Mary Claire Haver
Fifteen percent of women glide through menopause. Dr. Mary Claire Haver was not among them, suffering debilitating hot flashes and sleepless nights. She also noticed that, even though the condition will affect about half the population, information on how to manage symptoms was hard to find. (Last year, a British study showed that only 9% of women felt informed enough to handle menopause.) So, the telegenic Dr. Haver, a board-certified ob-gyn based in Texas, stepped into the breach.
In 2021, she opened her own clinic in Galveston; in 2023, she published a book on menopause diets; and in 2024, she followed up with The New Menopause, a comprehensive guide for women. Both sold briskly, but it's on social media where the 56-year-old's advice really lands—particularly on Instagram, where she speaks to her nearly 3 million followers, offering advice and talking through the latest research. Her guidance is considered aggressive by some menopause experts—she's an advocate for hormone therapy—and her promotion of her own supplements and diet plans has raised eyebrows. But her intelligence and candor have made her a staple for the 45-and-over set. As she told TIME last year, 'This is a time when we should be living our best lives.'
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Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Relentlessly debilitating,' the chronic symptoms of Lyme disease
Grammy award-winning pop star Justin Timberlake, 44, recently took to Instagram to share his diagnosis of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that he said was, 'relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.' His statement comes on the heels of criticism from fans who felt he was under-performing during his recent world tour. 'When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure,' the post stated. 'But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.' Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterial species that can spread to people and animals from the bite of a deer tick — also called a black-legged tick — carrying the bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. Experts say ticks that carry the bacteria live throughout most of the United States, although the incidence of Lyme disease is far less prevalent in California than it is in the American Northeast, Midwest and mid-Atlantic states. (The disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where an outbreak was first identified in the 1970s.) In California, western black-legged ticks are carriers of Lyme disease and are commonly found in northern coastal counties and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to the California Department of Public Health. Between 2013 and 2019, there were 904 new cases of Lyme disease in the state. During that time period, the average rates of Lyme disease were highest in Santa Cruz (4 cases per 100,000 people), Humboldt (about 3 cases per 100,000 people) and Sonoma Counties (about 2 cases per 100,000 people). Lyme disease often goes undiagnosed 'due to the breadth and migratory nature of its symptoms—ranging from headaches and fatigue to joint pain, body aches, balance issues, memory loss, myocarditis, anxiety, insomnia, and depression,' the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a nonprofit that studies the disease, stated in a post on X. Most people completely recover from the disease when treated with a two- to four-week course of antibiotics. Others have prolonged symptoms of fatigue, body, aches or difficulty thinking, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When a bacteria-infected tick bites a person, or animal, the bacteria is released from the mouth of the tick and into the bloodstream, where it can then spread throughout the body, according to Bay Area Lyme Foundation. If a tick becomes attached to your skin, the CDC recommends you remove it as soon as possible. Consult your health care provider if you show any symptoms of the disease. Your body's reaction to the infection varies from person to person and symptoms show up in stages. Some people with Lyme disease don't have symptoms in the early stages of the infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common symptoms of Lyme disease are fever, rash, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat, and arthritis. These symptoms can happen in stages. During the first stage, which occurs 3 to 30 days after a tick bite, a person can develop a circular rash around the site of the bite. The rash can become clear in the center, and resemble a target or bull's-eye. During this first stage, infected people can experience a fever, headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains or swollen lymph nodes. In the second stage, which occurs three to 10 weeks after a bite, symptoms can escalate. They include: Symptoms in the third stage of the disease, which begins two to 12 months after a tick bite, include arthritis in large joints, particularly the knees. Pain, swelling or stiffness may last for a long time or can come and go. People with prolonged symptoms of Lyme disease, called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, usually get better over time without additional antibiotics, but it can take many months to feel completely well, according to the CDC. The cause of pro-longed symptoms is currently unknown. Ticks are commonly found in outdoor areas with grass, shrubs, rocks, logs and fallen leaves. You don't have to avoid these areas, but should instead wear protective clothing to prevent a tick from latching onto your skin. Before you go on your outdoor activity, plan to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants. With your protective clothes on, apply insect repellent to garments and exposed skin, according to the state public health department. During your hike, check yourself and any pets for ticks that might be crawling on you. If you do see a tick, remove it right away. When you return home from your excursion, inspect your clothes, body and scalp for any ticks. Toss the tick-free clothes in the laundry and take a shower. If you found a tick on your clothes put clothing items in a hot dryer for 10 minutes, that will kill the insect. The California Department of Public Health recommends you continue to check your body for any sign of ticks for three days after being outside in areas where ticks reside.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Justin Timberlake reveals ‘relentlessly debilitating' Lyme disease symptoms — Do you live in Ontario's high risk areas?
