Women's Heart Disease: Why Symptoms Get Missed and What Menopause Changes | Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum

Concerned about your heart health, high cholesterol, or changes during menopause? Explore hol+ cardiovascular health services to learn about personalized care, advanced cardiovascular testing, and preventive support for your long-term heart health. Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, yet many women still consider breast cancer their greatest health threat. Why is the leading cause of death among women so frequently overlooked? Dr. Taz welcomes preventive cardiologist and women's heart health advocate Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum to explore why cardiovascular disease remains underrecognized in women, how symptoms can be missed or dismissed, and what women need to know to protect their hearts. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in preventive cardiology, Dr. Steinbaum shares the patient encounter that changed the direction of her career: a 53-year-old woman whose symptoms were initially diagnosed as a stomach illness before she suffered a heart attack. She explains how decades of cardiovascular research focused primarily on men have contributed to gaps in understanding women's heart disease, and why conventional risk assessments may not capture the full picture. Their conversation explores how heart disease can develop differently in women, particularly in the smaller blood vessels of the heart. Dr. Steinbaum explains coronary microvascular disease, why symptoms such as chest discomfort, palpitations, and shortness of breath may be mistaken for anxiety, and how certain cardiovascular conditions can be difficult to detect through conventional testing. They also discuss emerging diagnostic technologies, including AI-assisted coronary CT imaging, and the importance of looking beyond standard cholesterol numbers. Dr. Taz and Dr. Steinbaum examine the connection between menopause, declining estrogen, and cardiovascular health. As women transition through perimenopause and menopause, changes in cholesterol, insulin resistance, and blood vessel function can influence their risk. They discuss why hormone therapy alone is not necessarily the answer, and how pregnancy complications, autoimmune conditions, family history, and inflammation can provide important clues about a woman's cardiovascular health. The conversation also turns to chronic stress and the invisible load many women carry. Dr. Taz shares her husband's experience of having a heart attack at 41, while Dr. Steinbaum explains how stress hormones can influence blood pressure, inflammation, and arterial function. Together, they explore why high-achieving women often normalize exhaustion and physical symptoms, the importance of managing stress, and how practices such as meditation and movement may support cardiovascular well-being. Dr. Steinbaum offers practical guidance on becoming a better advocate for your heart health, including which risk factors to discuss with your doctor, when further evaluation may be appropriate, and why cardiovascular exercise remains essential alongside strength training. Her message is that protecting your heart starts with understanding your personal health history, recognizing changes in your body, and taking an active role in prevention. IN THIS EPISODE Why heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women How decades of male-focused cardiovascular research have affected women's care The differences between heart disease in men and women Why women's heart symptoms can be mistaken for anxiety Coronary microvascular disease and why it can be difficult to detect The limitations of conventional heart screenings and risk assessments How menopause and declining estrogen affect cholesterol, metabolism, and arterial health Pregnancy complications, autoimmune conditions, and other overlooked cardiovascular risk factors The role of inflammation, chronic stress, and cortisol in heart health Why high-achieving women often overlook their own physical symptoms AI-assisted cardiovascular imaging and emerging diagnostic technologies Blood tests and cardiovascular markers, including ApoB and Lp(a) How to advocate for yourself when symptoms persist despite normal test results The relationship between stress, emotional health, and heart disease Why cardiovascular exercise is still important alongside strength training Practical steps women can take to support lifelong heart health EXPLORE HOL+ SERVICES Learn about hol+'s approach to cardiovascular health, preventive testing, and personalized care: https://holplus.co/services/cardiovascular-health/ ABOUT DR. SUZANNE STEINBAUM Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is a preventive cardiologist, author, and women's heart health advocate with more than two decades of clinical experience. She has served as Director of Women's Cardiovascular Prevention, Health and Wellness at Mount Sinai Hospital and Director of Women and Heart Disease at Lenox Hill Hospital. She is the author of Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum's Heart Book: Every Woman's Guide to a Heart-Healthy Life and has appeared on Good Morning America and the Today Show. Her work focuses on prevention, lifestyle medicine, and helping women better understand their cardiovascular health. CONNECT WITH DR. SUZANNE STEINBAUM Official website: Learn more about her approach to preventive heart health: https://www.drsuzannesteinbaum.com/about CONNECT WITH HOL+ Follow the podcast for new episodes, and leave a review to help others discover the conversation. This episode is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical, mental health, or financial advice. Dr. Taz: https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/ Hol+: https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/ Hol+ Show: https://www.instagram.com/holplushow/ Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribe Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@HolPlusShow/podcasts Get your copy of ➡️ The Hormone Shift: https://amzn.to/44yYhZd Produced by https://ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)