In todays Health Alert, heart disease remains the number one killer of women in the United States, yet many women still dont see it as their biggest health threat. The warning signs can look different than mens, and they can be easy to miss.

Ask Dr. Nandi: What are the heart disease warning signs women should look for?

Heart disease is often thought of as a mans disease. But the reality is, heart disease causes about one in five deaths among women in the U.S., and it affects women of all ages.

Now, one big reason its so dangerous is awareness. The CDC found that only about 56 percent of women realize heart disease is their top health risk. Many women worry about cancer, especially breast cancer, when, statistically, heart disease is far more likely to be deadly.

Another issue is how symptoms show up. For years, womens symptoms were called atypical, but thats misleading. Women are more than half the population, and their symptoms can look different. While men often describe crushing chest pain, women are 30% less likely to report it. Instead, it may feel like chest discomfort or pain in the neck, jaw, upper back, or arms. They may also have nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue that wont go away.

Because of that, women often wait longer to seek help. And even then, unfortunately, its not uncommon to be told their symptoms have nothing to do with their heart.

The American Heart Association has something called Lifes Essential 8, which focuses on protecting heart health. What I like about Lifes Essential 8 is that theyre great for both women and men.

First is eating better. That means focusing on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils.

Second is physical activity. Adults should aim for about two and a half hours of moderate exercise each week, or 75 minutes of more intense activity.

Third is quitting tobacco. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and greatly increases the risk of heart disease.

Next is sleep. Adults need seven to nine hours a night. Poor sleep affects blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammation - all major heart risks.

Then its about managing weight, controlling cholesterol, and keeping blood sugar and blood pressure in check. High blood pressure is especially dangerous for womens hearts and is often underdiagnosed.

So heres my advice. Women need to be strong advocates for their health. Bring questions to your doctor and discuss symptoms, even if they feel vague. If heart disease is a concern, ask about testing and follow-up.

In todays Health Alert, Americas Poison Centers says weather-related calls are rising nationwide, including carbon monoxide poisonings.  More than a quarter of the winter-related poison center calls involve children under the age of six.  The spike comes after last weekends winter storm, which led to power outages and unsafe heating conditions. 

What to know about keeping kids safe from carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is very dangerous. Since its colorless and odorless, people often dont realize its there until symptoms start. Poisoning happens when carbon monoxide builds up indoors, and too much is breathed in.

Children, especially babies and toddlers, are at higher risk because they breathe faster and absorb more carbon monoxide relative to their body weight.

Symptoms are often described as flu-like and include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, or confusion. People can pass out, lose consciousness, or even die from it.

Here in Michigan, roughly 800 people end up in emergency rooms every year because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Deaths can vary, but in 2023, 31 Michiganders died. Across the country, about 400 people die from CO poisoning each year.

Now, many cases happen between December and February, which makes sense. Exposure often happens during power outages or extreme cold, when people try to stay warm in unsafe ways. This includes running portable generators indoors or too close to the house, using grills or camp stoves inside, or relying on gas ovens and unvented space heaters for heat.

To treat carbon monoxide poisoning, doctors usually give pure oxygen through a mask at the hospital. In serious cases, patients may need a ventilator or an oxygen chamber.

As for prevention, every home should have carbon monoxide detectors on every level and near sleeping areas. If you can, choose a detector with a digital readout so you can see rising levels before they become dangerous. Test all detectors at least twice a year and change the batteries as needed. Replace the units according to the manufacturers instructions, or about every five years.

Also, have your heating systems, water heaters, and fuel-burning appliances serviced every year. And never use grills, camp stoves, or flameless heaters indoors. Portable generators should always be used outside never indoors, including inside garages, even with the garage door open. Generators should be at least 20 feet away from the home, with the exhaust directed away from all doors and windows.

If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, get to fresh air immediately and call 911 right away.

This Week on the Dr. Nandi Show

Join Dr. Partha Nandi, MD as he dives into hormone replacement therapy (HRT).  Discover how HRT can boost hormone levels and reduce bone fractures while also exploring the controversies and potential dangers.  Endocrinologist Dr. Abdul Al-Kassab joins Dr. Nandi to provide deeper insights and expert opinions on this hot topic.  Tune in this Sunday, February 1st, at 5 pm.

In todays Health Alert, if youve ever been told to bundle up or youll get sick, youre not alone. However, research shows that cold temperatures dont cause infections on their own. Instead, they influence factors that can make it easier to get infected.

Cold weather isn't the blame for making you sick, but here's how it plays a role

Its unfortunate, but cold and dry air does help germs live longer. Research shows viruses like the flu and coronaviruses stay infectious longer in colder, low-humidity conditions.

Its also very dry in winter, and that affects how respiratory droplets behave. When we talk, breathe, sneeze or cough, we release droplets, and these can quickly dry out and shrink. Smaller particles can hang in the air longer, leaving more chances for someone to breathe them in.

Plus, our defenses can be affected. Breathing in cold air cools the inside of your nose and airways, causing blood vessels to shrink. With less blood flow, immune cells dont work as well, making it easier for viruses to take hold before your body can fight them off.

On top of that, the mucus in our airways can also be affected by the cold. The job of mucus is to trap germs and move them out. But when it dries out, that system doesnt work as well.

So while cold air doesnt create viruses, it can give them an advantage once youre exposed.

