The Med Edit Podcast

When Periods Pause: Understanding Hypothalamic Amenorrhea with The Period Nutritionist Cynthia Donovan (Ep. 52)

In this episode of The Med Edit Podcast, Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell shine a light on a condition that affects countless women — but is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed entirely: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA). HA occurs when the brain senses that the body isn’t in a safe or nourished enough state to sustain a menstrual cycle. It accounts for nearly 30% of secondary amenorrhea in reproductive-age women, yet many don’t realize their missing period is a medical red flag, not an inconvenience. To break it all down, we’re joined by Cynthia Donovan, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Health Coach, founder of Recipe for a Period, and host of The Period Recovery Podcast. Known online as The Period Nutritionist, Cynthia specializes in helping women restore their periods through nutrition, mindset, and sustainable lifestyle changes. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: 1️⃣ What Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Is How the hypothalamus controls reproduction Why periods stop when the brain perceives stress or energy deficiency Common misconceptions (no — this isn’t an “ovary problem”) 2️⃣ What Causes HA Low energy availability (undereating, overtraining, or both) Psychological stress, burnout, chronic pressure Perfectionism and “wellness culture” influences Why body size alone does not determine who gets HA 3️⃣ HA vs. PCOS — What’s the Difference? Why missing periods should never be ignored How to distinguish between two commonly confused conditions Why identifying the root cause is essential for long-term health 4️⃣ Health Consequences of HA Missing your period affects far more than fertility. Cynthia highlights risks like: Bone loss and osteoporosis Low hormone levels Metabolic changes Thyroid disruption Mood and energy impacts 5️⃣ The Path to Recovery Increasing energy intake Reducing high-intensity exercise Rest and nervous system regulation Breaking perfectionistic or restrictive habits How to “redefine health” outside of diet culture 6️⃣ What Period Recovery Looks Like Cynthia shares: Nutrition strategies for restoring a healthy cycle Day-to-day adjustments clients make What realistic timelines look like How her programs support women through the process 7️⃣ Fact or Mis(information) Rapid-fire myth-busting on: “Losing your period is normal if you’re fit.” “Only underweight women get HA.” “Your period returns immediately once you eat more.” “HA only impacts reproductive health.” RESOURCES MENTIONED * Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline on HA * Cleveland Clinic: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Guide * PMC Articles on HA & metabolic impacts * @period.nutritionist on Instagram or through this link: https://www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist?igsh=MXJsNGlkZXh0OXJxaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/period.nutritionist?igsh=MXJsNGlkZXh0OXJxaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] * The Period Recovery Podcast Continuing Medical Education (CME) Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening! https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal Connect with us! https://themededitpodcast.com/ Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/ Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/ LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/

Heart Smart: Cardio Myths, Prevention & Metabolic Health with Dr. Kelly Ratheal (Ep. 51)

Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S., responsible for 1 in 5 deaths — yet heart health remains one of the most misunderstood topics in modern medicine. In this episode of The Med Edit Podcast, Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell sit down with board-certified cardiologist Dr. Kelly Ratheal to bust viral cardio myths, decode prevention strategies, and explain what your social media feed gets wrong about heart disease. From red wine rumors to “artery detoxes” and supplement scams, this episode separates real cardiovascular science from noisy wellness trends — while giving you practical, evidence-based ways to protect your heart today. MEET OUR GUEST: DR. KELLY RATHEAL (Board-Certified Cardiologist • Preventive Cardiology • Cardio-Metabolic Medicine) Dr. Ratheal specializes in early identification and prevention of cardiovascular disease through lifestyle optimization, advanced lipid testing, genetics, and metabolic health. She brings a holistic but firmly evidence-based approach to preventing the #1 killer of men and women. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: 1️⃣ UNDERSTANDING THE MODERN HEART * What preventive cardiology is — and why it matters * Why heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined * When young adults should start caring about their risk * What “cardio-metabolic health” actually means 2️⃣ VIRAL HEART HEALTH CLAIMS: FACT OR MIS? Dr. Ratheal tackles the biggest myths circulating online: * “You can detox your arteries.” * “Red wine is good for your heart.” * “Supplements can reverse plaque.” * “Women don’t need to worry until menopause.” * “Cholesterol doesn’t matter anymore.” * “Too much cardio is bad for your heart.” (Spoiler: the internet is wild.) 3️⃣ THE HEART–METABOLISM CONNECTION * Insulin resistance and inflammation as silent drivers of heart disease * Why only 6.8% of U.S. adults meet all five markers of optimal metabolic health * The role of sleep, stress, hormones, and visceral fat * Why “normal” labs don’t always equal healthy 4️⃣ WHAT ACTUALLY PREVENTS HEART DISEASE * Lifestyle changes proven to reduce cardiovascular mortality * How even 5–10% weight loss improves lipids and insulin sensitivity * When medications like statins or GLP-1s are appropriate * Why women’s symptoms are often missed or misdiagnosed * How social media can be used for good in heart health education KEY REFERENCES (Provided in the episode research) * CDC Heart Disease Facts, 2024 * American Heart Association: 2024 Heart Disease & Stroke Update * JAMA: Metabolic Health in U.S. Adults (2019–2022) * NIH: Women & Heart Disease CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening! https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal   CONNECT WITH US! https://themededitpodcast.com/ Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/ Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/ LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/ LISTEN NOW Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms. CME available — see show notes for details.