Justin Timberlake has Lyme disease. The famous pop star confirmed his battle with 'relentlessly debilitating' Lyme disease symptoms in an Instagram post Thursday . 'When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure,' he wrote. 'But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.' Timberlake faced criticism for recent performances in Europe over what fans described as low-energy shows. It appears Lyme disease may be to blame. 'I was faced with a personal decision. Stop touring? Or, keep going and figure it out,' Timberlake wrote on Instagram. 'I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I'm so glad I kept going.' Timberlake just completed his 'Forget Tomorrow World Tour' in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday. The tour started in Vancouver last April. A post shared by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) Notable Canadian celebrities who have shared their diagnosis with Lyme disease include Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber and Shania Twain. The blacklegged tick is known to transmit four tick-borne diseases — anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Lyme disease and Powassan virus — that are listed as Diseases of Public Health Significance by Public Health Ontario (PHO). Lyme disease occurs in stages. Symptoms can vary from person to person after being bitten by an infected blacklegged tick or western blacklegged tick. Signs and symptoms of each stage can overlap. 'In some people, Lyme disease may present in a later stage without a history of prior signs or symptoms,' the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) explains. Early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can manifest as: The erythema migrans rash is the most commonly reported sign of Lyme disease. PHAC explains it's an expanding skin rash that usually starts at the site of the tick bite slowly expanding over several days. The rash can be circular or oval-shaped, looking like a target or bull's eye. It can go unnoticed if it's on dark skin or a part of the body that's hard to see. PHAC says some people might not develop a rash at all. The bull's-eye shape of this rash is a clear sign of Lyme disease. Later symptoms of Lyme disease can appear days to months after an infected tick bite and might manifest as: In very rare cases, death can occur due to the complications involving an infection of the heart. Lyme disease is a growing concern in Canada particularly in southern Ontario, which is considered one of a few hot spots for ticks. Tick populations continue to climb in Ontario, as well as other parts of Canada. This year is expected to follow the trend . The Public Health Agency of Canada has a tool where you can type in your postal code and it will tell you if you're located in a risk area for Lyme disease. Some risk areas include spots in Windsor, Whitby, Waterloo, Uxbridge, The Blue Mountains, Tay Valley, St. Catharines, Smiths Falls, Scugog, Richmond Hill, Rideau Lakes, Renfrew, Prince Edward County, Port Hope, Perth, Peel, Ottawa, Oshawa, Orillia, Oakville, Niagara Falls, Newmarket, Mississauga, Milton, Markham, Hamilton, Clarington, Caledon, Burlington, Brampton, Kawartha Lakes, Barrie, Ajax and more. Map of five areas known for risk to tick exposure in Canada. The number of human reported Lyme disease cases in Canada in 2024 was 5,239, according to preliminary data from the PHAC. That's a jump from the 4,785 cases reported in 2023 and 2,525 in 2022. For a matter of perspective, only 144 cases were reported in 2009. Out of the 4,785 cases in 2023, 1,865 were reported in Ontario, according to Public Health Ontario data. In Canada, Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is spread through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks — also known as deer ticks — and western blacklegged ticks, according to the PHAC. The blacklegged tick, or deer tick as it is sometimes called, is the most common carrier of Lyme disease. Despite the established risk areas for ticks, Public Health Ontario said it's important for people to know they could encounter an infected blacklegged tick almost anywhere in Ontario , as blacklegged ticks feed on and are transported by migratory birds. Species of ticks can be found in most parts of Ontario — clustering along the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, according to PHO. This map depicts the estimated risk areas for Lyme disease in Ontario in 2024. Risk areas for Lyme disease in southern Ontario can be found along the north shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and on the south shore of Lake Huron, according to PHAC . In southeastern Ontario, risk areas can be found around Kingston in the St. Lawrence valley, extending northeast toward Ottawa. PHO data shows Lyme disease was reported in all but one health unit region in 2023. The highest concentration of reported cases in Ontario in 2013 was in the Ontario health unit catchment areas of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health and Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health. In 2023, 84 people in Ontario were hospitalized for Lyme disease. PHO shows Lyme rates have been climbing for the last 10 years. Climate change is contributing to the spread of blacklegged ticks to new areas in Canada. Southern, western and southeastern Ontario, parts of Manitoba, southern Quebec and the Maritime provinces are known to be risk areas for ticks and Lyme disease exposure. Map of five areas known for risk to tick exposure in Canada. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can cause serious medical issues. Here are some proactive measures to take to avoid getting bitten by a tick. For more information on ticks , visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's website. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
All the benefits of having a G&T over a glass of wine
