On Saturday, October 19, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, Bravo stars and healthcare leaders Dr. Jackie Walters and Dr. Heavenly Kimes, and Dr. Shawana Moore, an Atlanta-based healthcare provider, joined Team Harris-Walz and the Democratic Party of Georgia for a fireside chat at the subject of black moms’ health. Community leaders addressed the threats posed by Trump’s abortion bans and the stakes of this election for girls and families in Georgia and across the country.

Additionally, distinguished medical figures in Atlanta shared their personal experiences and skilled knowledge of Black maternal health.

With just 17 days until Election Day, they highlighted Vice President Harris, Governor Walz and Democrats’ vision for the United States to guard women’s reproductive freedom in comparison with Donald Trump and J.D. Vance’s Project 2025 agenda.

“We heard over and over again from Amber Thurman’s mother that her death was preventable, and that’s why when we hear people like Donald Trump bragging about overthrowing the government, we know it doesn’t have to be that way,” said U.S. Rep. Nikema Williamsa. “But everyone, there is a new way forward on the horizon. Amber’s mom said she is not political. She said she never actually even voted before because she didn’t think it mattered, but now she understands the power we put into office and she’s on the campaign trail making sure we get the vote out there and remind people what is important in this election, standing up for our freedoms.”

Bravo’s Dr. Heavenly shared her thoughts in a fireside chat on Instagram: “It was such a pleasure to join @therealdrjackie @drmimi.care and many politicians and voters. At a pre-rally event to discuss the importance of having the freedom to choose what is good for our bodies. !! #DrHeavenly #married2med #kamalaharris #Harris/Waltz #kamalaharris2024– she wrote within the caption. The star shared along with her fans a video with photos from Saturday’s event.

When we expect of spring, we expect of warming weather, birdsong, and flowers. But for many individuals, it also means the symptoms of seasonal hay fever return.

Around 24% of Australians hay fever, essentially the most common symptoms of that are sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy or watery eyes. IN severe casesthis will affect sleep and concentration or be related to an increased frequency of sinus infections.

The exact time your symptoms appear depends upon your exposure to the allergen – the thing you might be allergic to. People affected by tree pollen (corresponding to plane trees or cypress pine) may experience symptoms at different times of the yr than those affected by grass pollen (corresponding to ryegrass). This may also vary across the country.

For example, in Perth, tree (cypress pine) pollen typically occurs from August to October, while grass pollen concentrations are likely to be highest from October to November. In other cities and regions, the pollen season could also be longer and last even into summer.

Remind me how hay fever affects the body?

What we commonly call hay fever is named allergic rhinitis. Exposure to a selected allergen (or allergens) triggers an immune response within the body. This results in inflammation and swelling of the tissue lining the nasal passages within the nose.

Range allergens may cause such a response: pollen (from trees, grass or weeds), dust mites, pet dander, dander, mold and a few air pollutants.

People with allergies that only occur a part of the yr, corresponding to pollen, experience what’s called seasonal hay fever, while individuals with allergies that may occur at any time, corresponding to dust mites and pet dander, experience year-round hay fever.

Obtaining a diagnosis

Many individuals with hay fever manage their symptoms on their very own by limiting exposure to allergens and using over-the-counter antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays.

However, this will require help out of your GP and confirmation that you simply suffer from hay fever. Your GP can assess your symptoms and medical history, make a diagnosis and aid you treat and manage your symptoms.

Your GP also can aid you discover potential allergens based on when symptoms occur and the environments you might be exposed to.

If symptoms persist, your GP may recommend allergy testing. They may refer you to a specialist called an immunologist to find out what specific allergen is causing your symptoms skin prick tests or blood tests. Tests typically involve controlled exposure to small amounts of suspected allergens.

However, please keep in mind that there are numerous tests available on the Internet which are unconfirmed and never really useful by reputable institutions.

How else can I check what I’m allergic to?

For people affected by seasonal hay fever, there are resources available to assist manage exposure based on the flowering seasons of common allergy-related species or through pollen forecast services.

The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy provides useful pollen guide for every species and once they are more than likely to cause symptoms, by state and territory.

Pollen monitoring and forecasting services – corresponding to Perth Pollen, Melbourne Pollen AND Sydney Pollenand likewise for other cities – it may possibly aid you plan outdoor activities.

These services also include phone apps that may notify you of high pollen counts. You can download these apps (corresponding to Air RaterPerth Pollen, Melbourne Pollen and Sydney Pollen) from your chosen app store.

Apps like Air Rater additionally they can help you enter symptom information, which might then be matched to environmental conditions on the time (pollen count, temperature, smoke, etc.).

Using statistical modeling, the app can establish a relationship between symptoms and exposure. If a high enough correlation is detected, the appliance can send notifications when: risk of exposure he’s tall. This may prompt you to limit your outdoor activities and take medication.

Long before pilates became synonymous with a monochromatic sport and slim white bodies, a black woman named Kathy Grant modified the famous practice. Growing up in Twenties Boston, Grant pursued a dance profession across racial barriers, performing with legends similar to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Carmen De Lavallade, and later pioneering Black representation in the movement at The Dance Theater in Harlem and beyond. A knee injury led her to Joseph Pilates – the German physical trainer accountable for this transformative exercise – in 1954, where his exercise system inspired her and ignited a lifelong passion. One of the few students certified by Pilates itself, Grant spent the next 50 years teaching a particular body-centered approach that empowered students around the world.

Although Pilates was designed with all bodies in mind, many still consider it an exclusive practice created for and dominated by thin, affluent white women – a stereotype reinforced by limited representation in the media and America’s exclusionary history in fitness and wellness. When Lori Harvey revealed at the 2022 Met Gala that Pilates was her secret to a sculpted figure, her words sparked renewed interest amongst Black women, but long before that, Kathy Grant and generations of Black women were already pioneering change in the world of Pilates. Today, dedicated Pilates studio owners like Tiffany Lauren Mason from Harlem PilatesTabatha Russell z tabCentrum PILATES and Bodyworks in Chicago and Camai Brandenberg z Embody Pilates in Los Angeles, they are redefining the narrative, difficult stereotypes, and creating inclusive spaces that prioritize healing, strength, and community.

From passion to practice: the path to studio ownership