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September 2020

A Decade of A Circle of Red Edition

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

september PUBLISHER'S WORD.......................................................................... 6 KINDNESS COUNTS

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE

Cooking: Break out of your meal malaise................... 10

Fashion: Welcoming autumn into your wardrobe...... 12

Home Decor: Working from home?

Set yourself up for success.........................................................16

Mental Health: Let go of what you can't control............. 26

Women's Health: Painful sex related to

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Stepping up your self-kindness routine.......................... 8

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menopause: common and curable.................................... 30 Finances: Concerned by your finances?

Take a longer-term approach.................................................. 32

Fitness: Take the first step!.............................................................. 36

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ON THE COVER

A Decade of Red - Commemorative Section

Celebrating 10 years of fighting for women's

heart health............................................................................................ 19

WISE FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR

Kawtheral-Edwan............................................................................. 26

MOVERS AND SHAKERS.......................................................................... 34

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UPCOMING EVENTS..................................................................................... 38

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PUBLISHER'S WORD

Take a positive step today

L

ike the beginning of spring, I’ve always looked at the month of September as a time of rebirth.

The weather reminds us that most of September still resides in summer, but the cooler nights and shorter days seem to bring with them a fresh energy. In most years, kids excitedly prepare for the new school year and we start thinking about fall festivals, events and football games. September, usually, is a time of enthusiasm.

This year is different.

Most of us have been more of less homebound for the past six months.

The events we look forward to all year long have been canceled or turned into virtual shadows of themselves. When we do get the rare opportunity to see extended family or friends, we greet each other with a wave instead of a hug. Despite all the sunshine we’ve had this summer, the pandemic still hangs like a dark cloud over our daily lives. It’s natural, at a time like this, to fall victim to the numbing comforts of the couch, of Netflix or of another glass of wine. It’s easy to fall into a rut.

One of our goals with this September edition is to help our readers make small changes in their daily lives to break out of the “Covid Rut” so many of us have experienced over the past five months. And so we solicited a number of area experts to help us out, by providing advice under the theme: Take a Positive Step.

Perhaps you find yourself cooking the same meals day after day, week after week. Michele Bellso, who has been teaching free online cooking classes during the pandemic, offers some inspiration on how you can introduce new and exciting meals into your menu repertoire.

Maybe, with the gyms closed, you’ve fallen out of shape during these homebound days. Amber Howland, who challenged herself to run 1,000 kilometers during the pandemic, has some tips for how to deny the allure of the couch and improve your fitness and health.

For many families, the shared isolation of the pandemic brings its own stresses, as we spend so much time under the same roof that we’re starved for some alone time. Dr. Sarah Speigelhoff shares some thoughts on how we can cope with the challenges this pandemic has created for our most important relationships.

Yes, as individuals and as a community, many of us have fallen into the Covid Rut. But it is not permanent. The pandemic, like so many challenges before, will pass. Until then, it is up to each of us to take a positive step each day so that we may be able to live the lives we want to lead and be the people we want to be. We hope that in some small way, this edition of Syracuse Woman Magazine helps you do that. SWM

David Tyler September 2020

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PUBLISHER

David Tyler dtyler@eaglenewsonline.com

DESIGN

Andrea Reeves

PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Kammer Nancy Miller Alice G. Patterson Andrea Pollard

CONTRIBUTORS Angela Antonello Michele Bellso Ashley Casey Amber Howland Farah Jadran

Dinah Olson Colette Powers Joy Rafferty Kristy Smorol Dr. Sarah F. Spiegelhoff

Cover photo by Alice G. Patterson

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KINDNESS COUNTS

Stepping up your self-kindness routine

By Farah Jadran

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or those who know me fairly well, you know I am a longdistance runner from way back. I’ve loved running since I was nine years old. It’s a major part of my life. For the longest time, I measured my health and wellness by how fast I could run. However, that all changed with major health events in my life including a cancer diagnosis when I was 21.

Since that time, I recovered and gained new strength. I have enjoyed running marathons and other races for the pure joy of completing them. I even accomplished an exciting 3:33 personal record for 26.2 miles.

Lately, “checking off” races or a PR does not seem as important.

Perspective is brighter than ever in 2020. What’s truly important?

My health, both mental and physical, is a priority. I also make sure my loved ones are focusing on their health. Your life is precious.

Therefore, your health is also precious.

Because I wake up at 2:30 a.m. Monday through Friday for work, having enough energy to run long distances when I get home is not ideal. I can get in a few miles, but nothing too long or too consistent.

About a month ago, I started making new daily health goals.

I aim to get ample sleep before work which is a nightly change.

I also drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. The most fun thing has been trying to walk more steps each day. As a runner, walking has never been easy for me. It’s different muscles and a different speed, of course. Taking some 10-minute walks as my workday break has been fun and so good for me. No joking around here. I feel great! Besides the hallway and parking lot jaunts, I have been meeting up with friends for weekly social distance walks at places like Thornden Park, Loop the Lake Trail and Upper Onondaga Park.

Focusing on yourself a little more is not selfish. It’s about selfkindness. If you’re not healthy and “feeling good,” how can you help others and spread kindness to them? Step up your self-kindness routine.

Kindness can change someone’s heart. It can help others realize there is a world around them and more to life than possessions and petty arguments. Kindness can be the message you wear and walk with because you choose to live life with genuine gratitude for each day you are given. Tomorrow is not promised. Why not spend today being kind and being positive? SWM

Farah Jadran is the anchor of CBS5 This Morning and CBS5 News at Noon for CNYCentral in Syracuse. Farah also served as editor of SWM for more than four years after she helped launch it in January 2011. If you or someone you know is spreading kindness in our community -- tweet at her -- @FarahJadran using #BeKindSyracuse.

