I AM YOU

I AM YOU – Ep. 57 – Ask a Heart Doctor: Medications & Treatment

• Dr Nitza Alvarez • Season 1 • Episode 57

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I AM YOU is hosted by Dr. Nitza Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist 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 Ask a Heart Doctor episode, Dr. Alvarez answers one of the most important (and most overlooked) questions in women’s cardiovascular care: are heart medications actually tested in women the way they’re tested in men? If you’ve ever started a new medication and thought, “Why do I feel so off?”—this episode explains why that experience is common, valid, and often rooted in a system built around male bodies.  

She breaks down how male-centric medicine became the default, why women were historically excluded from clinical studies (including hormone-cycle variability and pregnancy concerns), and how that decision still impacts dosing, side effects, and outcomes for women today. Then she turns it into action: ask to see the research, ask what data exists in women, and consider participating in studies so the next generation has better answers.  

With clarity and practicality, Dr. Alvarez covers:

  • Are heart medications tested in women? Why the honest answer is often “not enough”  
  • Why women can feel more side effects (and why those effects may be underreported)  
  • Birth control / hormone therapy interactions: why oral estrogen can matter because of liver metabolism, and why transdermal options may behave differently  
  • Pregnancy risk: why some common cardio meds can be harmful to a fetus, and why planning (or lack of contraception) should change the conversation with your doctor  

This episode is a direct invitation to advocate for yourself. If you’re on heart medications and you “don’t feel right,” don’t dismiss it—bring the question back to your provider, ask about interactions, and make sure your plan fits your body and life stage. Becoming the CEO of your own health starts with refusing silent suffering.  

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