The Tamsen Show — The Menopause Heart Doctor Reveals the 3 Warning Signs Doctors Dismiss
Host: Tamsen Fadal
Guest: Dr. Jane Morgan, Cardiologist
Date: September 17, 2025
Overview
In this episode, Tamsen Fadal sits down with Dr. Jane Morgan, a leading cardiologist and trailblazer in women’s heart health. Together, they address the under-recognized signs of heart disease in women—especially during menopause—and how systemic biases lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Morgan shares the three key heart warning signs often dismissed in women, discusses the crucial links between menopause and heart risk, and offers actionable advice on prevention, advocacy, and lifestyle changes. The conversation is candid, energetic, and empowering, offering a roadmap for women to take control of their heart health during midlife and beyond.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Why Women’s Heart Health Is an Urgent Issue
- Heart disease is the #1 killer of both men and women in the U.S., but women’s symptoms are less recognized and treated.
- Systemic social factors teach women to “suffer quietly” and doctors often view heart concerns through a male lens.
- “[Women are] taught socially to conform, be agreeable, suffer, don’t make noise... take care of yourself last.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [04:25]
- “[Women are] taught socially to conform, be agreeable, suffer, don’t make noise... take care of yourself last.”
- The average delay for women receiving heart attack care is 37 minutes, which can be fatal.
- “37 minutes of a delay...is a huge delay in getting life-saving therapies.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [12:06]
- “37 minutes of a delay...is a huge delay in getting life-saving therapies.”
The Three Warning Signs Doctors Dismiss in Women
- Nausea
- Chronic or recurring nausea that is “not normal.” Women often excuse it as indigestion or minor issues.
- “Nausea’s not normal. Ladies don’t tolerate nausea.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [13:26]
- Jaw Pain
- Commonly mistaken as dental pain, leading women to dentists instead of ERs.
- “Jaw pain is actually a very common symptom of heart disease. Women will often mistake it for tooth pain and see a dentist.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [01:46]; [13:26]; [15:06]
- Fatigue (Tiredness)
- Persistent tiredness is often normalized among women juggling multiple responsibilities.
- “We should not normalize being tired… If you are tired, see your doctor.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [13:26]
How Systemic Biases Delay Diagnosis
- Women’s symptoms are labeled “atypical,” leading to delays and downplayed urgency.
- “...the word atypical was a dismissive term that was relegated more to women.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [10:13]
- “...the word atypical was a dismissive term that was relegated more to women.”
- Doctor-patient biases: Even female doctors are mistaken as non-physicians by patients and colleagues.
- “They would ask when the doctor was coming. This is after I had done a complete physical exam.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [07:54]
- “They would ask when the doctor was coming. This is after I had done a complete physical exam.”
Menopause and Increased Heart Risk
- Menopause brings increased rates of hypertension, high cholesterol, weight gain, and sleep disorders—all risk factors for heart disease.
- Hot flashes are not trivial; they can signal “narrowing” of the carotid arteries (stroke risk).
- “Hot flashes are not ha ha. This is not funny. They are markers of an increased risk of heart disease, an increased risk of stroke.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [02:11], [21:46]
- “Hot flashes are not ha ha. This is not funny. They are markers of an increased risk of heart disease, an increased risk of stroke.”
- Research shows women with more frequent hot flashes have greater arterial narrowing and risk of stroke.
- “Those who had the most hot flashes had the most narrowing and greatest increase of stroke.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [22:07]
- “Those who had the most hot flashes had the most narrowing and greatest increase of stroke.”
Tracking and Managing Risk: Digital Health & Advocacy
- Remote health solutions (like apps for blood pressure monitoring) can help midlife women more effectively reduce risk by integrating health tracking into daily life.
- “...when midlife women are simply tracking their blood pressure with the app... the responsiveness is much better.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [18:37]
- “...when midlife women are simply tracking their blood pressure with the app... the responsiveness is much better.”
- Self-advocacy is crucial: If your doctor won’t discuss menopause or heart health seriously, find another provider.
- “If you have a physician...who’s unwilling...it may be time for you to transition to another doctor.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [28:30]
- “If you have a physician...who’s unwilling...it may be time for you to transition to another doctor.”
Practical Advice & Lifestyle Solutions
Movement Over Exercise
- Aim for 30 minutes of movement, five days a week, plus resistance training twice weekly.
- “I really prefer the word movement than exercise...Just move for 30 minutes.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [34:45]
- “I really prefer the word movement than exercise...Just move for 30 minutes.”
- Activities can include housework, gardening, walking—whatever gets you moving.
Food and Drink Guidelines
- Anti-inflammatory foods: Emphasize Mediterranean diet—colorful vegetables, beans, lean proteins.
