Goal, Gadget, and Good News: Orientation
I am officially starting OB-GYN residency! I am so excited and also extremely nervous. We are in week two of orientation now. I am overwhelmed not only by how supportive and kind the program is, but also by how much faculty and residents promote resident wellness. In an effort to be accountable to my own wellness throughout this intern year, I am starting a series of wellness(-ish, -adjacent, -esque) tips, tools, and news to stay healthy, excited, and inspired.
Important: I will include some recs and resources, but always consult your doctor before making any exercise, dietary and/or any other health changes.
Goal: Drink Water
My first wellness goal is pretty simple. There are so many hip and costly cure-alls out there right now, and I am generally skeptical of any product that boasts a long list of benefits. But, what’s the O.G. cure-all? Water. My goal is to make water my first go-to in self-assessment and treatment. Feeling sluggish, tired, head-achey? Water helps. Staying hydrated at work will hopefully lead to coming home ready to achieve next level goals like going for a walk every day or super next level goals like running or reading after work.
Gadget: Ring Holder Necklaces
I am at high risk for misplacing anything that is not permanently attached to my body. However, unlike the nine Scripps College IDs I lost, my engagement ring will not be replaced for a 5-dollar fee. Fortunately, one of my co-interns showed me her ring holder necklace and it’s a real game changer. Whether you are delivering babies, lifting weights, or otherwise proverbially or quite literally getting your hands dirty, a ring holder necklace might be a worthwhile gadget for you. Check out the medical-themed one I ordered here or other options on Etsy here. (Be sure it is the type that you can slip the ring on and off without taking the necklace off. The medallion should be U-shaped or otherwise open at the top. Otherwise, any necklace is technically also a ring holder if you take it off and slip the ring onto the chain.)
Good News: The HPV Vaccine (Gardasil-9) was FDA-approved for men and women age 27-45
Old news can be good news too! HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that the vast majority of sexually active people will come into contact with at some point in their lives. It can have a host of consequences ranging from absolutely nothing to genital warts to cervical cancer, a particularly devastating cancer that disproportionately impacts women with poor access to healthcare. The vaccine and regular PAP smears (guidelines change constantly but currently recommend starting at 21 and then follow-up as indicate by the results) are the most important factors in preventing invasive cervical cancer. So, what’s the new part of the news here? A more recent study found “Gardasil was 88 percent effective in the prevention of a combined endpoint of persistent infection, genital warts, vulvar and vaginal precancerous lesions, cervical precancerous lesions, and cervical cancer related to HPV types covered by the vaccine” in 3,200 women age 27-45 years of age.”(1) The full article can be found here. The CDC still recommends the vaccine up to age 27, and further safety and cost effectiveness studies are still needed before these results change clinical practice. But, the results are really exciting and another step in reducing the burden of cervical cancer felt by women in the US and around the world. In fact, the vaccine is now FDA-approved for women and men between 27-45 years of age. That’s pretty incredible.
-Ari
1. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves expanded use of Gardasil 9 to include individuals 27 through 45 years old [press release]. Silver Spring (MD): FDA; 2018. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm622715.htm.