Broken Heart Syndrome – Why Women’s Hearts Need More Attention (Encore)

February is National Heart Month, and in the month of hearts, we’re revisiting one of the most important conversations from the Ageless Glamour Girls™ Podcast archives.

Broken Heart Syndrome can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack - and it can occur after sudden, intense emotional or physical stress. Research shows cases are increasing, particularly among middle-aged and older women. This episode originally aired during our debut season in March 2022, but its message feels even more urgent today. 

We’re joined by Dr. Susan Cheng, senior author of a major study on the condition and a leading cardiologist at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Cheng breaks down:

• What Broken Heart Syndrome is - and what it isn’t
• Why women are disproportionately affected
• The powerful role stress plays in heart health
• And, most importantly, why this condition is treatable

If you’ve ever felt the physical weight of emotional stress, this conversation matters. And here's to Healthy Aging and Joyful Living, Luvvies!

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GUEST BIO: Susan Cheng, MD, MMSc, MPH is the Erika J. Glazer Chair in Cardiovascular Health and Population Science, Director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging, and Director of Population Health Sciences at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. She also serves as Professor and Vice Chair of Research Affairs in the Department of Cardiology. Dr. Cheng is a cardiologist, echocardiographer, and clinician-scientist who leads nationally recognized research programs focused on the drivers of cardiovascular aging in women and men. She received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, her medical degree from McMaster University, a Master of Medical Science from MIT, and a Master of Public Health from Harvard.She completed internal medicine training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and cardiology training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she later served as cardiology faculty and Associate Director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Core Laboratory. Dr. Cheng is also Co-Director of the Framingham Heart Study Echocardiography Laboratory and Co-Director of the international Bioactive LipidsNet Consortium. She has served on editorial boards of major cardiovascular and imaging journals and on leadership committees for the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Cheng has chaired and contributed to multiple American Heart Association scientific statements on research methods, heart disease statistics, and cardiovascular care of older adults. She has authored more than 450 publications,