Lipoprotein(a) & Menopause: The Hidden Heart Risk Marker
Unpack how hormones, genetics, inflammation, and aging intersect to influence heart health and longevity.
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): Symptoms, IBS, POTS & Why It’s Often Missed
Explore how mast cells and histamine sensitivity can drive symptoms across multiple systems
Lipoprotein(a) & Menopause: The Hidden Heart Risk Marker
Unpack how hormones, genetics, inflammation, and aging intersect to influence heart health and longevity.
What role does lipoprotein(a) play in women’s heart health during menopause — and can hormone therapy actually protect the cardiovascular system? In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson is joined by Dr. Regina Druz for an eye-opening conversation about longevity, cardiovascular risk, menopause, and the evolving science behind lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a).
“Women are being offered hormone replacement therapy in a very narrow-minded kind of half-truth way. They’re told it will protect their heart, their blood vessels, and their brain — but we actually don’t know if starting hormones protects women’s cardiovascular health.” — Dr. Regina Druz
Together, they break down why Lp(a) is considered a major genetic risk factor for heart disease, how menopause and pregnancy can influence levels, and why current research on hormone replacement therapy and cardiovascular protection remains complex. The discussion also explores ApoB, coronary calcium scoring, genetics, inflammation, supplements, statins, PCSK9 inhibitors like Repatha, and emerging therapies that may reshape the future of preventive cardiology.
Watch The Conversation!
What role does lipoprotein(a) play in women’s heart health during menopause — and can hormone therapy actually protect the cardiovascular system? In this episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson is joined by Dr. Regina Druz for an eye-opening conversation about longevity, cardiovascular risk, menopause, and the evolving science behind lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a).
“Women are being offered hormone replacement therapy in a very narrow-minded kind of half-truth way. They’re told it will protect their heart, their blood vessels, and their brain — but we actually don’t know if starting hormones protects women’s cardiovascular health.” — Dr. Regina Druz
“Women are being offered hormone replacement therapy in a very narrow-minded kind of half-truth way. They’re told it will protect their heart, their blood vessels, and their brain — but we actually don’t know if starting hormones protects women’s cardiovascular health.” — Dr. Regina Druz
If you’re a woman navigating perimenopause or menopause and want a deeper understanding of cholesterol, cardiovascular prevention, and longevity-focused health strategies, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed insights to help you make more empowered decisions about your long-term health.
Quotes:
- “Women are being offered hormone replacement therapy in a very narrow-minded kind of half-truth way. They’re told it will protect their heart, their blood vessels, and their brain — but we actually don’t know if starting hormones protects women’s cardiovascular health.” — Dr. Regina Druz
- “If you’re having so much musculoskeletal pain that you stop exercising, and my giving you estrogen improves your quality of life and gets you back to the gym, then I’m giving you a net good. But there’s still a lot of nuance, and we still need more research in women.” — Dr. Polly Watson
- “Oral estradiol lowers lipoprotein(a), but it also increases triglycerides, increases inflammatory markers, and creates a more prothrombotic state. So yes, it lowers the lab value — but it may also create the very environment we’re trying to avoid.” — Dr. Regina Druz
Resources:
Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer
Meet the host!
She looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you to help find a solution to address the imbalance in your system and restore your health.
Meet the Guest Speaker!
Dr. Regina Druz is not just a cardiologist – she’s a trailblazer in the movement toward precision-based, longevity-focused medicine. As CEO and founder of Holistic Heart Centers™, she is redefining heart health through a cutting-edge fusion of integrative cardiology, functional medicine, and digital innovation. With a medical degree from Cornell University, board certification in cardiology, and advanced training in functional medicine, Dr. Druz brings scientific depth and systems-thinking to every patient encounter. Her proprietary program, Fit in Your GENES®, personalizes care through genetic and metabolic profiling, offering clients a transformative roadmap to vitality and healthspan extension.
After earning a dual Executive MBA and Master of Health Policy and Research from Cornell, she went on to lead value-based cardiology transformation at the national level. Today, she applies that strategic vision to build scalable models of care that are personalized, proactive, and precision-driven. Dr. Druz is driven by data, powered by purpose, and rooted in compassion.
I help patients and healthcare systems move beyond risk management to true health optimization.
Meet the host!
She looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you to help find a solution to address the imbalance in your system and restore your health.
Meet the Guest!
Dr. Regina Druz is not just a cardiologist – she’s a trailblazer in the movement toward precision-based, longevity-focused medicine. As CEO and founder of Holistic Heart Centers™, she is redefining heart health through a cutting-edge fusion of integrative cardiology, functional medicine, and digital innovation. With a medical degree from Cornell University, board certification in cardiology, and advanced training in functional medicine, Dr. Druz brings scientific depth and systems-thinking to every patient encounter. Her proprietary program, Fit in Your GENES®, personalizes care through genetic and metabolic profiling, offering clients a transformative roadmap to vitality and healthspan extension.
After earning a dual Executive MBA and Master of Health Policy and Research from Cornell, she went on to lead value-based cardiology transformation at the national level. Today, she applies that strategic vision to build scalable models of care that are personalized, proactive, and precision-driven. Dr. Druz is driven by data, powered by purpose, and rooted in compassion.