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE:

Cooking

Break out of your meal malaise

By Michele Bellso

W

hat’s for dinner?

How about Chicken Picatta with capers over angel hair pasta? Or Greek turkey burgers with tzatziki sauce?

Or brown butter honey garlic shrimp?

Before the coronavirus I might have made reservations at one of my favorite restaurants to enjoy one of these delicious entrées.

Even though I love to cook, my fridge was always stuffed with Styrofoam and cardboard carryout containers filled with leftovers of every kind. There were days when the thought of having to decide what to cook, stopping by the grocery store to get the ingredients, and then cleaning up afterwards seemed exhausting.

But in these times of coronavirus, not only have I strengthened my passion for cooking, it has taken on a new meaning. In our family, it has become the thing we look forward to, a ritual that pleasantly punctuates an endless blend of days.

I’m getting more creative, adapting recipes, making clever swaps, and stretching budgets. Dinnertime— and preparing for it—is now one of the most gratifying parts of my day.

But I’m one of the lucky ones.

I really enjoy cooking. To me it's a form of creative expression. I get excited when I purchase a new kitchen gadget, create a new recipe, or invite friends over just to experiment with ingredients. I love sharing my passion for cooking by teaching cooking classes in my home with Let’s Cook Syracuse.

I believe that delicious, healthy food need not be complicated nor take hours and hours. And you don’t have to settle for boring, tasteless

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Cajun Shrimp.

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Chicken Piccata.

meals. There are lots of strategies to keep cooking easy, stress-free, and fun.

Since March when everything shut down, I have been offering free cooking classes online through Facebook. It is so much fun sharing and inspiring viewers with my family-favorite recipes.

It is a fun way to get out of the rut of making the same few dishes all of the time. In almost four months I haven’t repeated a recipe yet.

I wanted to inspire my viewers to enjoy cooking…to show them that it should be fun! You need to

start by changing your view of cooking. See it as an art form with plenty of room for creativity!

When you’re cooking you get to choose what you make AND what goes into each dish. You also get to choose the quality of the ingredients. Get your family involved and customize your recipes to make things that are the most delicious to you.

I have found that one of the biggest barriers to cooking frequently is that it takes practice and time to gain proficiency and ease. With our fast-paced

Italian Beef Sandwich.

lives, many people have not had the time to learn to cook, or to experiment with different types of foods. The Facebook live cooking classes have helped my viewers to learn new techniques, try different cuisines, and build confidence in in their cooking skills. In this time of seclusion and separation, this has also been a great way to connect with other people.

I find that spending 30 minutes in the kitchen preparing dinner will put me in a much calmer, less frazzled mood than sitting on the

couch for the same amount of time. Plus it gives me an opportunity to nurture my family and friends. Food is not just sustenance. It is comfort.

It is love.

As much as I’d like to think that all these lofty benefits were what first got me into cooking, really, it was the praise. Hearing the words ‘this is amazing’ is a huge motivator to keep spending time in the kitchen.

Once life rebounds, we may go back to our previous ways, but our palates will have experienced a reset and our hands would have acquired an artful skill. Family ties will have strengthened for many, as cooking is a group activity and is deeply fulfilling and nurturing. There will be many lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, but we would be wise not to forget this one. SWM

CPS Recruitment Celebrates a Decade of Syracuse Circle of Red! Our passion has always been Supporting Women’s Heart Health & the Go Red for Women Movement!

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904 7th North Street, Liverpool, NY 13088 315-883-5470 & 877-457-2500 www.cpsrecruitment.com Syracuse Woman Magazine

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE:

Fashion Welcoming autumn into your wardrobe

By Angela Antonello

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eptember is when we officially say goodbye to summer and open our arms to the beautiful comforts of fall, but the autumnal equinox in Central New York doesn’t always correspond with the seasonal drop in temperatures. So here is how you can make your wardrobe shift more comfortable and fall fashionable!

We all tend to drag our feet a bit when it’s time to put away our sandals.

To extend that season, be sure to choose darker colors like tan, black and brown. You can also begin pairing your outfits with heavier fall fabrics.

For instance, pair a little tweed jacket over a white shirt with jeans and your favorite metallic sandals. Pull in some suede accents, transition into longer sleeves and introduce animal prints with bags and belts.

Darken up your wardrobe: Instead of wearing your flowery summer blouse and blush accessories with a pair of white jeans, swap them out with a charcoal or oxblood colored sweater, a fawn colored bag, and nude flats, and you are ready for fall.

Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day. Keep in mind that white in fall doesn’t have to be bright white. Soft white, ivory or cream make your outfit look more fall/winter like than stark white.

The bottom line is, if you’re struggling to make a white item work, it’s probably because it’s a summer white. You’re better off putting it away until it gets warmer!

To make the transition easy pick seasonal colors associated with fall. Think of the changing colors of leaves and the colors of fall fruits and vegetables. A mustard or rust cardigan over a floral print dress would be a good start.

The Pantone Color Institute is highlighting a variety of creative colors for Fall 2020, ranging from a magenta purple to sultry reds and acidic yellow-greens. If you want to add touches of color but still keep things muted, rose tan (rose gold ) is a perfect choice.

Here are some tips to have fun with your what you have as you add a new piece or two: • Top your favorite summer dress with a long, cozy boyfriend cardigan.

• Transition with a pair of suede booties and wear them with bare legs to show off your tanned legs a little longer.

• Add a three-quarter or long-sleeved shirt under your sleeveless summer dress.

