💪 The Hairy Chin Newsletter #2

Hello there, happy Monday!

The term Medical Misogyny is everywhere these days - and honestly, I’m here for it. I love that we’re finally seeing more transparency about the discrepancies between male and female healthcare. It’s an essential conversation that needs to be had. 

But here’s what’s missing from the narrative filling my Apple News feed: While it’s true that the system is failing us, that women aren’t being heard, and that fixing this broken system will take time, there is something women can do right now. And that’s advocate for themselves.

I have a lot of thoughts on this topic, and if you’d like to hear more, check out my new short content series Chin Chats, debuting this week on the podcast! My first episode with my thoughts on Medical Misogyny will be released this Wednesday, March 26th. You can find it here.  

Let’s get to work! 💪

Spencer Moore
Founder, The Hairy Chin
Host, The Hairy Chin Podcast

The Power of Preparation

When it comes to advocating for yourself, walking into a doctor’s office prepared can make all the difference. Clarity about your symptoms, information about your history, and a list of questions can change the entire experience. It shifts you from feeling helpless to feeling in control.

Here are three ways to walk in like a pro:

1. Write It Down: Create a list of symptoms, their severity, and when they began. Include anything that makes them better or worse. Clarity matters.

2. Bring Relevant Records: Blood test results, previous diagnoses, medications - anything that helps paint a fuller picture. Don’t assume your Dr. has these tests or is familiar with their results.

3. Have Questions Ready: Write down your top three questions or concerns to make sure they get addressed.

A prepared patient is an empowered patient. The more you know about your own health story, the better your doctor can help you. Preparation isn’t about being perfect, it’s about showing up informed, confident, and ready to be heard.

Ever wonder why hospitals make you remove nail polish before surgery? It’s because our nails can be a window into our overall health (and indicators of our blood circulation under anesthesia). 

Bottom line: Our nails are more than decoration, they can actually be diagnostic tools. So paying attention to them can give us valuable clues about our health. Here are some clues about what your nails might be trying to tell you. 

• Peeling Nails: Often caused by excessive hand washing, nail dryness, or too many acrylics and polishes.

• Brown/Black Discoloration: Could indicate trauma or, in rare cases, subungual melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

• Thin Red Streaks (Splinter Hemorrhages): Can indicate trauma or could be linked to vasculitis or heart valve infections.

• White Spots: Often the result of injury, but may also indicate anemia or liver disease. 

• Horizontal Ridges (Beau’s Lines): Can result from protein deficiency, diabetes, vascular disease or vitamin deficiencies (Zinc or B7).

• Clubbing: Round, floating nails and swollen fingers can indicate low blood oxygen levels, potentially linked to lung cancer.

For more information about what your nails can tell you, check out this article from BBC Future: What Your Fingernails Can Reveal About Your Health.

Here’s a fact that’s hard to ignore: Nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are women.

Here’s something else you should know: Research is now linking Alzheimer’s to insulin resistance - with some experts even calling it “Diabetes of the Brain” or “Type III Diabetes.” This connection could completely change the way we approach prevention and treatment.

You can read more about these statistics at The Alzheimer’s Association and also at The National Library of Medicine.

We’ll be diving deeper into this topic in the future, so keep an eye out for more information on this coming soon. 

Tampon Safety and Toxic Shock Syndrome

Let’s talk about Lauren Wasser - the model who lost both her legs to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) after using a tampon - correctly. Lauren is now pouring her time and energy into raising awareness about TSS and demanding better transparency in menstrual products. Because what happened to her could happen to anyone.

Her advocacy is a reminder of why women need to be educated, empowered, and unafraid to demand better - whether it’s in menstrual products, healthcare, or beyond.

Watch Lauren’s Ted Talk and read the article “Toxic Shock Syndrome amputee Lauren Wasser on how she drew hope from the experience” at The Independent UK.

Introducing Chin Chats on the podcast this week! I’ve been learning so much along this journey and from interacting with so many amazing women about female health and wellness. These shorter Chin Chats is where I’ll share some thoughts and experiences to offer you additional insights and perspectives that can help you better understand how to advocate for yourself.

This week, tune in for my <10 minute take on the ongoing conversation around Medical Misogyny. I’ll share why I believe the healthcare system continues to dismiss women’s symptoms, why waiting for change isn’t an option, and why self-advocacy matters now more than ever.

🎙️ Catch the new Chin Chats episode this Wednesday at 9 AM EST on all major podcast platforms! 🎙️

The next Supplement Scoop hits your inbox on Friday, April 4th, and it’s a big one - drum roll please - MAGNESIUM!

From sleep support to muscle health, there’s a reason this mineral gets so much hype. But not all magnesium is created equal. Want to know more about which type could be right for you? Keep an eye out for all the details in your inbox soon!

Ok my amigas, that’s a wrap. Self-advocacy has never been easier - from To-Do to TA-DA - just like that! 💪

Bravo for being here,
Spencer Moore