Cardiovascular Risk in Midlife Women: Insulin Resistance, Inflammation & Heart Health Part 1

Are you being told your cholesterol is “normal” but still worried about your heart health? Wondering if supplements are enough—or if you should consider a statin?

In this episode, Dr. Polly Watson and Kate Willis, NP-C, break down cardiovascular risk in midlife women and explain how to interpret labs beyond standard cholesterol numbers. They share a clear, practical framework to help you understand your true risk and decide when lifestyle, supplements, or medication may be appropriate.

🌸 LDL alone does not tell the full story—markers like ApoB, Lp(a), fasting insulin, triglycerides, homocysteine, and uric acid offer deeper insight into cardiovascular risk.

🌸 “Normal” lab ranges are based on population averages, not optimal health.

🌸 Insulin resistance is one of the biggest drivers of heart disease—and one area where you have real agency.

🌸 Inflammation and oxidative stress quietly increase cardiovascular risk, especially during perimenopause and menopause.

🌸 Lifestyle habits like strength training, blood sugar balance, and quality sleep form the foundation of prevention.

🌸 Supplements can support specific patterns of risk, but they cannot replace movement and healthy habits.

🌸 Statins have a role in certain high-risk patients, especially when plaque is already present.

If you’re a midlife woman trying to make sense of your labs and protect your long-term health, this episode offers clarity, context, and practical next steps. You’ll walk away feeling empowered to make informed decisions about your heart.

📘 Try our 10-minute new patient intro course: [https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course](https://hormonewellnessmdacademy.teachable.com/p/are-we-a-good-fit-new-patient-welcome-course)

🩺 Looking for Personalized Hormone Care in North Carolina or Alabama?

Hormone Wellness MD provides expert, evidence-based hormone care for women across North Carolina and Alabama. We care for patients in Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington, Chapel Hill, Durham, Greensboro, and Birmingham.

If you’re ready for expert care rooted in evidence and empathy, we’d love to support you.

Website: [https://hormonewellnessmd.com](https://hormonewellnessmd.com)

Email: [info@hormonewellnessmd.com](mailto:info@hormonewellnessmd.com)

Call: (919) 364-3430

📲 Follow Hormone Wellness MD:

Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd](https://www.instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd)

Podcast: [https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast](https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast)

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(71)

Creatine for Women Over 40: Benefits, Myths & What You Need to Know

Could creatine be the missing piece in your midlife wellness routine? From building muscle and supporting brain health to promoting healthy aging, creatine has become one of the most talked-about supp...

6 Marras 21min

Beyond the Mammogram: Personalizing Breast Cancer Screening

Women have been told for decades that annual mammograms starting at age 40 are the gold standard—but is a one-size-fits-all approach really the best way to detect breast cancer? In this episode, Dr. P...

23 Loka 40min

Estradiol: Choices Outside of the Patch

The ongoing estrogen patch shortage has left many women wondering what to do when their usual prescription simply isn’t available. In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson walks through p...

9 Loka 29min

Midlife Aches and Pains: How to Stay Strong, Mobile & Pain-Free Through Menopause

In this episode, Kate Willis NP-C sits down with physical therapist Emily Gilmore to discuss why aches, pains, and injuries become more common in midlife—and what women can do to stay strong, mobile, ...

25 Syys 44min

MCAS, Histamine & Hormones

If hormone replacement therapy made you feel worse instead of better, histamine may be the missing piece. In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson explains how estrogen, progesterone, and...

14 Syys 21min

The Midlife Muscle Blueprint: Strength Training for Menopause and Longevity

Are you working out but still struggling to build muscle? Do you feel like your metabolism has slowed down, your energy is fading, and your body just isn't responding the way it used to? In this episo...

28 Elo 42min

Somatic Therapy Explained: Trauma, Chronic Stress & Your Body

In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson is joined by massage therapist and somatic practitioner Audrey Burke to explore how the nervous system influences both physical and emotional heal...

14 Elo 36min

Lipoprotein(a) & Menopause: The Hidden Heart Risk Marker

Could your cholesterol and heart disease risk be changing during menopause without you realizing it? Have you been told hormone therapy protects your heart, but wondered what the research actually say...

31 Heinä 51min