• Throw on a poncho, wrap or leather jacket over a dress or jeans and a top. Tie the look together with open-toe booties that still hint at it’s not quite full on fall yet.

Also, remember clothing is only part of the story – makeup also moves with the seasons. Make simple adjustments like opting for warmer, tawnier colors and switching your sheer summer lip gloss with a creamy lipstick formula.

Swap your pink, coral and French manicures for neutral beige or shimmery metallic. Try a dusting of bronzer on forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin to maintain that summer glow.

I hope you FALL in love with this season of change!

Autumn is like a second spring, where every leaf is a flower. SWM Angela Antonello is the owner of Fashion Rescue 911 Boutique, 52 Oswego St. in Baldwinsville.

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North Syracuse Medical Center, 5100 W. Taft Rd., Suite 2R Liverpool NY Syracuse Woman Magazine

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE:

Home Decor

Working from home?

Set yourself up for success

By Joy Rafferty

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ovid-19 has inarguably changed everyone’s lives in some capacity or another. For so many of us, working from home has become the new normal, if even for a short time. And for a lot of people, it is something that will continue, in some manner, for the foreseeable future. Even if your job does not require you to work from home, you may have children that will be learning from home. Schools all over the country have various plans that range from 100% remote learning, to hybrid programs of limited days in person with the rest left to virtual classroom time.

In any case, it is safe to say our families are home more than ever before. And sharing the kitchen table during the day may have been fine when we thought it was going to be for a short time, but that may not be cutting it anymore with our “new normal.” Having a dedicated home office space has become one of the biggest topics when it comes to home organization. It’s not always practical to spread your work out on the kitchen counter or table and keep the piles there for days if you actually want to use it to eat there too.

It’s also tough to talk on the phone or participate in Zoom meeting with the kids and the family pet in and around you constantly.

To remedy these issues, many people are turning various areas of their homes into better work and study spaces. Whether it be an entire spare room, a corner of your bedroom, a space in the basement or a nook in the kitchen, it’s great to have a place that can be used for

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the specific purpose of working. A place you get up and go to each day that makes it feel more like you’re working.

There are several things to consider when thinking about setting up a home office space. Will you be sharing the space? Do you need multiple workstations? Would you rather have a separate space for each person? Things you’ll probably want to have, no matter where you set up camp…lots of surface space to spread out, good task lighting, access to power, file drawers, cabinets/shelves for supplies, a space for a printer/scanner, etc.

If the room will be multipurpose, you will want to be able to put things away to keep it neat. If you are thinking of using a guest bedroom as an office, consider replacing the bed with a wall bed/ Murphy bed. This option allows you to have a real bed for the occasional guest, but only when you need it. It then frees up all the precious floor space and gives the room a much bigger feel.

Then having a workspace or two won’t feel so crowded and you’ve now got a multi-functional room!

We might not be able to change the new normal of working and learning from home, but we can change the environment we do it in.

Take a positive step in decreasing stress by setting up well thought out spaces that allow each family member to work to the best of their ability. That way we can all love where we live and work! SWM Editor's note: Joy Rafferty is owner/marketing manager for California Closets in DeWitt.

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C E L E B R AT I N G 1 2 0 Y E A R S O F

AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP

Stickley Proudly Supports a Decade of Heart-Healthy, Proud & Energetic Women

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COVER STORY: A DECADE OF A CIRCLE OF RED

A Decade of A Circle of Red

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH

By Kristy Smorol

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usan Crossett, CEO of CPS Recruitment, has been a member of the Circle of Red since it launched 10 years ago.

“When I first joined, it was because three women in my life

have heart disease, including my mom,” Crossett said.

In fact, one in three women die of heart disease. It’s a high price to pay for being a woman, and the Circle of Red has spent the past decade trying to change

that. The Circle is part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, which is dedicated to removing barriers women face to experiencing good health and wellbeing.

When the Circle of Red started, the group of 14 influential women were committed to raising awareness for women’s heart health.

“I got pulled in by a group of women making great strides in our community,” said former Circle of Red chairwoman Evelyn Ingram, director of community engagement at Wegmans. “It was a group of women I respected and saw as role models. I think they saw something in me, too. It brings a smile to my face when I think back on when I first got involved in the Go Red for Women campaign.”

Nationally, the Go Red for Women movement launched in 2004 because too few women knew cardiovascular disease was their leading killer. All too often, women put themselves last as they fill the simultaneous roles of mom, wife, caregiver, executive, teacher, and more.

The simple fact is, women don’t move enough, don’t eat well enough, don’t sleep well enough, and don’t manage stress or blood pressure well enough.

Continued on page 22

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COVER STORY: STORY LISA A DECADE AND DAVID OF A CIRCLE CRAIG OF RED

A Decade of A Circle of Red from page 19

By sharing their stories, the women in the Circle of Red have put faces to the movement and encouraged others to join.

“I have learned of many more women in my life that have been impacted by heart disease,” Crossett said.

“I think my speaking out about why I am a member of the Circle of Red has made others comfortable in sharing their own experiences.”

Many volunteers share Crossett’s sentiments, and found that sharing their experiences has empowered others.

That’s what drew Rachel Galusha, vice president and senior business banking manager at KeyBank, and current Circle of Red co-chairwoman, to the group.

“I have always admired the women who were able to tell their stories about their heart difficulties,” she said. “How they survived, how it changed their lives, how it impacted their families. As a woman, I am deeply moved and affected by their experience.”

Co-chairwoman Laura Serway, proprietress of Laci’s Tapas Bar and Restaurant, knows the leadership from this group will make a difference. “I feel it’s my duty to be a part of the solution,” she said.

