Listen Now

Anxiety is defined as an anticipation of a future threat. The physical and emotional signs of anxiety are uncomfortable, and it's a natural human response to avoid uncomfortable things. But most of us have been anxious at one time or another. Feeling anxious is a normal part of living, but some women—and men—have anxiety every day. Psychologist and founder of Honest Sleep, Dr. Brian Curtis joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about diagnosing and managing clinical anxiety.

Why is turning 30 a cultural phenomenon—and, usually, not in a happy way? Evolution tells us women are physiologically prime to be at our peak during our early to mid-thirties. As such, there are often expectations of social milestones such as marriage and raising a family. For some women, turning 30 signifies "the end of youth." Dr. Kirtly Jones discusses the biological and social significance of turning 30 for women, and how the milestone age impacts the seven domains of our lives.

An aging brain heavily impacts all the domains of healthy living. As we grow old, we hope to age with a clear mind. But dementing illnesses can impair our abilities to remember, think, or make decisions, and are unfortunately common among the aging. Medical clinical social worker Liz Garcia-Leavitt joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health—the last in a three-episode discussion on aging—to talk about women's aging brain and how dementing illnesses affect both the patient and their loved ones.

Why do we live long, and why don't we live longer? The aging process is inevitable, but a decline in function in many domains of a woman's health is not inevitable. Our bones, joints, and muscles at age 60 will not be like they were at age 20, but knowing what contributes to the aging process can help us prepare for the aging process. Geriatric gynecologist Dr. Karen Miller joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health—the second in a three-episode discussion on aging—to talk about women's aging bodies, and how to age with a healthy physical body, mind, and soul.

We all age, and we all hope to age gracefully. When you look at the mirror in the morning, what is the face that looks back? Is it a smile or a frown? Are there wrinkles of wisdom? What does the age of your face say about your health? Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Payam Tristani joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health—the first in a three-episode discussion on aging—to talk about our aging face, and how to age with the face that makes you happy.

So often, pain affects how we live our lives and can determine whether the day is good or bad. For 50% of the people on this planet—those born with female parts—the pelvic region can often be a location for a lot of pain. Determining the source of the pain, whether it's acute or chronic, is crucial in its treatment. Dr. Howard Sharp, director of the Women’s Pelvic Care Center at University of Utah Health, joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about pelvic pain.

Sleep is vital to how we function as living creatures. We spend approximately 1/3 of our lives sleeping—some more, some less—but we all sleep. We sleep to recharge and reset our bodies and minds for a new day, and the majority of us will have no problem going to sleep and waking up. However, some might have difficulties falling and staying asleep. Others might experience different states of sleep throughout the night. Neurologist and sleep specialist—and Dr. Kirtly Jones' sleep partner—Dr. Chris Jones joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to discuss the medical science behind sleeping.

Our desire to know about the world around us is an important character strength as humans. Walt Disney once said, "Curiosity keeps us moving forward, exploring, experimenting, opening new doors." Or is it, "Curiosity killed the cat"? Like most everything else, our sense of wonder can affect our overall well-being and should be balanced. Dr. Kirtly Jones discusses how curiosity, or lack thereof, can be a predictor of health.

As a society, we have seen many health crises—smallpox, measles, polio, influenza, and most recently, COVID-19. With viruses and diseases also come vaccinations. But with how much we know, there is still so much we don't know about our immune system. How do vaccines work to protect us against viruses? Where do viruses come from in the first place? Can vaccines weaken our immune system? It's hard to get rid of bad information when you don't have the knowledge needed to make the best decision. Dr. Kirtly Jones discusses the risk-benefit ratio of vaccines as she explores the history of vaccination.

Breathing is a necessity for all living creatures, but when the air we breathe isn't clean, the damage goes beyond the health of our lungs. And it's not just pollution from cars, our BBQs and spray-on sunscreens also contribute to the production of toxic air. So how can we live longer—healthier—lives, and do better for ourselves and future generations? Jonnny Vasic, executive director of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about clean air, inside and out.

We lie a lot. Studies suggest humans tell—on average—10 to 200 lies a day, ranging from little white lies to big lies with major consequences. It's important to think about how lying can affect our health. What happens to the mind and body when a lie is told? Clinical associate professor and family medicine physician Dr. Karly Pippitt join this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about why patients may lie to their doctors, and why doctors may omit information to their patients.

There can be changes in your life that might come after a significant weight loss journey. The reason and manner in which you might have lost weight will vary from person to person, but the weight loss journey doesn't end after the number of the scale does down. Aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Cori Agarwal joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about the changes in body and mind after weight loss.

Grooming your private area is a, well... private matter. Some women may choose to remove unwanted hairs through trimming, shaving, waxing, lasers, and some other methods. Some may choose to leave those hairs entirely alone. All is fine. But, even grooming affects the seven domains of your health. Anthropologist and women’s health nurse practitioner Dr. Katie Ward joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about the evolution of personal grooming and why women may choose to remove hair down there.

The joke goes, "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." Time theoretically runs at the same pace for every living species on this planet. But time can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Our bodies align with time—how many heartbeats per minute, how much time we spend sleeping, how many days until a woman's next menstrual cycle. When you're younger you have all the time in the world. And when you're older you might feel there's not enough time. Time, though often used to measure durations, can also measure how we live our lives.

Keeping our bodies strong and conditioned goes well into our later years, and is especially important for those over 50. A strong physical body can help reduce illnesses and provide independence so you're able to do the things you want to do. Strength and conditioning specialist Gina DiSera joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about the importance of strength training for women and how a strong physical body affects each of the seven domains of health.

The bond between mother and child is fundamental. We all have mothers. Some of us are mothers, and some will become mothers. From pregnancy to the emotional attachment when a mother sees her child smile—whether by choice or by chance—motherhood affects a woman in all the domains of her life. Jessi, 7 Domains listener and mother of two, joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about the gift of a mother's protection, and the bond we share with our mothers.

We occupy the Earth by the simple act of walking, exploring—traveling. Part of traveling is getting to think about who we are in the world and where we belong. As travel season nears, Theresa Sofarelli from University of Utah Health's Travel Clinic joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about why humans are drawn to travel, and how traveling affects the different domains of our health.

Health equity is equal access to the same opportunity for good health outcomes—which means some people will need more and some will need less. We simply cannot treat every patient the same because every patient is different, with different genetics, backgrounds, health patterns, stressors, and ideas about what health means to them. Dr. Jose Rodriguez, Associate Vice President for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at University of Utah Health, joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about equity and disparities in healthcare.

Even though migraines come from the brain, their effects carry across each of the seven domains of health. Migraines occur more frequently in women than men—one in five women suffers from migraines. But many don't know their triggers. Some women don't even know they have migraines and may confuse their symptoms with other types of headaches. Neurologist Dr. Kathleen Digre joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about why migraines are a women's disease.

In healthcare, physicians are often taught to ask the question, "Is home a safe place?" in regards to domestic abuse. Abuse in the home can extend beyond the physical trauma one may experience and can touch each of the seven domains of one's health. Ellie Goldberg, Assistant Director of Advocacy for the Victim-Survivor Advocacy Program at University of Utah, joins this episode of 7 Domains of Women's Health to talk about domestic abuse and its impact on a victim-survivor's life, and the lives of those around them. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.