Julie (00:40)
Hi everyone, it's Julie. Before we dive into our exciting February lineup, I wanna take a moment to thank each and every one of you who has been supporting this podcast by listening, downloading episodes, and sharing them with your friends and family. Your engagement means the world to us, and it's because of you that we can continue bringing important health conversations to our generation. As we kick off February, which is American Heart Month, you might be wondering why we're dedicating our entire lineup to heart health. After all, isn't that something we worry about after 50?
The Importance of Heart Health in Youth (01:09)
Well, here's something that might surprise you. The trajectory of our heart health is actually set decades before any problems show up. The choices that we make about our diet, exercise, drinking, and smoking in our 20s, 30s, and 40s aren't just about feeling good now. They're literally programming our heart's future. Let me share a fascinating piece of medical history that revolutionized how we think about heart disease. Back in 1953, three Army pathologists made a discovery that shook the medical community.
While treating Korean War casualties, they found something unexpected. These young soldiers, averaging just 22 years old, already showed signs of advanced atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries. Published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association, this study completely transformed our understanding of heart disease. At a time when risk factors were barely understood, the idea that our youth lifestyle could impact middle-aged health seemed impossible. Yet, here was the proof.
Now let's talk about what's coming up this month. In episode seven, we're tackling a trending concern in our generation, rising cholesterol levels. We're seeing a concerning pattern where millennials, even those with healthy diets and regular exercise routines, are watching their cholesterol numbers tick up in their mid-30s and continuing to rise into their early 40s.
Dr. Garrett Ruth, a millennial cardiologist from South Carolina, will join us to demystify statins
and walk us through the preventative screenings you need to have on your radar. Dr. Ruth will be back for our Mental Health Monday special in episode eight, where we'll dive deep into the stress heart connection. We're going beyond the generic stress is bad advice to explore the actual mechanisms by which stress affects your heart. You'll learn the crucial difference between chronic and acute stress, understand their long-term implications, and discover evidence-based strategies that really work to protect your heart from stress effects.
Other episodes coming up this month (03:00)
For our research-minded listeners, episode nine is going to be especially valuable. Melissa will be drawing from her years in public health and health behavior research to equip you with practical tools and evaluate health studies critically. We'll examine real studies published just this year that directly impact millennial health, and she'll show you how to spot credible research when you see it in the media or during your own research. We're also featuring some powerful personal stories. In episode 11, Ben Freeberg from Oncology Ventures in New York
We'll share his inspiring cancer survivor story. Then in episode 12, we're partnering with Fight CRC to preview their 2025 call on Congress event in Washington, DC. Ben White, a young onset colorectal cancer survivor and federal policy manager from Alexandria, Virginia, will join us to discuss the incredible advocacy event that brings together survivors, caregivers, and advocates from across the country. We'll explore how you can get involved in improving care and diagnosis for early onset colorectal cancer, a growing concern for our generation.
We'll wrap up the month with essential insights on self-advocacy in episode 13, featuring Dr. Jessica Gray, a millennial family medicine physician from Lubbock, Texas. She'll share specific questions you should be asking at doctor's appointments and provide practical strategies for being your own best advocate in the healthcare system, with a special focus on the unique challenges faced by millennial women.
Empowerment Through Knowledge and Advocacy (04:26)
This February is all about empowering you with knowledge and practical tools to take control of your health journey. Stay tuned and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join our community on social media for extended conversations about each episode.