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Since its inception, the Circle of Red has grown exponentially, and has reached more than 100 members.

In the past 10 years, the Circle has expanded its mission, created programs, and diversified the membership on behalf of the Go Red for Women movement locally.

Circle member Merriette Pollard noticed a lack of women of color at the first Go Red for Women Luncheon she attended several years ago. Pollard, along with other volunteers and American Heart Association staff, worked to fix that. Now, she is one of several members who say they value the diversity ofthe movement.

“To see the huge change and to be part of making it happen was an experience that warmed my heart,” Pollard said. “This disease impacts all and our activities should reflect that.”

Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more Black women than all forms of cancer, accidents, assaults, and Alzheimer’s Disease combined. In 2014, members of the Circle of Red were instrumental in creating the “Loving Myself,

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Loving My Sisters” program. It is a coalition of community organizations with a mission to improve the heart health of Syracuse’s Black community. The program has hosted dozens of events, featuring topics like blood pressure management, signs of heart disease and stroke, stress reduction, healthy cooking, and knowing your family history.

Circle member Lisa Alford, commissioner of the Onondaga County Department of Adult and Long-Term Care Services, is one of the leaders behind the “Loving Myself, Loving My Sisters” program. She says her favorite memory was a Hands-Only CPR training hosted by the program’s coalition.

“We had so many people interested we had to do two separate sessions and the room was packed both times,” Alford said.

“I just thought of the community impact we could have by training that many people on those skills to help save someone’s life.”

Thanks to support from the CNY Community Foundation, every participant took home a CPR training kit to share with their families.

Increasing the diversity of the Circle of Red has also meant inviting men, who first joined in 2013. These men also wanted to make a difference in their

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community and protect the hearts of the women they love.

“As a man I felt it vital to help rally other men to join the fight,” says past Men Go Red chairman Mark Worden, senior vice president - wealth management, The Barter/Worden Group at UBS Financial Services Inc. “I support the mission because there are so many women in my life I care about, and one especially is my lovely wife Reghan. I was happy to that opportunity and to involve so many men to join the cause.”

Now, the Circle of Red is looking to the future.

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COVER STORY: A DECADE OF CIRCLE OF RED

A Decade of A Circle of Red from page 21 Women, particularly women of color, continue to be grossly underrepresented in cardiovascular research and STEM careers.

Research shows women experiencing cardiac events potentially have better outcomes when treated by a female physician in the ER. Women make up nearly 50% of the workforce but less than 25% of STEM careers.

“I would like the Circle of Red educational programs to reach all school girls and to encourage them to go into the science field, ensuring that all doors are open to them, so they can realize their full potential and contribute to a healthier and better society,” said Aminy Audi, CEO and chair of the board at Stickley, Audi and Co., former Circle of Red chairwoman, and one of the group’s original members.

Next month’s Go Red for Women Luncheon will be a digital experience with a special highlight on STEM. The keynote speaker will be Syracuse native Jeanette Epps, Ph.D., aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut.

Donations from the Circle of Red have helped support female researchers across the country, including Plansky Huong, a graduate research assistant at Syracuse University studying how medication may affect fetal heart cells. Research has also been funded locally at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Cornell University, Ithaca College, and Binghamton University.

“Research has moved medicine and the treatment of heart disease forward,” said former Circle of Red chairwoman Mara Charlamb, Vice President of United Radio. “Is there any greater accomplishment you could ask to be involved with, other than saving lives?” SWM Kristy Smorol is the communications director for the American Heart Association in Syracuse.

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Thank you to our Circle of Red 2020 Mary Adulky, MD Miranda Askew Brown Aminy I. Audi Debbi Barber Janet Billington** Karen Broughton James Burns Bill Byrne Nancy Phipps-Byrne* Liz Campbell Mara Charlamb Mark Charlamb, MD Pavi Chigateri Joe Convertino, Jr. Casey Crabill Susan Crossett Beth Donnelly Egan Lisa Dunn Alford Lillie Fields Marion Hancock Fish** Angela Franco Franklin G. Fry Bea Gonzalez Rachel Galusha Kimberly Graf** Bridget-ann Hart Carolyn Hendrickson** Alyse Holstein Evelyn Ingram Candace Campbell Jackson Kathleen Jerose Joanna Jewett Dell Ford Jordan Nelly Kazzaz, MD Mary Sandra Kinsella Laurie Liechty

Tammy Lindsay** Cheryl Manna** Anne Messenger Denise McGraw Diane Mowry Margaret (Meg) O'Connell Christine O'Connell More Karen O’ Connor Mary Pat Oliker Merriette Pollard Charles Polka** Colette Powers LaVonda Reed Rita Reicher* M. Catherine Richardson Cami Riley, MD Kate Rolf Arnold Rubenstein Libby Rubenstein Phillip Rubenstein Kristin Rubino** Me’Shae Brooks Rolling Michele Sardinia** Laura Serway Kristin Short Joan Q. Simmonds Peter Simmonds John Schwartz, Jr.** Trina Tardone Maureen McCarthy Tracy Barbara Huntress Tresness Theresa Waters, MD Nicole Woodall Elaine White *Cor Vitae **New

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COVER STORY A DECADE OF CIRCLE OF RED

A Decade of A Circle of Red from page 23

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE:

M ental Health

Let go of what you can’t control

By Dr. Sarah F. Spiegelhoff

B

y now, we know that COVID-19 created unexpected changes in our lives. No one predicted what we would encounter beginning this past March. As a psychotherapist, I have seen an increase in anxiety and depression due to the pandemic.