Tiny Beginnings: How Medicine Saves the Tiniest Lives (Ep.50)

Premature birth is one of the toughest starts a newborn can face — and one of the greatest success stories in modern medicine. In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month, Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell explore the science, survival, and humanity behind preterm birth with expert neonatologist Dr. Jennifer Palarczyk, faculty member at UT Health San Antonio. With 1 in 10 babies worldwide born too early, this episode sheds light on the causes, risks, groundbreaking advancements, and the incredible resilience of these tiny fighters. WHAT PREMATURITY REALLY MEANS * The medical definition of preterm birth (before 37 weeks) * Categories: late preterm, very preterm, and extremely preterm * Why every week in the womb matters for lung, brain, and temperature regulation development * Rising prematurity rates and what’s driving the increase WHY BABIES COME EARLY * Known medical causes: infections, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, multiples * Nearly 50% of cases have no clear cause (“spontaneous preterm labor”) * Maternal health factors, prenatal care access, chronic stress, and systemic inequities * Why Black women face disproportionately higher preterm birth rates INSIDE THE NICU A behind-the-scenes look into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit — where micro-preemies weighing barely a pound fight for survival. Dr. Palarczyk breaks down: * Surfactant therapy and why it changed neonatal survival forever * How incubators mimic the womb * Kangaroo care and the emotional side of NICU parenting * The stunning statistic: Babies born at 26 weeks now survive at 86% in the U.S. BREAKTHROUGHS IN NEONATAL MEDICINE * Synthetic surfactant therapy and lung development * Incubator evolution (including their bizarre beginnings at Coney Island sideshows!) * The promise of artificial wombs * The crucial role of human donor milk AFTER THE NICU: WHAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE Short-term risks discussed: * RDS, apnea, hypoglycemia, NEC, IVH, infection risk, jaundice Long-term considerations: * Motor and language delays * Cerebral palsy * Chronic lung disease * Sensory impairments * Higher adulthood risk of hypertension, diabetes, & heart disease Yet — the majority of premature infants go on to live healthy, normal lives. WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS Premature birth is emotional. Complex. Full of fear and hope. This episode honors families, NICU staff, and the incredible resilience of premature babies — while highlighting the science that saves lives every day. RESOURCES MENTIONED * WHO: Preterm Birth * Cleveland Clinic: Premature Birth Overview * Columbia Surgery: History of Incubators * American Pregnancy Association: Complications * March of Dimes – Prematurity Awareness CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening! https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal   CONNECT WITH US! https://themededitpodcast.com/ Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/ Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/ LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/

Filtering the Facts: Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease and Polycystic Kidney Disease (Ep.49)

