Ask HER: Gel Manicure Safety, Insomnia During Perimenopause PLUS How to Handle Food Shaming

It's YOUR time on HER Radio. Be a part of the show... send your comments and ask your questions by email, AskHER@radiomd.com. It's time to Ask HER. Today, on HER Radio you wanted to know:

Is insomnia a common problem for peri-menopausal women?

Insomnia is a disorder where you have a difficult time falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Insomnia can cause your energy level and health to spiral out of control.

Unfortunately, a symptom of menopause is insomnia or having general sleep problems. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 61 percent of menopausal women have sleep problems.

Is gel nail polish safe?

Gel manicures are very popular among women of all ages. However, many have wondered whether or not it's safe due to the strong UV lights your hands and nails are exposed to during the process.

As you may know, UV lighting can cause some serious skin damage and potentially raise your skin cancer risk.

If you're concerned, ask the nail salon what type of lamp they use, put sunscreen on your hands before you go, or wear special gloves with the fingers cut out.

What do you do when someone sits around food shaming you?

Without even realizing it, you or someone you know could be food shaming. Food shaming is judging the food choices that someone else makes.

The best way to handle this is to first recognize that you are doing (or receiving) the food shaming. If you're the shamer, ask yourself why you're doing this; what are you really gaining? If you're the one being shamed, listen to your own body, give yourself permission to enjoy your food, and try not to let side comments get you down.

If you have a personal health question you want answered, Pam and Michelle encourage you to send them in to AskHER@radiomd.com.