The pandemic coupled with other pivotal events our country is facing, has made it a challenge for many to maintain their overall wellness.

Families have become burdened with interruptions, challenges and important decisions regarding careers, finances, childcare, education and how we will proceed through the rest of 2020. One reason why I believe this has been a stressful time, is that we feel as if so much of our lives have been out of our control. Feeling out of control can significantly increase anxiety for many

September 2020

individuals because we generally like to be in control. As a result, increased anxiety can lead to frequent worrying, irrational behaviors, irritable moods, arguments, passive-aggressive behaviors, and even illness, which can affect relationships.

So what can

you do, to maintain wellness at home during COVID-19?

Begin my recognizing and letting go of what you cannot control.

If you are able to make a decision, do it and move forward.

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For example, parents cannot control the plans that schools made for students this fall, but you can decide how to educate your children about COVID safety and take precautions in your home. Accepting the uncertainty might be challenging, but dwelling on it will not make anything better.

It is necessary for us to develop open and honest communication with partners, children, other family members, friends, and support persons. Too often, individuals tell me that they do not talk about stressors because they believe it will burden others.

However, when I ask them if they believe their friends and family are burdens when they express stress or life struggles, the answer is no. So why not lean onto those who care about us? Compartmentalizing and suppressing stress only leads to more issues.

By discussing concerns upfront, you will mitigate the fears that others may have and later arguments.

Healthy communication consists of active listening, non-judgment, expressing feelings and emotion, and understanding that you do not always need to be right or have answers. It also involves stating clear expectations of yourself and others. Too often, partners do not communicate when they are experiencing difficulties or are unhappy with one another, yet harboring distress and frustration will create long-term problems.

Additionally, sometimes parents struggle to be honest with children, fearing that they will be placing their own stress on the kids.

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While parents do not need to share every detail with children, we need to remember that children pick up on social cues and are often aware of issues.

On an individual level, we must work on our holistic wellness and practice self-care. Do not fall for quick-fix pop-culture wellness methods, such as teas and fancy massage mats that you see on Instagram. Instead, take inventory of how you are doing.

Notice areas that are your strengths, as well as areas that you want to improve. Perhaps you enjoy spending time with your family but recognize that COVID has made you sedentary.

Think of how your strengths can bolster what you want to improve.

A solution might be to go for walks with your family after dinner.

This simple change can create a space for your family to spend time together, get out in nature, communicate, and exercise.

Small lifestyle changes can lead to impressive results. The key is to take charge of what you can control and let go of what you cannot control. SWM For more about Dr. Spiegelhoff, visit drspiegelhoff.com.

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WISE FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR KAWTHER AL-EDWAN

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE:

Wo m e n ' s Health

Painful sex related to menopause: common and curable

By Dinah Olson, PA

S

ex, like so many issues life brings us, can be complicated.

It can be fun, relaxing and so many other great things.

But physical changes associated with menopause commonly cause sex to become uncomfortable or painful.

Fortunately there are treatments available.

Before we look more at the physical changes of menopause, it’s important to acknowledge how complicated sex can be. A lot goes on ‘above the belt.’ Sexual health, personal experiences, level of interest, enjoyment all vary wildly across people.

For some people their sex lives hold a place of high importance.

For others it plays a much lesser role. And that role will likely change over the course of our lives. Our attitudes about sex, feelings about our sexuality, body image, physical health, emotional stressors all change over time.

And then there are relationships issues.

We may have long term sexual partners, brief relationships or sometimes no relationship at all. Even in a healthy longstanding relationship challenges come and go. Stressors related to finances, jobs, children, health concerns occur and these issues invite themselves into the bedroom.

The point is that sex is complicated because so many factors are at play.

That said, there are very common, purely physical changes that may result in decreased enjoyment of sex and sexual function that occur as women age. These changes occur around the time of menopause when a woman’s ovary function decreases and results in decreased levels of the hormone estrogen. Changes associated with lower levels of estrogen are usually noticed gradually.

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Some women may start to notice changes as early as their early 40s and others may not notice changes until their late 50s.

Some women are severely affected and others may experience mild symptoms.

The physical changes that occur with lower estrogen levels can significantly impact how you feel about and experience sex. The desire for sex, known as libido, may fall. The tissue that lines the vagina may become thinner, less lubricated, more easily irritated and even tear. Women may experience sensations of vaginal dryness, burning or itching. This can make sex or masturbation very uncomfortable.

The skin of vulva (the area outside the vagina) may similarly become less robust and women may experience increased irritation or itching in that area as well.

Our lower urinary tract (the bladder and urethra) may also be affected by lower estrogen levels.

Some women experience urgency of urination, leakage of urine, painful urination or increased frequency of urinary tract infections. It is not surprising that these changes can make sex less enjoyable or downright painful.

These physical symptoms associated with lower estrogen levels are now referred to in the medical literature as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). The good news is GSM is a

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treatable condition. The first step is to talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms and concerns. Some primary care practitioners are quite comfortable evaluation and treating these issue.

Some women preferto see someone specializing in women’s health. Your healthcare practitioner will help you be sure there are no underlying conditions that need to be evaluated and treated.

Once this is done, treatment for symptoms can be recommended.

There are many products available over the counter that may provide relief of symptoms of GSM. These include lubricants and vaginal moisturizers. Lubricants provide short term relief of vaginal symptoms and are typically used during intercourse or masturbation.

You may find them labeled personal lubricants, sexual lubricants or lube. They are available in as water-based, silicone-based and oil-based products. Water-based lubricants are widely available and safe to use with condoms and vibrators or sex toys. Silicone-based products tend to stay moist longer than water-based lubricants.

