AUDIO: Dr. Nieca Goldberg Explains Estrogen’s Connection To Heart Disease in Women

EmpowHer:
How does the natural estrogen protect the heart of a woman 40 years or younger and what are the benefits of natural estrogen as opposed to, let’s say other replacements?

Dr. Nieca Goldberg: Well, first of all, let’s separate it into your own natural asteroids, estrogen that’s in your body and most of us associate estrogen and the other female hormone progesterone really with reproduction, heavy women, changes in the cycle, monthly cycle of estrogen and progesterone are responsible for menstrual periods and estrogen and progesterone levels that increase during pregnancy are there to help maintain the pregnancy.

As women approach the perimenopausal years their estrogen levels drop. This is a natural process. At the same time that these estrogen levels drop, women have an increase in blood pressure and also may become more insulin resistant and have higher levels of LDL or the bad cholesterol.

That doesn’t mean that all women as they approach menopause, will have a heart attack but it means women have to really be more vigilant about their heart disease risk factor.

Nieca Goldberg M.D., cardiologist, author of the award winning book "Women Are Not Small Men: Life Saving Strategies for Preventing and Healing Heart Disease," recently started her own practice "Total Heart Care" in Manhattan. She is the former Chief of the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Center at Lenox Hill Hospital and a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

During her time at Lenox Hill, Dr. Goldberg founded the "Women's Heart Program," the only cardiac rehabilitation and prevention program for women in New York City.

In addition, she holds the positions of Co-Medical Director of the 92nd Street Y Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine.