I AM YOU — Ep 52 — Joint Pain in Women Is Not “Just Aging”

I AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of their own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community.  

In this episode, Dr. Alvarez speaks directly to women in their 40s and 50s who are living with unexplained joint pain—and being told the same dismissive line: “Welcome to aging.” She explains why the timing matters, why “normal imaging” does not mean “nothing is happening,” and why midlife joint pain is often an early signal of hormonal shifts and rising inflammation that can also affect cardiovascular risk.  

Dr. Alvarez breaks it down in clear, practical terms, including the data that too often gets left out: more than 70% of midlife women experience musculoskeletal symptoms during the menopause transition, 25% experience symptoms severe enough to impair quality of life, and up to 40% report pain with no structural findings on imaging.  

With clarity and compassion, she covers:

• Why joint pain in midlife women is often hormone- and inflammation-driven, not simply “wear and tear”  
• The myths that keep women stuck (including “normal imaging means it’s not serious”)  
• The overlooked connection between chronic inflammation, joint pain, and long-term cardiovascular risk  
• Exactly what to ask your doctor: hormones, inflammatory markers, metabolic risk profile, and how this may change your heart-risk strategy  
• A direct call to action: don’t “push through” in silence—advocate for yourself as the CEO of your own health  

If you’ve been doubting your body because your labs or scans look “fine,” this episode reframes the conversation: your pain is real—and it may be information your heart needs you to take seriously.  

Visit NitzaMD.com

Follow @NitzaMD on Instagram and Facebook