Home Care In Ashton, MD

You may recognize her from her uplifting segments on Good Morning America providing a commanding voice on topics related to women’s health, wellness, and nutrition. Others may remember her as a co-host of the talk show “The Doctors.” As ABC’s Chief Health and Medical Correspondent for nearly 6 years, Dr. Jennifer Ashtonhas been a leading voice on the nation’s most important medical and public health topics. You no longer need to wait to see her on TV, you can have access to her expert opinions on a wide range of topics because she is launching a new magazine entitled “Better” that is currently available on stands throughout America.

In the magazine, Dr. Ashton is answering the plethora of questions, requests, and comments she receives regularly about women’s health to help readers find ways to look, feel, and live better. As she states, “My philosophy is to be honest. It’s not about being the best. It’s about being better than you were before, improving yourself. Even baby steps can be the difference in improving your health.”

In the premiere issue that has been available on stands since June 2^nd, Dr. Ashton writes candidly about the most relevant issues in advancing women’s health, including menopause, mental health, sleep, skincare and weight management. Although she has been providing expert consult on these issues for over a decade on popular TV, Dr. Ashton feels this magazine will provide more personal tips and views that are in line with her professional and personal philosophy. During a one-on-one interview, she stated, “The magazine will provide expert opinions and interpretations that readers can continue to refer to and have access to at the palm of their hands. I see this magazine as a real patient encounter where I can be their personal expert on issues that really matter.”

Part of her impetus in advancing and being a champion for mental health relates directly to her own personal experiences, and in particular, the death of her ex-husband by suicide in 2017. Her children urged her to use her national platform to highlight the importance of mental well-being for women and all Americans. As she notes, “There is so much stigma about mental health as well as blame. I felt that blame when my ex-husband passed.” She then adds, “A holistic approach is essential in addressing anxiety, stress, and depression. Connecting the dots between mental health and physical health is a must. One cannot have a healthy body without a healthy mind, and vice versa.”

Dr. Ashton hopes the June issue is one of many issues of the magazine that will be published in the near future. She feels that the pandemic transformed the way the general public accessed medical information, with many turning to news media for their basic information on health and wellness. In her words, “The pandemic amplified the interest and need for medical and nutritional information, and this is especially true for women. Women are demanding more access to this information from credible sources, and this needs to be presented and analyzed clearly for the lay public.”

Dr. Ashton has spent the majority of her career advocating for women and inspiring the general public to reflect on health, through her national television and social media platforms. She will now have the opportunity to inspire even more women with the launch of her new magazine. She acknowledges the many challenges with respect to women’s health that lay ahead. She states, “Funding is critical to advance women’s health. We cannot move the needle on women’s health without money. Men must also be involved in that conversation in an equal way”.

Very few physicians have possessed the opportunity and ability to provide critical medical information in a manner that resonates with the lay public. Dr. Jennifer Ashton has done just that and her magazine could inspire you to improve your health. Look for the second issue to be on stands in December.

Dr. Jennifer Ashton appears on "Good Morning America" daily with a head of perfectly styled hair, but behind the scenes, the ABC News chief medical correspondent said she experiences extreme hair loss.

The breakage and hair loss that Ashton has experienced for the past year is something she said her mom Dorothy Garfein, who is in her 80s, warned her about, based on her own experience.

Garfein said she had fine, shiny hair throughout her life, but noticed a sharp change in her 70s, when her hair became noticeably thinner.

In turn, Ashton, who is in her 50s, said she has worked to teach her daughter Chloe, who is in her 20s, to take care of her hair now so that it stays healthy throughout her life.

The hair tips and wisdom shared by the three generations shows the evolution of hair that happens naturally as women age, according to Ashton.

"Roughly every decade there is a change in hair," Ashton said, adding, "With age, all of us will have a change in our hair."

Read below for Ashton's advice on how to care for your hair across different decades of life.

