S2 Ep73: Your HEART on HORMONES

Estrogen is not only good for your brain, your bladder, and your bones, estrogen is also good for your blood vessels. And a lack of estrogen is one of the reasons that heart disease spikes in women post-menopause. Hormone therapy, if started within ten years of the menopause transition, appears to be heart protective. Today I am joined by Dr. Marla Mendelson, a cardiologist and associate professor of Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.   She is also the former co-director of the Women’s Health Research Institute. Dr. Mendelsohn has devoted her career to evaluating and treating women’s cardiovascular health throughout the lifespan. 
We discuss:

Why ESTROGEN is important for heart health and vascular health

RISK FACTORS for cardiovascular disease
Family history- what’s significant, what’s not 
Smoking 
Diabetes 
Hypertension 
High cholesterol 
Age of Menopause 
Obesity 
Hypertension during pregnancy



Why Black women have high rates of cardiovascular disease
 The relationship of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) on heart disease risk. 
How to SCREEN women for heart disease with and without a family history
When a STRESS TEST is appropriate
If a CORONARY CALCIUM test should be done routinely
The impact of cardiotoxic CHEMOTHERAPY and chest RADIATION


PREVENTION of cardiovascular disease

WARNING SIGNS of heart disease in women
What happens during a HEART ATTACK 

The relationship of HOT FLASHES and heart disease
Why it is generally safe and beneficial to take HORMONE THERAPY if there is heart disease
Why most cardiologists and internists are not comfortable recommending hormone therapy even though estrogen decreases cholesterol and triglycerides
Why  most medications given to women have only been tested in men




For More Information on This Topic

Episode 2:Think Your Hot Flashes Can't Kill You? Think Again!
Episode 19:  Menopause and Muffin Top: why women put on pounds
Episode 30: Weight! Weight! Can a Pill Help Take Off the Pounds? With Dr. Kushner
Episode 56 Too Young For Menopause? with Dr. Hannah Short




Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat


Lauren Streicher, MD is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. 

         Sign up to receive DR. STREICHER’S FREE NEWSLETTER

Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine. 

Subscribe and Follow Dr. Streicher on 
DrStreicher.com
Instagram @DrStreich
Twitter @DrStreicher
Facebook  @DrStreicher
YouTube  DrStreicherTV

Books by Lauren Streicher, MD

 Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy