Episode 233: The Art (and Science) of Women Navigating Healthcare

Curate Your Health with Dr Heather Hammerstedt

Episode 233 of my Curate Your Health Podcast is out! Link below.

Susan Salenger is here to talk about how women need to advocate for themselves for health care. She interviewed women for a book she wrote, and she discovered that women, in many ways, put themselves last and this needs to change. Women need to put themselves first and go to the doctor when they don’t feel well. She found that many people are unprepared when going to the doctor. It is advisable to write a list of all of your symptoms and medications you take. Many people get anxious at doctor visits so if you have a list, it will keep you on track. In her research, she found that a lot of women leave the appointment not understanding what the doctor was telling them and that they are embarrassed to ask questions. The more information and questions that you have, the better equipped you will be. Susan gives tips for women when the appointment doesn’t go as planned. Some of these tips include: emailing the doctor for follow up information, writing down what the doctor said so you can do your own research and get a second opinion from someone with different training.

Susan Salenger is the author and researcher behind SIDELINED: How Women Can Navigate A Broken Healthcare System. Sidelined examines the many ways in which some women manage and sometimes mismanage their healthcare. (Released, April 2022)

Susan explores how women, typically the medical gatekeepers for their families, tend to be extremely conscientious about taking care of themselves, yet at the same time inadvertently undermine their own care. They often hesitate to call the doctor when they don’t feel well and worry that their doctor visit will take time away from their families or work. They may hesitate to ask doctors the necessary questions and don’t always comply with the doctor’s instructions. Salenger’s research reveals how conflicted many women are about the medical decisions they ultimately make.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Susan attended UCLA to study English. After graduation, she worked alongside her husband Fred for 25 years at their production company, Salenger Films, which produced corporate training and development films distributed worldwide. Today, at age 81, Susan lives in Northern California to be near her incredible family which includes her two daughters, four grandchildren, a cat named Max and a dog named JD (Salenger). When she is not speaking about her book or spending time with family and friends, you will find Susan power lifting to stay in shape.

She can be found at: https://www.susansalenger.com/,

https://www.tiktok.com/@grandma.gains, https://www.instagram.com/susansalenger/,

https://www.facebook.com/suesalenger/, https://twitter.com/susansalenger,

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-salenger-a4a02716/,

https://www.amazon.com/Sidelined-Women-Manage-Mismanage-Health/dp/1647424011/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Her book Sidelined explores the various hurdles women must jump to get the healthcare they want. It examines the many ways in which women have been conditioned not to act in their own best interest when it comes to their health.

It shines a light on the cultural history and gender bias in the medical community that have helped put women in this position. And it offers women practical advice to help them recognize these biases and better navigate the patient-doctor relationship.

You can purchase the book at:

https://www.amazon.com/Sidelined-Women-Manage-Mismanage-Health/dp/1647424011/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr

Dr. Hammerstedt and her lifestyle coaching team can be found at www.wholisthealth.com and @wholisthealth on Facebook and Instagram as well as the Facebook group Midlife Wellness Collective. Wholist helps high performing women and men lose weight for the last time, with an innovative food and mindset coaching program to blueprint YOUR optimal body and mind, with real food, real work, real results...and no products or BS. Come curate YOUR sustainable health future, and personal and professional dynasty.

And remember, Who you choose to be Matters. You are valuable, You are worth this, You are your WholeYou.