20s and 30s: Be proactive by resting

Ashton's advice for women in their 20s and 30s is to "rest" their hair by resisting the urge to over-style it.

"Aggressive color, color process or heat process on a long-term basis is absolutely going to damage hair. That's a fact," Ashton said. "So, it's a matter of is it worth it? How much are you going to damage it, and for how long?"

Ashton noted that for women in their 20s and 30s, their hair will bounce back better from over-styling, but going easy on your hair during this time of life will pay off later.

"The earlier we all prioritize the health and well-being of our hair, the better [it] will be across our lifetime," she said.

Some examples of over-styling hair include blow-drying, straightening, getting it colored or permed, as well as pulling it back tightly in a ponytail, especially when wet.

Ashton noted that even brushing your hair too much, which used to be considered an important hair care tool, can cause breakage.

Chloe, Ashton's daughter, said she takes care of her hair now by massaging her scalp, using a hair mask on days that she lets her hair rest and keeping her hair trimmed and cut, so that it stays healthy.

"I've tried to learn from the hair debacle that my mom has gone through," Chloe said. "One thing I've taken from that is the importance of a hair rest day ... letting it get air, not putting any heat on it and just letting it rest."

A woman in her 20s and 30s may also experience pregnancy, which can bring its own set of changes to one's hair -- another thing to keep in mind in terms of being patient and gentle when it comes to hair care.

40s and 50s: Prepare for perimenopause, menopause

During their 40s and 50s, women have to deal with changes to their hair that come with perimenopause and menopause, the time when a woman's ovaries gradually begin to make less estrogen, eventually stopping completely.

"Due to a variety of factors, hair takes a hit," Ashton said of the perimenopause and menopause phases. "It grows less. It gets thinner. It's more vulnerable and more delicate and it can lose some of its luster."

Ashton noted that a woman's hair does not typically revert back after menopause, saying, "It's something that almost every woman, if she's being honest, will deal with basically from menopause on."

Due to all the changes, Ashton recommends that women in their 40s and 50s take an "all-out, fill-the-boat" approach to caring for their hair.

"That means making sure your diet is good, making sure that you're getting enough protein, that you're getting enough zinc, that you're getting enough folic acid, all of those are important for hair growth," she said, adding, "Your styling and grooming habits are incredibly important."

Ashton said she now practices what hairstylists call "protective hair styling."

"I protect my hair as much as possible," she said. "I don't think in a given week, I'm ever fully blowing out my hair. I'm either letting it air-dry naturally if it's a weekend, or I'm coming in with it wet for work and I'm just having the front blown out and I put the faux-ponytail on so that it's reasonably presentable for TV."

During her own hair loss journey, Ashton said that resting her hair has also meant wearing more hats and headscarves. She also wore hair extensions occasionally, but stresses those can damage hair further.

When it comes to products, Ashton recommends limiting the use of hair products that contain alcohol as an ingredient because alcohol will dry out hair even more. Instead, she recommends using a hair mask product, or going more natural by using coconut oil or olive oil to moisturize the hair.

Finally, Ashton stressed the importance of checking with a medical provider to rule out other medical causes of hair loss, like thyroid function.

5:15

Nearly three months after being diagnosed with COVID-19, Dr. Ashton started experiencing symptoms of hair loss. After speaking with her dermatologist, here are some of the w...

60s and beyond: Be gentle

Ashton said that the later decades of life are a time to "be gentle."

"Be kind and gentle and patient with yourself as an older woman," she said. "Don't only be gentle with yourself figuratively, but literally. You can't do the same heat, the same pulling, the same processing and styling as a woman who is middle-aged."

She continued, "That doesn't mean [hair] still can't be fabulous. It just means it requires a different approach."

In addition to going easy on treatments and products that may cause stress to the hair, Ashton said women in their 60s and beyond can have fun.

"Experiment with different types of things, whether they are fun hats or scarves or even wigs," she said.

