiar with night sweats and changes in their body temperature during their menstrual cycle; especially when progesterone levels increase and estrogen levels decrease, the part of your brain that controls internal temperatures (hypothalamus) is affected, resulting in irregular sweating. However, excessive sweating may not only be based on hormonal changes but be the cause of something more serious.

What is it?

Excessive sweating is also called hyperhidrosis and it occurs when you sweat more than you would expect based on your surroundings, temperature, and stress levels. It can affect your entire body or just certain areas like your palms, soles, underarms, or face. When there is no underlying medical cause, it is called primary hyperhidrosis, but when there is an underlying cause, it is secondary hyperhidrosis. Conditions that may cause excessive sweating include diabetic hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, fever, acromegaly, infection, menopause, medication side effects, and neurologic diseases. 

Cause for Concern

Based on the above list, there may be many reasons why you are experiencing excessive sweating, and most of them would require some time to figure out. However, if excessive sweating is accompanied by lightheadedness, nausea, or chest pain, you should seek immediate medical attention. You should still visit your doctor if you suddenly sweat more than usual, especially if this disrupts your daily routine. If you experience night sweats for no clear reason, you should also contact your doctor. It is especially concerning if your sweating is causing you to socially withdraw or be emotionally distressed. 

Treatment 

If an underlying medical condition is what causes excessive sweating, then this should be treated first. If this is not the case, however, then your doctor may provide you with the following solutions: 

• Prescription antiperspirant or prescription creams that focus on hyperhidrosis on the head and the face. 
• Nerve-blocking medications to block the chemicals which allow nerves to communicate with one another.
• Antidepressants as they can help decrease both sweating and the anxiety that may be causing hyperhidrosis.
• Botulinum toxin injections temporarily block the nerves that cause sweating.

This is not an exhaustive list of treatments used to treat excessive sweating, but they are the most common ones. Keep in mind that it makes a big difference in treating the condition whether it is primary or secondary hyperhidrosis, and that should you experience constant symptoms of it you should address it with your primary physician first and foremost. 

Rather more serious than the usual activity-induced fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) is a chronic illness that is known to affect more than 1 million Americans. Women are four times more likely than men to be diagnosed with it. Keep in mind that it is different from expected fatigue, as it often disables people from doing simple daily tasks such as showering or dressing and may also confine people to bed.

Along with the general description we are provided about chronic fatigue, we know of three key symptoms:

• ME/CFS is accompanied by fatigue that lasts more than 6 months, and it is not the result of usual effort, nor is it made better when resting
• Symptoms become worse after mental, physical or emotional effort that would not have caused any issues before the illness
• Sleep does not get the job done, as people with ME/CFS may be just as tired after a full night’s sleep, not refreshed

Causes

Medical professionals do not yet know exactly what causes ME/CFS, but speculate it is possible there is more than one cause. It is also assumed that there may be a variety of triggers for the condition, such as infections or changes in the immune system. Patients report that CFS starts after flu-like illnesses or a cold/stomach bug, while others also link it to periods of extreme stress—which can of course affect body chemistry. There are no conclusive results yet, but another scientific hypothesis is that ME/CFS is linked to the virus that causes mono, Epstein-Barr.

Treatment

Because of the inconclusive results on what exactly causes ME/CFS, it is difficult for medical professionals to suggest treatment for it, nor is there a CDC approved treatment. However, it is possible to treat certain symptoms to provide relief for some patients. Since it is not a guarantee, unfortunately many people learn to live with it and manage the symptoms to the best of their ability with the support of their family and friends.

Most commonly, healthcare professionals work with patients to address post-exertional malaise and help patients understand, and find, their limits when it comes to physical and mental exertion and create routines as well as “energy envelopes” to manage their fatigue. Sleep problems can also be addressed with either tips for good sleep habits, over the counter medications, or even prescribed sleep medications. Pain of muscles and joints is also addressed in the same manner, and even alternative medicine may be suggested.

Additional symptoms of ME/CFS may include dizziness, loss of memory and/or difficulty concentrating as well as depression and stress. Keep in mind that experiencing individualized or sporadic symptoms listed here is not a conclusive diagnosis for chronic fatigue, and should you suspect, you may be suffering from it, it is best to reach out to your doctor.