Environmental health is the name of the game. 

Today, Why Am I Just Finding This Out, host Dr. Kristen Stovern DNP, WHNP, CNM, FACNM, is joined by guest Susan Kendig, JD, WHNP-BC, FAANP, a distinguished expert in women's health, who sheds light on the urgent implications of climate change and its intersection with women’s well being. 

Drawing from her extensive background as the Women’s Health Integration Specialist at SSM Health Maternal Services, St. Louis, MO, Kendig elucidates how climate change, driven largely by human activity, poses significant risks to women worldwide, emphasizing the disproportionate negative impact on vulnerable populations. From the proliferation of urban heat islands to the encroaching threats of rising sea levels and natural disasters in woodlands and grasslands, Kendig paints a vivid picture of the challenges facing women living in vulnerable environments due to socioeconomic disparities, highlighting the heightened risks of stress, neurological disorders, and reproductive health issues.

“We may set up generations being [negatively] affected,” Kendig explains. “And we may never even know that [until then].” 

Kendig also delves into the negative effects of toxic chemicals present in everyday products, such as makeup and plastics, exacerbating health risks for women. She underscores the importance of informed consumer choices and sustainable practices in mitigating these risks, advocating for proactive measures to safeguard women's health and well-being.

Join us as we navigate the complex terrain of climate change affecting maternal mental and physical health for women around the globe. 

Resources:

List of Non-Toxic Products: Amazon.com: Non Toxic

Water Contamination Database: EWG's Tap Water Database: What's in Your Drinking Water? | @ewg | #WaterSafety