I AM YOU
Dr Nitza Alvarez, a board-certified cardiologist and best-selling author, is sharing stories of women who speak up and become the CEO of their own health. For more information, visit NitzaMD.com
I AM YOU
Why Hot Flashes May Be a Warning Sign for Your Heart – I AM YOU – Ep. 65
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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 to help women 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 episode, Dr. Alvarez takes on one of the most common yet misunderstood symptoms women experience during perimenopause and menopause: hot flashes and night sweats. What many dismiss as just a frustrating sleep disruption may actually be an important physiologic signal that the body is going through a major hormonal and cardiovascular transition.
Dr. Alvarez explains how fluctuating estrogen levels can disrupt the brain’s temperature regulation system, triggering sudden night sweats and hot flashes — and why those symptoms matter beyond comfort. She connects the dots between hormonal shifts, sleep disruption, rising stress hormones, blood pressure changes, cholesterol patterns, and long-term heart health.
With clarity and urgency, she breaks down:
• Why hot flashes and night sweats are not “just part of getting older”
• How estrogen changes affect the nervous system, vascular system, and cardiovascular risk
• Why poor sleep during this transition can have a ripple effect on metabolism, energy, weight, and heart health
• The myths women are often told about vasomotor symptoms — and what is actually true
• Why hormone replacement therapy may be an important treatment option for many women, when guided by the right clinician
• What minimum testing women should discuss with their doctor, including a lipid panel, blood pressure monitoring, and thyroid testing
This episode is a reminder that your body is not failing — it is communicating. Hot flashes may be more than an inconvenience. They may be one of the early warning signs that it is time to pay attention, ask questions, and take action. Because protecting your heart starts with listening to your body — and becoming the CEO of your own health.
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