Editor’s Picks

Sign up for our emails to get the inside scoop on special offers and the latest news.

Email Address*

Yes! I would like to receive updates, special offers, and other information from GMA Shop Newsletter.

Yes! I would like to receive the GMA Wake-Up newsletter for news briefings, deals, and more.

By creating an account, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy and US State Privacy Rights Notice.

Up Next in Wellness—

January 18, 2024

January 18, 2024

January 18, 2024

Shop Editors Picks

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

71

Sponsored Content by Taboola

Dear Partner,

I am writing to you because it’s time for us to take a trip to the mini med school that is menopause. Sometimes it may seem like the woman you’ve known all these years is gone, or changed into someone totally unfamiliar. I get it. Sometimes I feel the same way. I’ve never gone through menopause before, and since it can be different for every woman, I have no idea what to expect. Some days I feel like I’m going to get through it no problem, and other days, I feel...well, like I won’t.

Put simply, I feel like I’m springing leaks of symptoms from literally all angles. One day it might be my mood, mind, memory, or ability to focus. I’ve been feeling more stress, anxiety, and moodiness than I did when I was a teenager. The next day, my symptoms travel down my body and may involve breast tenderness, bloating, midsection weight gain (even though I haven’t changed what I am eating), fatigue, irregular bleeding, hot flashes, and what feels like the ultimate insult—vaginal dryness. Between tender breasts, a bloated belly, and a dry vagina, can you understand why I may not be in the mood for sex?

I want my old self back. I want my “old,” younger vagina back! Part of me is afraid that the premenopausal me may be gone forever, and that I may not like the postmenopausal me—and that you may not like her, either. It can be overwhelming.

More From Oprah Daily

Part of me is afraid that the premenopausal me may be gone forever.

The thing about menopause is that it’s not just about the physical or psychological changes—though those certainly aren’t a walk in the park. Society has a stigma against many things pertaining to women, and this is no different. When a man ages, he becomes more distinguished. When a woman ages, she is “past her prime” or seen as less relevant. In the past, even the medical community turned its back on us when we needed them most. Thankfully, that is changing. Doctors are listening and helping, and you can, too.

It won’t always be this way; I know I will come out of this stage and be better than ever. For now, I ask you to understand that some of these hormonal changes are tough—just like they can be tough during puberty or during and after pregnancy. I will get through it. We will get through it. And by the way, if manopause were a thing, I’d totally be there for you, too.

Any content published by Oprah Daily is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be regarded as a substitute for professional guidance from your healthcare provider.

Dr. Jennifer Ashton is the chief medical correspondent for ABC News and the first ob-gyn to ever hold this position in national network news media. She is the cohost of GMA3: What You Need to Know on ABC. In 2016, she was named the first-ever chief women’s health correspondent for ABC News, in addition to being the ABC News senior medical contributor. She is a board-certified ob-gyn, a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and is also board-certified in obesity medicine. Follow Dr. Ashton on social media @drjashton.

In a refreshingly candid conversation with Oprah Daily Insiders, Oprah, Maria Shriver, Drew Barrymore, and doctors Sharon Malone, Heather Hirsch, and Judith Joseph, we set the record straight on all things menopause. Become an Oprah Daily Insider now to get access to this conversation and the full “The Life You Want” Class library.

ASHTON-SANDY SPRING, Md. — A family is starting the holiday season looking for a place to stay after a fire ripped through their Sandy Spring home Thursday afternoon.

Firefighters with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to Alexander Manor Drive, off of Ednor Road, around 2:30 p.m. after neighbors called 911 to report the house fire in the area. Upon arrival, they found the home engulfed in flames and heavy smoke.

At the time of the blaze, one person was in the home, and was alerted to the fire after smoke alarms were activated. They were able to get out of the home before firefighters arrived at the scene. Two dogs that were in the home were also rescued before the fire department arrived to tackle the fire.

