I AM YOU

I AM YOU – Ep. 56 – Ask the Heart Doctor: Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

• Dr Nitza Alvarez

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 9:48

I AM YOU is hosted by Dr. Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, women’s heart specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights so women can speak up, protect the heart that carries them through every stage of life, and step into their power as the CEO of their own health.    

In this FAQ-style episode, Dr. Alvarez answers real questions about blood pressure and cholesterol—and why so many women are navigating major heart-risk shifts with guidance built from male-only data.  

If you’re in your 40s or 50s and you were told your cholesterol is “suddenly elevated,” Dr. Alvarez breaks down why it’s often not random—and why hormones (especially estrogen changes during menopause) can be a major driver.  

With clarity and urgency, she covers:

  • Blood pressure targets: Ideal is <120/80; ≥130/80 meets criteria for hypertension (for women and men), while symptoms like dizziness still matter in real life decision-making.  
  • Why menopause changes cholesterol: As estrogen declines, cholesterol metabolism shifts—LDL (“bad”) can rise, HDL (“good”) can fall, and triglycerides may be affected when insulin resistance/weight distribution changes show up.  
  • Before you default to cholesterol meds: If a provider is recommending medication during peri/menopause, she urges a conversation about hormones and the “why” behind the change.  
  • Statins and women: Why many women report lower tolerance and how differences in metabolism can contribute to side effects.  
  • When statins are clearly indicated: If there’s a history like stroke, heart attack, stent placement, open-heart surgery, or a condition requiring therapy, that’s a different risk conversation.  
  • Side effects women should watch for: Muscle aches/soreness, joint pain, rising blood sugar/A1c, and concerns some women raise about memory—plus what to discuss with your doctor if symptoms appear.  

This episode is a call-to-action: your lab values and vitals are data—but your lived symptoms are, too. Listen to your body, ask better questions, and remember: becoming the CEO of your own health starts with refusing to be dismissed.    

Visit NitzaMD.com

Follow @NitzaMD on Instagram and Facebook