Time and again I am asked “what should I be doing for exercise during Menopause?” Bone loading and cardio…. it is simple! So if you just want to stay healthy, read on…….. I really hate when PT’s throw into the mix that you should only be doing low level exercise, or just HIIT with this or that. Come on!! Our … Read More
An Interview with Meg Mathews, founder of Megsmenopause
For me it all started on 1st January 2016. I just remember waking up that day and feeling completely out of sorts. The worst part was that I had no idea what was going on or what was happening to me. I have a furniture company and my business partners phoned to tell me that our new collection was now … Read More
Oestrogen – why losing it during menopause is so important
From puberty oestrogen has a key role in our lives. Not only does it govern our reproductive system – it also affects our mood, appetite and energy. But, it also has a powerful protective impact on our cardiovascular system, keeping women’s risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) significantly lower than men’s, for our first 50–60 years. But…when our natural levels of … Read More
The risks of a fluctuating blood pressure
For years it was thought that the greatest risk for stroke and heart disease was from consistently high blood pressure; however, evidence in recent years has suggested the real risk lies in how dramatically blood pressure varies from hour to hour and day to day[1]. Experts recently revealed that those who suffer large blood pressure variations could even be at … Read More
Heart health wake-up call
With Cardiovascular Disease still the number one killer worldwide, it’s shocking to me that people don’t consider their heart health until half way through their lives – with 1 in 10 actually admitting that they won’t think about their heart until they are over 60. Especially since the heart is the body’s hardest working organ – pumping blood that delivers critical nutrients and oxygen to every cell.
How Carrie Fisher’s tragic death is helping educate other women on the risk of heart disease
With the sad news that Carrie Fisher (better known as Princess Leia from Star Wars) suffered a heart attack on a transatlantic fight during the Christmas period and died just days later, fortunately media are now rallying to raise awareness amongst women of the threat of heart disease. Interestingly, although the risk of cardiovascular disease increases for everyone as they get older, the increase is more age-dependent in women.
Pregnancy, Periods & Menopause: why women should protect their heart health
Whilst many take blood flow for granted, and think that if their heart is pumping then their blood must be circulating smoothly too, this is NOT always the case and the simple truth is that women’s blood flow is more prone to problems than men.
How cold weather can affect blood circulation and cardiovascular health – the chilling facts
With snow finally falling in parts of UK, many are feeling cold to their core but what most people don’t know is that cold weather can actually bring more than a chill to their bones. Cold weather can impact how blood flows around ones body and can raise the risk of a heart attack.
One in ten healthy Brits take aspirin as a blood ‘thinner’ – despite side effects & against medical guidelines
Recent research reveals that one in ten of us – or nearly 3 million people over 45 – take low dose aspirin daily as a blood thinner, ’just in case’, although they are not at high risk of a cardiovascular event. All this, whilst worldwide clinical guidelines have advised for years that healthy people (those not at high risk of CVD) should not be taking aspirin as a preventative, as the risk of side effects outweighs the benefits.
Cardiovascular disease proving a greater risk in people aged over 40, as the body’s natural cardioprotection decreases
Our bodies naturally produce chemicals which help to keep our platelets under control and circulating smoothly. The most potent of these is an important molecule called nitric oxide (NO). NO is responsible for calming blood platelets, which allows blood to circulate smoothly and keeps blood vessels relaxed, which also controls blood pressure. Unfortunately, from the age of 40 NO production decreases, and the natural cardioprotection it gives us decreases too.