- “Those are the kinds of foods you should be eating. Beautiful colors...it’s going to have a lot of antioxidants.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [50:39]
- “Those are the kinds of foods you should be eating. Beautiful colors...it’s going to have a lot of antioxidants.”
- Alcohol: No amount is heart-protective. Recommendations now lean towards zero alcohol for heart health.
- “No alcohol is what’s recommended because there is no amount of alcohol that is beneficial to the body.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [54:59]
- “No alcohol is what’s recommended because there is no amount of alcohol that is beneficial to the body.”
- Coffee & green tea: May be beneficial; energy drinks (especially with artificial sweeteners) and excess sugar should be avoided.
- “Coffee, especially black coffee, actually might have some beneficial effects on the heart.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [56:30]
- “Coffee, especially black coffee, actually might have some beneficial effects on the heart.”
Managing Other Key Risk Factors
- Sleep: Less than 5 hours per night raises heart risk.
- “Five hours is the cutoff between whether your risk of heart disease has increased or decreased.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [46:55]
- “Five hours is the cutoff between whether your risk of heart disease has increased or decreased.”
- Blood pressure, cholesterol, weight: Track and manage proactively, especially during midlife.
- Smoking: Must quit.
Special Focus: Black Women & Underrepresented Groups
- Black women face longer, more intense symptoms during menopause and are underrepresented in research.
- “...rampant with high blood pressure and cholesterol and then often as well live in communities where maybe there's not access to green space. We're not moving, we're not walking... there's that distrust [of the health system] that then leads to even poorer health outcomes.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [61:35]
- “...rampant with high blood pressure and cholesterol and then often as well live in communities where maybe there's not access to green space. We're not moving, we're not walking... there's that distrust [of the health system] that then leads to even poorer health outcomes.”
- Encourages participation in clinical trials to expand data and improve care for all populations.
- “I recommend everybody get involved in clinical trials because we must have data that is relevant to everyone.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [66:40]
- “I recommend everybody get involved in clinical trials because we must have data that is relevant to everyone.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Self-Advocacy:
“You must empower yourself and take charge of your health. Get good information, talk with your physician. If it’s not the right physician, move on and do it right away.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [68:07] -
On Delay in Care:
“There are seven days in the week and someday isn’t one of them."
— Dr. Jane Morgan quoting wisdom [68:38] -
On Systemic Medical Bias:
“Women’s health in the system is only valued in terms of reproduction... beyond that, we’re sort of dismissed.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [11:50] -
On Research and Innovation:
“It can’t be the same old thing again. The way we’ve done it doesn’t work. I don’t like the people who’ve been leading it. I don’t like the people who’ve created these guidelines. They haven’t included you, they haven’t included me.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [19:48] -
Personal Experience with Dismissal:
"I’m an actual cardiologist... started having palpitations... saw a cardiologist, had a full workup... was told I have mitral valve prolapse... sort of not a panicky person... I wasn’t really buying it, but I recognized, Ok, I’ve got mitral valve prolapse. But the palpitations were still there. Couldn’t figure it out. I just decided... I was going to have to live with it, right? This is how women are."
— Dr. Jane Morgan [38:42-40:30]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------|------------| | #1 Women & Heart Disease Intro | 01:31 | | Three key warning signs | 13:26 | | Biases and delays in women’s diagnoses | 09:30, 12:04| | Menopause & cardiovascular risk | 17:06, 21:46| | Hot flashes as risk indicator | 21:46-25:42| | Digital health and women’s blood pressure | 17:20-20:41| | Tips: Exercise, movement, and lifestyle | 33:19-36:51| | Sleep & heart disease | 46:51-48:26| | Racial disparities in menopause & heart risks | 58:03-65:43| | Food and drink for heart protection | 50:39-57:56| | Taking action: advocating and finding right care | 28:29-29:46, 68:01|
Conclusion: Takeaways
- Recognize symptoms: Nausea, jaw pain, fatigue are not normal—act quickly.
- Menopause changes aren’t just “annoyances;” they can signal serious heart risks.
- Advocate for yourself: Seek out providers who listen and are informed.
- Monitor lifestyle risk factors immediately—don’t wait for a crisis.
- Representation in research matters for better, safer care for all populations.
Final Words:
“You must empower yourself and take charge of your health... There are seven days in the week and someday isn’t one of them.”
— Dr. Jane Morgan [68:07-68:38]
Follow Dr. Jane Morgan:
- Instagram: @doctorjanemorgan
- LinkedIn: Jane Morgan MD
- General content: Science, medicine, menopause, AI, and health advocacy.
This summary excludes advertisements, intros, and non-content sections, focusing solely on the episode’s educational core. For more, listen to the full episode or follow The Tamsen Show for regular expert conversations on midlife women’s health and reinvention.