They are safe to use with condoms but could damage vibrators or sex toys made from silicone. Oil-based lubricants are more commonly recommended for external use such as massage. They have a tendency to remain in the vagina for days. They can also damage condoms or vibrators. If you wish to use an oil based lubricant in the vagina, consider trying natural oils such as coconut or almond oil.

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Also available without a prescription are vaginal moisturizers.

These are longer lasting than lubricant products and generally used two to three times weekly. Vaginal moisturizers may provide relief from general discomfort associated with vaginal dryness. They can also decrease discomfort with sex and may be used in conjunction with lubricants. They are available as creams, gels, suppositories and oils. Some people use natural oils such as coconut or almond oil as vaginal moisturizers.

When moisturizers or lubricants are not sufficient, prescription medical treatments are available. Vaginal estrogen creams, vaginal estrogen tablets and vaginal estrogen rings all provide excellent relief of symptoms of GSM. There is also one oral medication currently available to treat painful sex associated with menopause. See your healthcare provider to see which would be the most helpful for your unique situation. Help for this common problem is available!

If you would like to learn more, these resources may be helpful: https://middlesexmd.com https://www.menopause.org https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause and-sexuality SWM Dinah Olson is a physician’s assistant at OCO Centers for Reproductive Health.

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE:

Finances

Concerned by your finances?

Take a longer-term approach

By Colette Powers

T

he COVID pandemic is triggering a lot of anxiety, and for many a sense of helplessness.

On top of health concerns, people and families are struggling with financial uncertainty.

Many have lost their jobs, are unsure of future employment and are experiencing concerns regarding market volatility. It is not easy to feel in control, but there are some things you can do to reduce financial stress.

Keep a longer-term perspective regarding your financial plan and investments and do not let fear guide your decisions.

According to Ainsley Carbone, total wealth strategist, UBS Global Wealth Management Chief Investment Office, there are some behavioral biases that investors may experience in times like these - loss aversion bias where one feels the pain of losses in their portfolio about twice as much as they do the pleasure of gains and recency bias where one tends to remember something that happened more recently than awhile back. The combined effect of the current market volatility and the recent events from COVID can create a fight or flight response causing one to feel that they need to act. Recognizing these emotions and taking a step back can help you avoid making rash decisions you otherwise might have.

Ainsley also suggests not to look at your portfolio daily because you are more likely to see a loss (losses are more common in shorter time frames) and want to react. Instead, review your plan and goals and how your portfolio’s risk/return is designed to support them.

Remember, if your long-term goals have not changed most likely your plan does not need to change because if you had the right plan going into COVID its was likely built assuming extreme/ challenging situations are possible.

Update your financial plan and if you do not have a financial plan now is a great time to implement one. It is important to note that according to the UBS 2020 Own Your Worth report 49% of women globally do not engage in the most important aspects of their financial well-being – investing, insurance, retirement and long-term planning. However, many women are likely to live well into their 90’s and find themselves solely responsible for their own finances.

So, take the time to have a conversation with your partner.

See where you stand financially, add up assets and liabilities, like loans, credit cards and other debts. Talk about money, what you want, your concerns, life insurance, long term care, people who matter most and discover your life’s vision. These answers are needed to create or update your plan.

Also, review the titling on your accounts and beneficiaries.

Make a master list of account usernames and passwords.

Share that list with a trusted advisor and make sure it is stored in a safe place. Meet with your attorney to review and update your will, power of attorney, health care proxy, and all the important documents he or she helped you create. If you do not have a will please establish one.

And if you are having financial difficulties meet with your financial advisor and/or CPA because there are some relief initiatives under the CARES Act that might be able to help you through these difficult times.

COVID has presented us with so many challenges and many of us are rethinking what we want out of life.

If you are questioning as well, I suggest finding time in this pause to review your and/or family’s life vision and creating the roadmap to help you achieve it. Hopefully, the process will help ease fear and uncertainty and offer some much-needed peace of mind. SWM

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This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice or the basis for making any investment decisions.

As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers investment advisory services in its capacity as an SEC-registered investment adviser and brokerage services in its capacity as an SEC-registered broker-dealer. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements. It is important that clients understand the ways in which we conduct business, that they carefully read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to them about the products or services we offer.

A small number of our financial advisors are not permitted to offer advisory services to you, and can only work with you directly as UBS broker-dealer representatives.

Your financial advisor will let you know if this is the case and, if you desire advisory services, will be happy to refer you to another financial advisor who can help you.

Our agreements and disclosures will inform you about whether we and our financial advisors are acting in our capacity as an investment adviser or broker-dealer.

For more information, please review the PDF document at ubs.com/ relationshipsummary. ©UBS 2020. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Mosby joins Symphoria as community engagement manager Symphoria, the professional orchestra of Central New York, has hired Lara Mosby as full-time community Engagement Manager.

She began working with Symphoria on Aug. 17.

“I really am excited to be part of a group that is so active and that does so many different kinds of performance for so many different kinds of audiences.” Mosby said. “Concerts from Masterworks to Pops, and especially the Kids Concerts, since kids are the future of music, both as musicians and audience members. I’m looking forward to returning to Syracuse and helping Symphoria achieve its mission and increase its involvement in the community.”

