If you've been handed a blood pressure prescription and no explanation, this conversation will change what you ask at your next appointment.
In this episode, Katie sits down with Mark Young, PhD, CEO of Zona and host of the Age Defiantly podcast, to talk about why heart health stops being a men's issue somewhere around age 45. They get into what happens to your blood vessels when estrogen production drops, why hypertension became its own diagnosis instead of a clue, and how the same root-cause thinking Katie uses for skin applies to your heart. From protein folding and why every drug label says "side effects may include," to the isometric hand grip research that came out of a US Air Force study on fighter pilots, Mark connects dots most people never see connected. If you've ever been told something is just part of getting older, this one's for you.
In This Episode We Cover
- Why estrogen is one of the body's primary vasodilators and what happens to your blood vessels when production drops in perimenopause.
- How the same blood flow restriction that men act on immediately gets quietly accepted by women as normal aging.
- Why only about 10 percent of the body's proteins have been mapped, and what that means for the phrase "side effects may include."
- How hypertension became an insurance billing code, and why that single change stopped clinicians from looking upstream.
- The three-part mechanism behind isometric hand grip work: nitric oxide release, sodium to stop muscle spasm, and potassium to soften the endothelium.
- Why the endothelium behaves like a sponge, and what a hardened one does to your body's ability to regulate pressure.
Connect with Mark
What is Keep It Clear?
Struggling with acne, hormones, or gut issues that no one seems to explain in plain English? Keep It Clear is the podcast that cuts through the noise. ✨
Hosted by Registered Holistic Nutritionists and acne experts Katie Stewart and Cris Brown, who've helped 3,000+ clients across 15+ countries clear their skin from the inside out.
Every episode breaks down what your skin and body actually need, across the 5 things that drive breakouts: gut health, detoxification, hormonal balance, nervous system regulation, and nourishing skincare. You'll get practical tips, real client stories, and clinical answers to the questions you've been Googling at 1am. 💜
Because clear isn't just about your skin. It's about feeling confident, balanced, and aligned in every part of your health.
In a world that makes women's health way too complicated, this show keeps it simple: clear skin, clear body, clear mind, clear life. Tune in and let's Keep It Clear.
(Formerly The Clear Skin Chronicles.)
💻 Website: katiestewartwellness.com
📱 Instagram: @katiestewartwellness