Update (12/21) initial dispatch ~230p; 16700blk Alexander Manor Dr, Sandy Spring; Origin/Cause, garage, Lithium-Ion batteries (charging); Damage >$500K; Smoke alarms, present, activated; no injuries; 1 family Displaced (3 adults, 2 pets); ~65 @mcfrs FFs on scene pic.twitter.com/ZYBjgwmme1

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 22, 2023

Officials say the fire started in the garage of the home and was due to lithium-ion batteries charging. The fire was extinguished, but the family was displaced as photos show one side of the home completely gutted. The family consisted of three adults and two dogs.

No injuries were reported due to the large fire. The fire caused over $500,000 worth of damage.

More…Alexander Manor Dr, one (1) occupant was home at the time, smoke alarms activated & alerted them to the fire in the garage (they got out); neighbors called 911 & retrieved/rescued 2 dogs prior to @mcfrs arrival pic.twitter.com/gWGoERdG7v

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 22, 2023

WUSA9 wants to remind people to make sure to check anything you may have bought for the holiday with these batteries such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, hover boards, tools and even electric toothbrushes.

As lithium-ion devices become more popular, @FSRI_org & @mcfrs are working to bring awareness to the risks associated with them. See how to keep your family safe “Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety” PSA. #BatteryFireSafety #Batteries pic.twitter.com/ZwedofqffQ

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 22, 2023

Related Articles

Watch Next: 'It was to scare people' | 20 people robbed with shotgun in Ethiopian restaurant in Maryland

WUSA9 is now on Roku and Amazon Fire TVs. Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand.

In a wedding for the ages, ABC News' Dr. Jennifer Ashton married prolific television producer and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner in an intimate affair on Saturday.

The wedding was attended by family and friends including Sara Gilbert, Donna Karan, Corey Gamble, Al Michaels, and George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth.

"I'm so happy because I never thought I'd find love like this," says Ashton, 53, who wore a Ralph Lauren Collection gown for the big day. "But when you're older, it doesn't take long to recognize when you've found your soul mate."

All the Celebrity Weddings of 2022

During the ceremony, which took place at New York City's famed Harmonie Club, Ashton was escorted by her son Alex, 24 and daughter Chloe, 22, before exchanging emotional vows with Werner, 72.

Following the vows, guests were transported to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a reception at the ancient Temple of Dendur for a dinner of fish and filet, as well as tunes by the Elan Music band.

"We just wanted it to be a celebration of love and happiness," says Ashton of the nuptials, which were planned by Todd Fiscus of Todd Events. "I never thought this would happen for me. And I am so grateful."

Ashton and Werner, who produced notable shows like Roseanne, The Cosby Show and That '70s Show and is also co-owner of the Fenway Sports Group, Boston Red Sox and chairman of the Liverpool Football Club, met in February 2021 through their mutual friend Ben Sherwood, former President of ABC News.

"I think I was one of the only people working in television who didn't know who he was," recalls Ashton. "I didn't watch his shows and I wasn't a baseball or soccer fan. But after our first date, we got serious pretty quickly."

Fox Weather's Stephen Morgan Marries News Correspondent Steven Romo: 'I Can't Imagine Living Without Him'

After facing immense tragedy, finding love again didn't always seem in the cards for Ashton. Her ex-husband, prominent surgeon Rob Ashton, died by suicide just days after they finalized their divorce.

"I've been through a lot of heartbreak," says Ashton. "And in a lot of ways, when you've lived through suicide and the loss of a loved one, it makes the hard things harder. I was cynical that I'd ever find love."

Meeting Werner, "it felt very different, for both of us," says Ashton. "And from the beginning, he was incredibly sensitive and compassionate. It takes an incredibly strong person to be as gentle with someone's heart as he has been with mine. He has this ability to heal my wounds and nourish my dreams at the same time."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Now, as they prepare for a romantic honeymoon in the Caribbean, "I'm just feeling so excited to be married to Tom," says Ashton. "Life really is so precious."