"We’re delighted to welcome Lara Mosby as community engagement manager for Symphoria,” said Symphoria Executive Director Pamela Murchison. “Symphoria's mission is to engage and inspire community members throughout Central New York with outstanding orchestral and ensemble performances, and innovative education and outreach initiatives. Music is a way to connect us to each other, and the shared experience is magical. The role of the community engagement manager will be to identify parts of the community we are not yet serving, identify whatever barriers are keeping those friends from accessing the orchestra, and begin the dialogue and build the relationships so Symphoria can be a resource for every person in CNY.” Mosby comes to Symphoria from a background of working in the radio industry. She brings decades-long experience in marketing, project management and collaboration. Mosby is also an avid amateur violinist and will bring her love of music to the position as well.

Mosby has a master’s degree from Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.

Crouse Health Earns National Stroke & Heart Failure Achievement Awards Crouse Health has earned the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke ‘Gold Plus’ Quality Achievement Award and the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure ‘Gold Plus’ Quality Achievement Award.

The awards recognize success in meeting or exceeding standards established by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association through their “Get with the Guidelines” (GWTG) program. This includes consistent application of best-practice, research-based standards of care, which reduce recovery time, disability, and mortality rates for stroke patients, and reduction in hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

“Crouse Health is known regionally for excellence in both stroke and cardiac care,” says Crouse Chief Operating Officer/Chief Medical Officer Seth Kronenberg, MD. “This recognition reflects the talent and experience of our clinical teams and their dedicated focus on providing the very best treatment and outcomes for our stroke and heart failure patients.”

Girl Scout’s project benefits Golisano Baldwinsville resident Rebecca Mantione is working toward her Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Mantione, an Ambassador level Girl Scout with Troop 10043, has created water bottle holders that fit onto wheelchairs for patients at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse.

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Rebecca Mantione, of Baldwinsville, created fabric water bottle holders that can fit onto wheelchairs for patients at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Mantione said she wanted to create something that would be both useful and fun for children who use wheelchairs. With the help of a group of volunteers, Mantione sewed fabric water bottle holders in multiple sizes that fit onto the arm of any wheelchair. She has donated 100 water bottle holders, water bottles and pamphlets she created explaining the benefits of hydration.

Senior and Ambassador level Girl Scouts (grades 9-12) who earn the Gold Award tackle issues that are important to them and drive lasting change in their communities and beyond through extraordinary leadership and sustainable and measurable Take Action Projects.

Girl Scouts going for the Gold Award must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and implementing their Take Action Project.

Mantione recently met with Dr. Nienke Dosa, MD, MPH, and Maddy Locastro, equipment coordinator, with the Center for Special Needs at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Ophelia’s Place continues mission with Community Foundation support Businesses, schools and churches may have screeched to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic, but just because the world has come to a stop does not mean eating disorders take a break.

“Folks who have been in recovery for a while and have been stable are reaching out for support,” said Holly Lowery, chief operating officer of Ophelia’s Place, a Liverpool nonprofit that connects people to support groups and treatment options for eating disorders.

Lowery said attendance for Ophelia’s Place’s virtual support groups has increased during the pandemic as more people struggle with social isolation.

“That’s something that this population already struggles with.

Eating disorders essentially grow when they’re happening in secret,” Lowery said. “We knew that would potentially be heightened during that and unfortunately that’s something we’re seeing come to fruition. The community component of treatment is vital.”

While the number of people seeking services from Ophelia’s Place has grown, the organization’s revenue has shrunk. Café at 407, the eatery that shares a building with Ophelia’s Place, normally provides 35% of the organization’s funding. The café was forced to close during the pandemic and has reopened with limited hours.

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The Central New York Community Foundation has helped fill the gap in funding with a $30,000 operational grant. CNYCF has distributed nearly $700,000 in community grants this year toward emergency relief efforts in Onondaga and Madison counties.

“It’s such an incredible service for people struggling with eating disorders,” said Danielle Johnson, director of grants and initiatives at the Community Foundation. “We really wanted to step in and help with operational funding.”

“It’s meant to help bridge that gap because now all of a sudden in a matter of one day all of that [revenue] had come to a halt,” she said. “Obviously nobody saw COVID-19 coming. Our biggest fundraiser, which is our Fall Slow Supper … it’s very intimate.

That’s not in the cards this year. We’re working to reconfigure it but it’s not going to be the same.”

Life is slowly returning to normal at 407 Tulip St. The Upstate New York Eating Disorders Service dietitians and the private practice therapist who work out of Ophelia’s Place are starting to see patients in person as well as continuing virtual appointments.

Café at 407 has reopened on a limited basis from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday through Sunday.

Café at 407 provides 35% of the revenue for Ophelia’s Place, which connects people to support and treatment services for eating disorders. When the coronavirus pandemic forced the café to close for several months, a $30,000 grant from the Central New York Community Foundation allowed Ophelia’s Place to continue providing its vital services.

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MAKING A POSITIVE CHANGE:

Fitness

Take the first step!

By Amber M. Howland

T

he first few steps in the morning are the toughest. My body is tired and really was enjoying the cool sheets it has been resting in for the last eight hours. My mind races with what I need to accomplish and how quickly I need to do it. My two small dogs are awake and are excitedly running around the house wanting to play but more importantly, they want breakfast. Why can’t I have that kind of energy at 7 a.m.? It’s not fair. However, life can really hand us lemons sometimes. It is what we do when life hands us lemons, that can be the game changer we need. What we do when life isn’t fair can change our perspective and mindset, overnight.

It was the beginning of May. All the days had blended together and I had lost all concept of time.

The weather was starting to warm up but my motivation to get out and enjoy it was nonexistent. It was easy to fall into the quarantine slump. I spent hours binging Netflix and ordering takeout. Other than that, I didn’t have a lot on my plate, and my overall mental and physical health was starting to decline.

