Cardiovascular Risk in Midlife Women: Insulin Resistance, Inflammation & Heart Health Part 2

Are you wondering if you really need a statin? Have you been handed a prescription but never fully understood your true cardiovascular risk?

In this episode, Dr. Polly Watson and Kate Willis, NP-C, break down the complexities of statins, cholesterol guidelines, and cardiovascular risk in midlife women. They explain how to understand your personal risk profile so you can make informed, confident decisions about medication, lifestyle, and long-term heart health.

🌸 Early statin research had limitations, including selective reporting and short study durations that may not reflect decades of use.

🌸 Statins clearly lower LDL cholesterol, but the difference between relative risk and absolute risk reduction matters when evaluating true benefit.

🌸 Current guidelines identify specific groups who benefit most from statins, including those with established heart disease, very high LDL, or diabetes.

🌸 Risk calculators, coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, and the MESA arterial age tool can help personalize decision-making.

🌸 Advanced biomarkers like ApoB and lipoprotein(a) provide deeper insight beyond a standard cholesterol panel.

🌸 Lifestyle changes—like improving blood sugar, strength training, and nutrition—can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk, especially in lower-risk patients.

If you’re in perimenopause or menopause and want clarity instead of confusion about heart health, this episode gives you practical tools and better questions to bring to your next appointment.

📘 Try our 10-minute new patient intro 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 Email: info@hormonewellnessmd.com Call: (919) 364-3430

📲 Follow Hormone Wellness MD: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd Podcast: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(63)

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome in Midlife Women: Symptoms, Histamine & Hormones

Have you ever wondered why symptoms like bloating, migraines, anxiety, rashes, dizziness, or food sensitivities seem to get worse during perimenopause? Have you been told your symptoms are “normal” ev...

17 Jul 40min

Strength Training, Pelvic Floor Therapy & BRCA: What Women Need to Know in Midlife

Are you avoiding strength training because your joints hurt or you’re afraid of getting injured? Have you ever wondered if pelvic floor symptoms, painful sex, or chronic tightness are connected to str...

3 Jul 41min

Inflammaging & Menopause: The Hidden Driver of Weight Gain, Fatigue, and Chronic Disease

Are you doing all the “right” things but still struggling with fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, or rising cholesterol in midlife? Have you wondered why hormones alone don’t always fix how you feel? In...

18 Jun 44min

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): Symptoms, IBS, POTS & Why It’s Often Missed

Have you been told your symptoms are “normal” or “all in your head”? Do you struggle with IBS, migraines, dizziness, or unexplained inflammation that no one can connect? In this episode, Dr. Polly Wat...

5 Jun 38min

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 a...

8 Mai 41min

The Physical Therapy Perspective on Menopausal Hip Pain: Gluteal Tendinopathy & Movement Patterns

Is your hip pain getting blamed on aging—or brushed off with “just take ibuprofen”? Have you noticed lateral hip pain showing up during perimenopause or menopause without a clear explanation? In this ...

24 Apr 47min

Sustainable Weight Loss: A Metabolic Health Approach (Part 2)

Are you gaining weight in midlife even though you haven’t changed how you eat or exercise? Do you feel like your body suddenly stopped responding to all the things that used to work? In this episode, ...

10 Apr 33min