by Lael Luedtke, MD

This is our third article on hormone replacement for women in peri-menopause and menopause. We’ve worked to dispel common misconceptions and provide some nuance to a topic that is too often oversimplified in social media and influencer babble. The primary message of this series is that the hormonal changes as women age are complex and warrant using all the available tools in a thoughtful, deliberate fashion. In this article, let’s delve more deeply into the other two hormones mentioned, progesterone and testosterone.

by Jen Ahlberg, PhD

Any doctor will tell you that a prescription is only as good as the diagnosis it’s meant to treat. Why do we exercise? Most people train for the next three months. At Astride, we train for the next ten, twenty, or thirty years. To do this, we use a technique called Backcasting. Instead of looking at where you are today and trying to "get a little fitter," we start at the finish line – what a member wants to be doing 20 or 30 years down the road – and work backward.

by Chuck Svendsen, MD

In my own career, I was so busy trying to ensure I was financially successful that I fell into the same trap as many other professionals. I was ignoring my own health. When I turned 50, I woke up to the problem that I had created. So did I hire a health advisor? It turns out that isn’t so easy. Yes, I have a primary physician, but corporate medicine isn’t set up to design a personalized strategy. A 15-20 minute visit once a year just isn’t sufficient. I determined I needed to stop ignoring my own health and get a plan in place.

By Jen Ahlberg, PhD

If there were a pill that could reduce your risk of heart disease by 40%, slash your risk of type 2 diabetes by 50%, and significantly lower your chances of depression and dementia — all with zero negative side effects — it would be the most profitable drug in human history. Your doctor would be negligent not to prescribe it. Yet, this "miracle drug" already exists. It’s called exercise. It’s time we stop viewing the gym as a hobby and start viewing it as the most powerful pharmacy on the planet.

By Lael Luedtke, MD

As was discussed in our previous post, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), treats more than hot flashes and night sweats, and it involves more than estrogen. However, estrogen is the foundational hormone to address the myriad manifestations of menopause and is available commercially in many forms, so we will start here. Individual goals and needs are the most important determinants of the “best” option for any woman. 

by Lael Luedtke, MD

Menopause and its associated impacts on women’s health have finally emerged from the darkness in the last few years.  For generations, menopause has been seen as an inevitable event that must be endured. Now “the change” is recognized, discussed and investigated for the dramatic impact it has on the well-being of women as they age.  You’ve probably heard it discussed in podcasts. You might have seen well funded start-up businesses focusing on menopause treatment. But what does the science tell us about what is effective to help women navigate this change? 

by Chuck Svendsen, MD

I have a prescription that I give to all my patients, and it's quite remarkable. Here are some of the statistics around it. This treatment is just as effective as any of the medications currently available for heart failure, prediabetes, and coronary artery disease.¹ It has also been found to be markedly superior to blood thinners in the treatment of stroke rehabilitation.  Additionally, it has been shown to yield a consistent 50% reduction in all-cause mortality when comparing individuals that take it with those who do not.² So, what is this miracle drug? If you haven't already guessed, it's exercise.

by Jen Ahlberg, PhD

We’ve all been there. It’s January 1st (or a random Monday), and you’re ready to make big changes. You bought the new shoes, prepped the meals, and promised yourself that this time is the time.