Health
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Memorable female Olympic athletes
A look at inspiring women throughout Olympic history who helped pave the way for female athletes. Throughout the 20th century, many people fought and succeeded in being seen as equal no matter their gender, orientation, race or religion. The Paris 1900 Summer Olympics allowed women to compete for the first time. The games saw 22 women compete in five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrianism and golf. Being an athlete was not the only milestone that women achieved during the 1900 Games. Winning an Olympic medal was another one. Helen de Portals, a Swiss-American countess, was the first woman to compete in the Olympics and also became the first woman to…
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Empowering women’s health: Maternal and reproductive health innovations by women, for women
Women-led healthcare initiatives are continuing to support and improve women’s health journeys. Over the past few years, women-led healthcare initiatives have been making a difference in addressing health issues specific to women. Female innovators are transforming the healthcare landscape through innovation programs designed to improve maternal health with research on women’s reproductive health. Studies have shown that innovative approaches to maternal and newborn health, such as using advanced dialogue diagnostic tools, can improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in healthcare. According to the National Institutes of Health, technologies that facilitate early screenings and potential diagnoses have significantly improved maternal morbidity and mortality rates. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth found that community-based models…
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Sleep as an escape: Understanding the interplay of naps and FMS pain
Fibromyalgia syndrome is currently a leading problem of unknown cause in women’s health. With no hope of a definitive cure, sufferers can’t help but sleep it off everyday. Courtesy of yuris alhumaydy “Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic medical condition associated with an amplification of pain signals in the central nervous and decreased ability of the nervous system to inhibit concomitant pain responses,” say authors of a 2015 research article published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. They further explained that “FMS is a disabling condition with patients experiencing high levels of widespread persistent pain, fatigue, cognitive impairment and sleep disturbance that makes it difficult to engage in everyday activities.” An expert…
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The importance of women’s health care
Reproductive and sexual health care resources for women in Ontario. Courtesy of reproductive health supplies coalition Access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care is fundamental in promoting women’s well-being and general autonomy as people. In Ontario, a wide array of services and resources are available to support women with their sexual and reproductive health needs. Contraception and family planning Family planning services are necessary for women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Ontario offers various resources, including clinics and sexual health centres, where women can access contraceptive counselling, education and prescriptions for birth control methods. These services aim to support women in choosing the contraceptive method that…
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Interview with F45 owner: Andrea Lorenzon
An interview on business ownership with F45 owner: Andrea Lorenzon. Andrea Lorenzon is the owner of three F45 locations across Toronto, Ontario. She is a 33-year-old fitness enthusiast with a passion for living life to the fullest. She is an inspiring woman who was unhappy in the corporate lifestyle, took life by the rains and changed the course of her life to be happy and live it to the fullest. Andrea is originally from Maple, Ontario, but has lived in Toronto for 12 years. She is a dedicated dog mom to her 13-year-old puggle, Timmy, and he is Andrea’s best friend. She loves to take him on adventures. Throughout her…
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Seed cycling for PCOS: A bio-hack worth trying?
Current research suggests strategic consumption of certain seeds may help in treating hormonal conditions that are unique to women, like polycystic ovarian syndrome. Courtesy of Maddi Bazzocco Yet another wellness trend has emerged in the world of female health. As an anecdote to hormonal imbalances and the many ways in which they manifest, young women across the internet are eating, by the spoonful, common types of edible seeds at different phases throughout the menstrual cycle. Some claim that this natural approach to hormone health helps them control highly-symptomatic periods, while others swear it’s the elixir that healed their cystic acne. Aside from subjective evidence, on what scientific grounds do proponents…
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Bridging the health gap
How gender bias effects women in the Canadian medical system Gender bias is the preference for one gender over the other. According to a 2020 global report by the United Nations, nearly 90 per cent of all people have some bias against women. For centuries, implicit and explicit gender bias has affected many industries and sectors, including health care. Unfortunately, gender bias in health care presents a dangerous threat to the well-being, safety and lives of women and must be acknowledged. Sexism in health care can manifest in many ways including gaslighting concerned female patients, misdiagnosing them or dismissing them entirely and failing to include women in medical studies. Women…
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Knix: Revolutionizing the undergarment game
The underwear brand empowering women, destigmatizing periods and giving back to the community *This Interview has been edited for length and clarity Before 2013, those who menstruate had to decide, on a monthly basis, whether to wash and wear stained underwear that had succumbed to the dreaded and inevitable ‘period leak,’ or to simply throw out yet another pair of perfectly good knickers. Enter Joanna Griffiths, Queen’s University alum and female entrepreneur aiming to revolutionize the underwear game and destigmatize menstruation. Griffiths mandate was to challenge the conventional design and function of women’s intimates, such as those advertised by brands like Victoria’s Secret or La Senza. Her solution was Knix:…
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The wellness trap
Rethinking what it means to be healthy in the age of content creators Musician Lorde was burning sage and cleansing crystals in her “Mood Ring” music video that premiered in August 2021. Throughout the satirical pop song, Lorde comments on wellness culture by pointing out the great lengths women—particularly privileged white women—go to feel well. In an interview with Genius, Lorde explained the meaning behind the lyrics in “Mood Ring.” In the lines, “I’m tryna get well from the inside / Plants and celebrity news / All the vitamins I consume,” the hypocrisy of digital wellness culture is revealed. “I had a moment of realizing like I’m trying to eat…
