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EVERYTHING
First Lady Jill Biden Talks Heart Health in Atlanta
What: First Lady Jill Biden continued her tour of women’s health research facilities today, this time visiting the Morehouse School of Medicine’s “2024 Women’s Heart Healthy Luncheon” in Atlanta.
Why it matters: Where the First Lady goes, attention follows. And heart disease is the (largely unknown) number one cause of death for women in America.
Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution
MENSTRUATION
Menstruation Reshapes Your Brain. A Lot.
What: A deep dive from National Geographic on how menstruation ends up reshaping the brain. Every time it happens.
Why it matters: As one neurobiologist points out, women will experience “almost 450 menstrual cycles over 30-40 years,” which is a lot of change. And although women make up the majority of Alzheimers and depression cases, “only about half of one percent of brain-imaging research is related to women.”
Source: National Geographic
ABORTION ACCESS
The People of Florida Can Read a Ballot (On Abortion)
What: Florida’s Supreme Court heard arguments today on a ballot initiative to protect abortion access to the state. Politico says state justices were critical of Republicans’ argument that the amendment was too complicated for voters to understand.
Why it matters: “The people of Florida aren’t stupid — they can figure things out,” the chief justice said. If the amendment does make it on the ballot, that could significantly increase Democratic turn out in Florida for this November’s election.
Source: Politico
MENOPAUSE
Menopause Approaching Can Make Your Period Longer and Weirder
What: Period tracker app Flo crunched the numbers from 19 million users and found as women got older their periods got “shorter and more variable.” But the exception was between ages 47 and 55 when “the length increases sharply, with a corresponding increase in cycle variability.”
Why it matters: It’s good to know this is a thing (and feels crazy that it’s taken until 2024 to collect this data!)
Source: New Scientist
PCOS
PCOS and Suicide Risk Backed Up In Other Studies
What: Following yesterday’s study on women with PCOS having a higher risk of suicide, Psychiatrist.com points out that this builds on evidence from previous studies. Notably, a 2022 UK study that found a “greater prevalence” of suicidal thoughts among those with PCOS, and a 2016 Swedish study that found a 40% increase in risk of suicide.
Why it matters: An estimated 10% of women have PCOS.
Source: Psychiatrist.com
WELLNESS + BEAUTY
Black-Owned Beauty Brands
What: It’s Black History Month, which has prompted lists of Black-owned businesses. History? Not really. Commercialized “advocacy”? Yes. But this one is a nice, comprehensive round-up of Black-owned hair, skin, and makeup companies.
Why it matters: Money talks!
Source: CNET
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