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.”

• 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
• 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

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LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/

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.

(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.

• 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

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.)

• 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

• 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

(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

Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening!

https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal

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/

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

CME available — see show notes for details.

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.

• 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

• 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

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.

• 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

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.

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.

• WHO: Preterm Birth
• Cleveland Clinic: Premature Birth Overview
• Columbia Surgery: History of Incubators
• American Pregnancy Association: Complications
• March of Dimes – Prematurity Awareness

Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening!

https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal

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/