In winter, with the cold temperatures and shorter days, people spend more time indoors and often close together. With windows closed and poor ventilation, virus-containing droplets can build up and linger longer in the air. We also get less sun exposure, which means less Vitamin D. This vitamin helps support the immune system, so low levels can make it harder to fight off germs.

So what can people do? Try improving indoor ventilation by opening windows for a few minutes each day. If its too cold, air purifiers with HEPA filters can help, or turn on exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to keep air moving. Keeping indoor humidity at a healthy level also helps keep airways moist and makes it harder for viruses to linger.

Of course, dont forget to wash your hands often, avoid touching your face and stay home when youre sick. Be sure to take care of your immune health with good sleep, balanced nutrition and talking with your health care provider about vitamin D if youre concerned.

Cold weather doesnt make you sick by itself. But it can set the stage for viruses to survive, spread and slip past our defenses.

In todays Health Alert, states across the country are dealing with what some are calling the super flu, and its driving record hospitalizations. Experts warn the season could get worse before it gets better.

So called 'super flu' driving record hospitalizations and worries it could get worse

This season is really hitting hard. At my practice, nurses and staff have been getting sick, and weve had patients reschedule due to the flu.

Nationwide, twenty-two states were reporting very high flu activity for the week ending January 3rd. Fourteen of those states, including Michigan, are at the most severe level. Some are being hit especially hard. For example, in Colorado, hospitalizations have reached the highest level in over 20 years, and about one in four flu tests come back positive.

Nationwide, weekly flu hospitalizations jumped 53% from the week before, and cumulative hospitalizations, which track the total rate for the season, rose 37%.

Here in Michigan, respiratory illnesses now make up more than 10% of outpatient visits, which is above the national average. We recorded more than 5,900 flu cases for the week ending January 3rd.

The CDC estimates at least 15 million illnesses, more than 180,000 hospitalizations, and over 7,400 deaths nationwide so far this season.

Super flu is not a medical term. We usually hear that phrase in tough flu seasons. This year, we have a new mutated H3N2 strain, called subclade K, and its spreading fast.

Symptoms can look like typical flu - fever, body aches, cough. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. But, doctors are seeing longer fevers lasting 3 to 5 days, and coughs that make breathing difficult. This can make people feel worse and raise the risk of hospitalization, with children and seniors especially vulnerable.

As for whether this season will get worse, nationwide flu test positivity rates are starting to ease after several weeks of surges. Michigan saw a slight dip in early January after six straight weeks of increases. But the virus is still very active, and flu can be unpredictable.

The good news is its not too late to get a flu shot. Even though subclade K wasnt included in the vaccine because it emerged after production began, research shows that protection against the subclade K strain rises from 11 percent to 39 percent after vaccination. Plus, the flu shot still covers other circulating strains, giving extra protection.

And as always, wash your hands, stay home if youre sick, and seek medical care if symptoms become severe - like dehydration, high fever, extreme fatigue, or trouble breathing.

This Week on the Dr. Nandi Show:

35% of women have experienced intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence, according to the World Health Organization. In this episode, Dr. Nandi discusses sexual violence, focusing on sex trafficking and rape. He speaks with two women who share their experiences of sexual violence to inspire change. Dr. Nandi also explores how to start healing from traumatic sexual assault and what society can do to create change. Tune in this Saturday, January 17th, at 1 pm.

New dietary guidelines have been released by the federal government. Updated every five years, they emphasize more protein and whole foods while reducing added sugars and highly processed foods.

Americans urged to avoid processed foods, added sugar in new dietary guidelines

Officials released a new version of the food pyramid, flipping it upside down from the old version, with protein, dairy, healthy fats and fruits and vegetables at the top, and whole grains at the bottom.

So, how much more protein is recommended? Previously, adults were advised to get 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Today, the recommendation is 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram. For a 150-pound person, thats an increase from roughly 54 grams a day to between 82 and 109 grams. Thats a big jump.

The guidelines also call for limiting added sugars, saying that no amount is considered part of a healthy diet. They suggest keeping it very low, ideally no more than about two teaspoons per meal. Thats important, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that most Americans consume about 17 teaspoons a day.

When it comes to highly processed foods, the guidelines recommend avoiding packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, or other foods that are salty or sweet, like chips, cookies, and candy that have added sugars and sodium. Instead, focus on nutrient-dense foods, cook more at home and choose healthier options when eating out.

Also, they suggest choosing whole-food sources of saturated fat - like avocados, whole-fat dairy or meat while keeping saturated fat to no more than 10% of daily calories.

They recommend two to four servings of fiber per day. And for alcohol, limits have been removed. Now, the advice is simply to consume less alcohol for better health.

There are some concerns about the new recommendations. The guidelines say when adding fats to meals, prioritize oils with essential fatty acids like olive oil, which is healthy. But other options include butter or beef tallow, which previous guidelines advised to avoid.

Also, the American Heart Association says more research is needed on how much protein people should eat and which sources are healthiest. For now, they recommend focusing on plant-based proteins, seafood and lean meats, and limiting high-fat animal products like red meat, butter, lard and tallow. Thats because theyre linked to increased cardiovascular risk.

On the plus side, I like the eat real food message. Ive always believed that food is medicine. When you eat foods that look close to how they came from the earth, a plant or the sea, youre giving your body the nutrients it needs to work better. That can help lower the risk of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.