I am an active person by nature. I am a social person. When the world around you starts to disappear, it’s easy to stay inside and hide.

Self-motivation is a skill and hasn’t always been my forte. I recognized that I needed to do something for myself or I was about to embark on a very long summer of feeling tired and bored.

Motivating myself to go outside and move my body was not easy. Motivating myself to run was even harder. This is why I never understood why people sign up for virtual running races or challenges.

I didn’t understand the reasoning. Why would anyone sign up for a race that isn’t really a race?

Who are you racing, yourself? The world was changing, and I needed to adapt. If I was going to change my way of thinking and start paving a better path for myself, I needed to get involved. I needed to jump on all of the motivational bandwagons and turn my mental blocks into jumping off points for overall health and happiness.

First step: do something you have never done. Sign up for a virtual challenge.

I took the first step. I made a commitment to myself and told a select few people about it for accountability. The challenge I signed up for was a 1000K, that is 621 miles over 108 days. I knew my summer was only going to be fun if I created that enjoyment myself. The best part was that it gave me structure. I had plans for the next 108 days. I had a goal to reach and promise to keep to myself.

And it paid off. This virtual running challenge became a hugely successful fundraising campaign, raising over $10,000 for the Food Bank of Central New York and creating a network of people who wanted to change the community for the better. It all started with the first step.

The first step is always the hardest. Your mind adapts. Your body adapts. If you move your body, you can change your mindset. There were days during this challenge, my body did not want to move.

However, I always forced myself to strap on my sneakers for at least a couple minutes to move my body.

Once I changed my environment, like going outside for example, and getting those initial steps in, I found that my body did want to move, and I was much more capable of the miles than I thought!

Here are a couple of tips I find handy when kicking off a fitness journey or maintaining a healthy routine.

1. Dress for success! Lay out your workout clothes the night before. Find that highlighter yellow sports bra and tank top that says, “Will run for tacos!” It will make you smile, just putting it on.

2. Have a routine. Set your alarm at night with intention and have a set wake up time. I know this is easier said than done. You may have to work around kids’ schedules, work, or life in general.

Your body will adjust to the new schedule and routine and be ready to push you on your daily workout.

3. Invest in good shoes! Your toes will thank you.

4. Find a new podcast or audio book to stimulate your brain when walking or running.

Training your brain is exercise too!

5. Have fun! Some days are easier than others. Do something daily that makes you proud!

Have a great September and I will see you on the road! SWM Amber Howland ran a 1000K for the Food Bank of Central New York as part of the 1000K for CNY campaign.

She partnered with local businesses and showcased them along her journey. Learn more about the road to 1000K on Facebook, Amber Howland or ambermhowland on Instagram. For more information, visit amberhowland.com

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UPCOMING EVENTS Throughout September

Madison County Open Farm Day

When: Whenever!

What: A new virtual Open Farm Day event highlighting farms throughout

Madison County with opportunities to “Ask a Farmer,” purchase

local product, and win prizes for participation. Each week through the month of

September, Cornell Cooperative Extension Madison County will share videos of two

farms that showcase the farm, how they operate, and what they sell. The videos will

be posted to CCE’s YouTube Channel, then shared to its Facebook page. The videos

will also be available on eaglenewsonline.com. Eagle News is a sponsor of this event.

Cost: Free Where: This is event is virtual.

Info: www.openfarmdaymadisoncounty.com Saturday, Sept. 11

David’s Refuge Taste with a Twist When: What:

Cost: Info:

Saturday, Sept. 11 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Throughout the live program, listeners will be able to hear more about the David's Refuge mission and the families that are served. Participants can make a monetary donation online, sign up to donate monthly or bid on great auction items. The virtual event will be broadcast over all Cumulus Media properties, including WNTQ 93Q, WAQX 95X, WSKO The Score and The Rebel Rocks.com, as well as their digital, streaming and website platforms.

Free but must register: Text, tastewithatwist, to 24375 to register for this virtual event. davidsrefuge.org

Saturday, Sept. 19

Onondaga Grown Day

When: Throughout the day on Sept. 19 What: A celebration of Onondaga County’s agricultural businesses –

from orchards to pumpkin patches, farm stores to farmers markets,

breweries and more. No official tours are planned but participants are encouraged to

find local businesses to visit by using the maps at onondagagrown.com. Be sure to

practice social distancing and adhere to the guidelines set at each agri-business.

Cost: Free Where: At agribusinesses throughout Onondaga County Info: www.onondagagrown.com September 26 through Oct. 2

2020 Virtual Teal Ribbon Run

When: Throughout the week of Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 What: The Teal Ribbon Run will be virtual 10K and 5K events this year. Run the flat and

fast Minoa course or run your favorite path. Upload your time to the RunSignUp site

to see how your time compares with other 10K or 5K runners. Registered runners

receive a soft, comfortable Hope gaiter mask, downloadable bib with your number

and a downloadable participation certificate with your logged time. Runners receive

the bib and certificate from Runsignup.

Where: The traditional course in Minoa or wherever you like to run.

Info: hopeforheather.org/tealribbonrun Saturday Sept. 26

Symphoria! A Grand Overture with John Nakamatsu

LIVESTREAM EVENT

When: Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

What: Celebrate opening night and Beethoven’s birthday with pianist Jon Nakamatsu

and Symphoria! You’ll recognize the gorgeous Allegretto from the Symphony No. 7

from many classic films. This event is will be livestreamed and there is no in-person attendance.

Where: Crouse Hinds Concert Theater Symphoria! Orchestra only

421 Montgomery St., Syracuse Cost: Livestream $20 Info: experiencesymphoria.org

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