Ep. 441 Women & Heart Health: A Cardiology Masterclass, Part 1

Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow ™

Cynthia Thurlow

Alternative Health, Nutrition, Science, Life Sciences, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 February 2025

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We have a mashup episode today, exploring heart health during menopause and the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. In this episode, Dr. Felice Gersh dives into the role of estrogen in immune function, inflammation, and heart health. Dr. Deb Matthew highlights the importance of assessing cardiovascular risks and hormone balance in perimenopausal and menopausal women to optimize heart health and minimize reliance on statins. Join us as Dr. Matthew and Dr. Gersh share their insights on heart health, hormones, and menopause. Ep. 356: Menopause, Heart Health, and HRT with Dr. Felice Gersh [00:01:53] Dr. Gersh guides listeners in understanding and appreciating the impact of estrogen on immune function, inflammation, and the healing processes within the body. [49:33] Estradiol is vital for heart health, and its decline after menopause can lead to issues like stiffening of the heart, heart failure, and arrhythmias in women. Ep. 325 Menopausal Toolkit: Heart, Brain and Hormonal Health with Dr. Deb Matthew [00:01:30] Most women fear breast cancer more than heart disease, even though cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. Yet, clinicians fail to talk enough about the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy in mitigating the risk of heart disease during perimenopause and menopause. [00:04:04] While estrogen can benefit the cardiovascular health of women, the risks associated with oral estrogen and synthetic forms, including blood clots and artery plaque instability, have led to hesitancy in using hormone replacement therapy despite its potential long-term benefits when administered correctly. [00:11:26] The balance of hormones like testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol plays a crucial role in cardiovascular health. Imbalances, such as flat cortisol patterns due to stress, potentially increase the risk of heart disease. Dr. Matthew uses tests like coronary artery scans and coronary intima-media thickness to assess cardiovascular risk in patients before considering hormone replacement therapy. [00:20:22] Dr. Matthew emphasizes the importance of advanced lipid testing, addressing the nuances of cholesterol particle size and inflammation, balancing hormones, and optimizing thyroid and blood sugar levels to manage cardiovascular risk instead of immediately resorting to statins. Bio: Dr. Deb Matthew Dr. Deb Matthew MD, The Happy Hormones Doctor, is a best-selling author, international speaker, educator, wife, and mom of four boys. After suffering for years from fatigue and irritability due to hormone imbalances, her quest to resolve her personal health led her to change everything about her practice of medicine. She has been featured on national podcasts, radio, and broadcast shows, including NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX. Her books, This Is NOT Normal! and Why Can't I Keep Up Anymore? address hormone health in women and men. Bio: Dr. Felice Gersh Dr. Felice Gersh is a multi-award-winning physician with dual board certification in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine. She is also a recognized expert on PCOS. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to [email protected] Connect with Dr. Felice Gersh On her website: Integrative Medical Group of Irvine Instagram Connect with Dr. Deb Matthew On her website Facebook Instagram

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Everyday Wellness Podcast.
0:03.8	I'm your host, nurse practitioner Cynthia Thurlow.
0:07.6	This podcast is designed to educate, empower, and inspire you to achieve your health and wellness goals.
0:14.0	My goal and intent is to provide you with the best content and conversations from leaders
0:19.1	in the health and wellness industry each week and
0:21.6	impact over a million lives.
0:29.1	February is Heart Month, and I could not think of a better theme to use compiling some of my
0:35.1	favorite podcasts that I've done with experts with regard to heart health.
0:39.8	As many of you know, I spent over 16 years as a nurse practitioner in cardiology, and it is
0:46.2	a near and dear subject to me. And when you look at current statistics that run the gamut
0:52.1	with regard to cardiovascular disease and women.
0:56.0	Heart disease causes one and 32 deaths each year and remains the number one killer of women
1:01.9	approximately accounting for one death every 80 seconds. We know that women present
1:07.6	differently than men and by the time women get a diagnosis of cardiovascular
1:12.9	disease, they typically have more severe disease than men do. 64% of women versus 50% of men who
1:20.5	die suddenly of heart disease have no previous symptoms. And pathophysiologically, the incidence
1:26.4	of heart disease of women lags behind men by about 10 years,
1:30.4	and the incidence of heart attacks or myocardial infarx,
1:34.8	and sudden cardiac death and women lags behind men by 20 years.
1:38.8	We know that a great deal of the delay and onset of these symptoms
1:43.0	is related to the cardioprotective effects of
1:46.9	estrogen, which women, as they make that transition from perimenopause and menopause,
	...

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