Ask Women's Health: Tampon Safety, Calories, and LinkedIn Etiquette

Ask Women's Health: Tampon Safety, Calories, and LinkedIn Etiquette

Answers to your most pressing questions, straight from the experts

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I'm hungrier on days I exercise—how do I make sure I burn more than I eat?—Lilli, DeWitt, IA.
You should feel hungrier on those days—and eat more, too, says Marni Sumbal, R.D., an exercise physiologist and owner of Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition in Jacksonville, Florida. The key to managing your food intake is to eat an additional snack before and after your workout, so you're fueling up when your body needs it most.

For example, before an hour-long run, Sumbal suggests a 100- to 200-calorie snack mixing five to 15 grams of protein and 30 to 40 grams of carbs (like a small banana with half a tablespoon of peanut butter); a post-workout snack should include about 10 to 15 grams of protein and 20 to 30 grams of carbs (try three ounces of yogurt and a piece of fruit). By timing your extra snacks around your workout, you can satisfy your hunger and get leaner, says Sumbal.

Is it dangerous to leave a tampon in overnight?—Jacquie, Evanston, WY
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a potentially fatal bacterial infection that has long been linked with leaving a tampon in for too long, used to scare the bejesus out of women. But the last major group of cases was in the early 1980s—and many physicians believe the outbreak was more likely due to a different type of bacterial strain common at the time, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D.

These days, the chances of getting TSS from a tampon are very minimal, Minkin says, and you can safely wear one overnight—so sleeping with a tampon in place isn't a worry. If you do, though, Minkin recommends wearing a pad for at least four hours over the course of the next day to prevent dryness and promote overall vaginal health.

Should you accept requests on LinkedIn from people you don't know personally?—Evelyn, North Liberty, IN
Not immediately, says Nicole Williams, LinkedIn's career expert, who explains that there are no career benefits to accepting requests that aren't valuable to you in some way.

Instead, scan their profile to see if you have anything in common. "If they seem like they could potentially be a good professional contact, go ahead and accept. They may end up being able to help you in the future," says Williams. (And you can always dump them later.) But if the person has nonprofessional reasons (or you can't think of a reason for needing them in your circle), feel free to decline the request.

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