If you're going to indulge in a drink or two, whether on holiday or in a pub garden, a gin and tonic could be the best option for your health. As a registered nutritionist, Sophie Trotman is bound to repeat the words that we are all so used to hearing: 'I would always recommend that you don't drink at all, or at least lower the amount that you drink,' she says. 'Wines can be quite sugary and contain a lot of sulphates,' Trotman says, which can wreak havoc on your digestive system, while beers 'are high in carbohydrates' and can cause your blood sugar to spike. The heroic G&T, meanwhile, is a drink that 'I often recommend to my clients if they don't want to cut out alcohol entirely,' says Trotman. 'The calories and sugar in a single gin with a light tonic are as low as you're going to get.' This will be welcome news to many. The majority of people in Britain now prefer to drink gin and tonic with friends rather than cups of builders' tea, according to spirit brand Bacardi's cocktail trend report, and the UK constitutes the world's biggest market for gin. So what are the benefits of swapping your regular pint or glass of wine for a G&T? The health benefits of a G&T 1. Fewer calories than beer and wine One shot of gin will provide you with around 50 calories, compared with about 130 calories in a medium glass of red or white wine or the 200-300 calories in a pint of beer. A 200ml serving of light tonic to mix your drink will come in at around 30 calories, keeping a health-conscious G&T under 100 calories to a glass. The average British man drinks 17.6 units of alcohol every week, according to NHS data, the equivalent of eight to nine pints of lager (with beer still being the drink consumed most frequently by men in the UK). Drinking the same number of single-measure G&Ts each week – though it is not recommended that any adult consumes more than 14 units of alcohol in this timeframe – would mean cutting around 900 'empty' calories from your diet and losing a stone within a year. Meanwhile, women who switch from the average nine units or four medium glasses of wine per week to single G&Ts would drink 120 fewer calories. This might not sound like much, but tweaks like this can make all the difference in limiting your party-season weight gain. At this time of year when the units we consume will likely outpace our average for the year, 'a gin and tonic is definitely a better option to manage your weight,' Trotman says. 2. Less sugar and carbs than other contenders A single shot of gin contains zero grams of sugar, as well as no carbohydrates. This is one of the reasons that gin is often the drink of those on a ketogenic diet, as it is less likely to knock your body out of its fat-burning state (though all alcohol will make it harder for your liver to process food). Aside from leading to weight gain, drinking any beverage that has a high carbohydrate content – like lager, with 10-15 grams of carbs to a pint, or cider which has as much as 40 grams a glass – can cause uncomfortable bloating and an upset stomach. A no-carb drink such as gin 'will have less of an impact on your blood sugar levels too,' Trotman says, another factor that makes it a better option for keeping your waistline static (and making sure that you've still got some energy the morning after). And while vodkas and rums typically come mixed in fizzy, sugary drinks, the sugar in a slimline tonic typically comes in at around 7.6 grams per 200ml glass, compared with the 21.2g in 200ml of full-fat Coca Cola. Light rather than diet tonic is ideal with your gin as 'diet tonic will be full of artificial sweeteners that can worsen your health in the long term,' Trotman says. 'So if you're having a few, always opt for a light version and a single shot.' 3. A boost from juniper berries and garnishes Gin is made by brewing a neutral-tasting grain with juniper berries and other botanicals such as lemon peel, coriander seeds, cardamom or thyme. Juniper berries contain flavonoids as well as large amounts of vitamin C, which can improve circulation and help ward off colds, and antioxidants which promote skin regeneration. These berries can also speed up your digestive system and soothe inflammation. While the amount of these goodies left over in a single serving of gin is likely 'negligible', Trotman says, gin can also be infused with ingredients that up its health benefits: some kinds on the market have been paired with large volumes of fruit juice for added vitamin C, while some have been specifically blended to provide micronutrients as well as collagen. Others are brewed with extra juniper berries. G&Ts are also easy to make and serve creatively. A quick health tip is just to 'eat the slice of orange that comes with your drink, because every little does help,' Trotman says, or at home 'you could mix in some cranberry juice for antioxidants or add some blueberries for helpful polyphenols'. 4. Easier to drink in moderation The versatility of a gin and tonic is a major reason why Sophie Trotman recommends it to her clients. Along with a light tonic, 'you can add a lot of ice to make it a long drink that you're able to keep sipping over a longer period,' reducing the total amount of alcohol you drink in the course of an evening. The reduced sugar and artificial sweeteners involved meanwhile will make it easier to stop at just a few, turning down the dial on your cravings and helping you to call it a night earlier. Unlike wine, the leftover bottle of which can call from the fridge on a Monday evening, a G&T takes more effort to make and so it becomes 'easier to have days off,' Trotman says. 'It's also very easy to alternate your G&Ts with glasses of water, which you'll thank yourself for the next day,' Trotman says. For those looking to cut down there are other benefits too. 'It shouldn't be a concern, but if you start on G&Ts and switch to a non-alcoholic version later in the night, there will be no label on your glass and so no peer pressure from anyone else to keep going.' 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