This week on The Med Edit Podcast, Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell tackle one of medicine’s most overlooked yet widespread health issues: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Affecting roughly 1 in 7 adults in the U.S., CKD is a silent epidemic — often undetected until it reaches advanced stages. To help separate myth from medicine, they’re joined by Dr. Ashley Garcia-Everett, a board-certified nephrologist, Associate Professor at UT Health San Antonio, and Medical Director at one of University Hospital’s dialysis centers. Together, they break down what kidney disease actually is, how it develops, and what you can do to protect your kidneys long before symptoms start. Later in the episode, the doctors dive into Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) — one of the most common inherited kidney disorders — exploring how genetics, screening, and new therapies like tolvaptan are changing outcomes for families affected by the disease. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: What CKD Really Means * How kidneys act as your body’s filters — and what happens when they start to fail * Why diabetes and high blood pressure account for 2/3 of CKD cases * The 5 stages of kidney disease and how eGFR testing works Prevention and Early Detection * What symptoms to look for (and why most people miss them) * The simple blood and urine tests that can catch CKD early * How lifestyle changes — like managing blood sugar and blood pressure — can slow progression Nutrition & Lifestyle * What a “kidney-friendly diet” looks like * Common habits that harm kidney function — including overusing NSAIDs * Why staying hydrated in moderation matters Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) * The difference between autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive PKD * How cysts form and why family history is key to early screening * The latest treatments, including tolvaptan, and when dialysis or transplant may become necessary MYTH-BUSTING SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS * “Just drink more water and your kidneys will be fine.” * “Only older people get kidney disease.” * “You’ll always know if something’s wrong.” . * “Kidney teas can prevent or reverse CKD.” * RESOURCES MENTIONED * National Kidney Foundation – CKD Overview [https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd] * American Kidney Fund – CKD Stages [https://www.kidneyfund.org/all-about-kidneys/stages-kidney-disease] * PKD Foundation [https://pkdcure.org/about-the-disease/] * NIH – Polycystic Kidney Disease Research [https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd] KEY TAKEAWAYS * CKD is common but preventable — early screening is everything. * Polycystic Kidney Disease may be inherited, but knowledge empowers prevention and treatment. * Lifestyle, medication, and education are your strongest tools for kidney health. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening! https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal https://media.blubrry.com/3214432/content.blubrry.com/3214432/Episode_49-Handout.pdf   CONNECT WITH US! https://themededitpodcast.com/ Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/ Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/ LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/

Cryptic Conditions: Some Diagnoses Are Stranger Than Fiction (Ep. 48)

This Halloween, The Med Edit Podcast brings you a spine-tingling medical special! Join Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell as they uncover the eerie side of evidence-based medicine — real-life conditions that inspired some of the world’s most famous myths. From “vampires” and “werewolves” to “corpses that rise again,” these cases prove that truth can be far stranger (and scarier) than fiction. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: Case 1: The Woman Who Couldn’t Step Into the Light A modern-day “vampire”? Discover the truth behind porphyria, a rare metabolic disorder that once inspired centuries of blood-drinking folklore. Case 2: The Corpse That Moved A 91-year-old woman declared dead suddenly woke up in a morgue — all thanks to accidental hypothermia and the body’s shocking ability to survive extreme cold. Case 3: When the Body Turns Against You Meet a teenager “allergic” to water. Aquagenic urticaria is so rare that fewer than 50 cases exist worldwide — and every drop feels like fire. Case 4: The Man of the Woods The “werewolf” of Renaissance Europe wasn’t a monster — he had hypertrichosis, a rare genetic condition that causes excessive hair growth across the entire body. AND MORE! WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS EPISODE: * It’s spooky and smart — medical mysteries that sound like horror stories but are grounded in science. * Perfect for Halloween or anyone fascinated by the strange, rare, and unbelievable in medicine. * Real lessons in diagnosis, physiology, and how folklore and fear once filled the gaps before modern medicine. RESOURCES MENTIONED: * Mayo Clinic: Porphyria Overview [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/porphyria/symptoms-causes/syc-20356066] * Johns Hopkins: Therapeutic Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest [https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/therapeutic-hypothermia-after-cardiac-arrest] * Allergy & Asthma Network: Aquagenic Urticaria [https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/chronic-urticaria/aquagenic-urticaria/#:~:text=Aquagenic%20urticaria] * USA Today: The Real “Werewolf Syndrome” Outbreak [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/08/28/what-werewolf-syndrome-outbreak-afflicted-babies-spain/2139900001/] KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Sometimes, medical conditions create legends. * The line between myth and medicine is thinner than you think. * Always rewarm before you pronounce — and never underestimate the human body’s resilience. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening! https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal https://media.blubrry.com/3214432/content.blubrry.com/3214432/Episode_48-Handout.pdf [https://media.blubrry.com/3214432/content.blubrry.com/3214432/Episode_48-Handout.pdf]   CONNECT WITH US! https://themededitpodcast.com/ Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/ Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/ LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/ LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/