Avaaz Health

In this episode we're doing a full Thyroid 101 with two physicians who see a lot of this in their practices, Dr. Madhu and Dr. Nav — what the thyroid is, why it hits women harder, the symptoms nobody tells you to watch for, how it connects to pregnancy and fertility, what a lump or goiter actually means, and what to ask at your next appointment.

Show Notes:

What happens behind closed doors may be very different from what the world sees.

Intimate partner violence is more common than many of us realize, and its effects can reach far beyond the relationship itself. Why does it remain hidden? What makes it so difficult to speak out? And how can we better recognize, understand and respond to it?

In this episode, we shine a light on an issue that touches individuals and families.

Listen, share and support us in bringing this important issue into the open.

#IntimatePartnerViolence #BreakTheSilence #AwarenessMatters

If today's conversation resonated with you, please know you're not alone, and help is available. If you're in immediate danger, contact emergency services in your area. 

Please share this information with someone you think would benefit.

Resources if you are in Canada: 

Canadian Center for Women's Empowerment

https://ccfwe.org/for-survivors/

Govt of Canada Family Violence Resources

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence/services.html

ShelterSafe.ca

Provides information to help connect women and their children across Canada with the nearest shelter for safety & support

f you’ve been told your cholesterol is “borderline” and it’s being monitored, or you’re already on cholesterol-lowering medication and are wondering if the goalposts recently moved – they did.

A major update to cholesterol guidelines was released earlier this year. The 2026 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia replaces the 2018 standards with an "earlier and lower for longer" strategy to reduce your lifelong cardiovascular risk.

It updates how we calculate the risk, what numbers we are aiming for, and how early we start treating. It’s not just about “bad” cholesterol vs “good” cholesterol anymore, and that’s better for you!

For more information and to hear the full episode, find us at Avaaz Health on Apple and Spotify podcasts, or view the full episode on Youtube. Avaaz Health is also on TikTok and Facebook. More info in our bio. 

Please follow, subscribe, and share!

#cholesterol #HeartHealth #cardiovascular #HealthPodcast #WomensHealth

Show Notes:

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423

Why do South Asians experience higher rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes earlier in life?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide, and South Asians carry a disproportionate burden of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, often at younger ages and lower body weights than other groups. 

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alka Kanaya, anInternal Medicine physician and Professor of Medicine at UCSF, founding Principal Investigator of the groundbreaking MASALA Study (Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America).We discuss what a decade-plus of data is teaching us, with a special spotlight on women.

Show Notes:

Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. September 30, 2019. Content used under license from the JAMA Network® © American Medical Association

1.

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Profiles in North and South Indian and Pakistani Americans: The MASALA Study.

American Heart Journal. 2022. Reddy NK, Kaushal V, Kanaya AM, et al.Opinion

2.

Diabetes in South Asians: Uncovering Novel Risk Factors With Longitudinal Epidemiologic Data: Kelly West Award Lecture 2023.

Diabetes Care. 2024. Kanaya AM.Review

3.

Prevalence and Trends in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Middle-Aged South Asian Adults Compared With Other Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States: A Longitudinal Analysis of 2 Cohort Studies.

Journal of the American Heart Association. 2026. Pedamallu H, Aghabazaz Z, Lancki N, et al.Recent

4.

Parity, Weight Change, and Maternal Risk of Cardiovascular events.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017. Klingberg S, Brekke HK, Winkvist A, et al.

5.

Multiparity Is Associated With Poorer Cardiovascular Health Among Women From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019. Ogunmoroti O, Osibogun O, Kolade OB, et al.

6.

Beyond the Coronaries: Utility of Extra-Coronary Calcification for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Women.

Current Atherosclerosis Reports. 2026. Littman E, Bukhari S, Watts H, et al.RecentReview

7.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk Before and After Type 2 Diabetes Onset and the Roles of Ectopic Fat and Ethnic Variation: The 2025 Edwin Bierman Award Lecture.

Diabetes. 2025. Sattar N.RecentReview

8.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in South Asians in the United States: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Treatments: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Circulation. 2018. Volgman AS, Palaniappan LS, Aggarwal NT, et al.Guideline

9.

A Healthy Plant-Based Diet Is Favorably Associated With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Participants of South Asian Ancestry.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2022. Bhupathiraju SN, Sawicki CM, Goon S, et al.

10.

Epidemiology of Diabetes and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Among Asian American Adults: Implications, Management, and Future Directions: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Circulation. 2023. Kwan TW, Wong SS, Hong Y, et al.Guideline

11.

Promoting Risk Identification and Reduction of Cardiovascular Disease in Women Through Collaboration With Obstetricians and Gynecologists: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Circulation. 2018. Brown HL, Warner JJ, Gianos E, et al.Guideline

12.

Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women.

Atherosclerosis. 2023. Rajendran A, Minhas AS, Kazzi B, et al.Review

13.

Evolving Role of Calcium Density in Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging. 2022. Razavi AC, Agatston AS, Shaw LJ, et al.Review

Peptides are being promoted everywhere.For weight loss, injury recovery, muscle growth, skin, hair, sleep, andanti-aging. But what are peptides, which ones are actually evidence-based, andwhich claims should make you pause?

In this episode of the Avaaz HealthPodcast, Dr. Madhu and Dr. Nav break down the science behind peptide therapy.Our moderator Rup, guides the conversation as we discuss established peptidemedicines and the difference between regulated prescriptions and experimentalproducts being marketed online, and why popularity on TikTok or in gym cultureis not proof of safety or effectiveness.

We also discuss retatrutide, a newerinvestigational medication attracting attention for its early weight-managementresearch, and we dive into the risks of unregulated “recovery,” “anti-aging,”and “glow” peptide stacks.

Before considering a peptide, rememberthe three Ps:

Is it proven? Is it prescribed? Is itpure?

*This Avaaz Health Podcast and thisepisode are for general education only, and is not a substitute for medicaladvice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak with a qualified health-careprofessional about your individual circumstances.

Show Notes:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(26)00099-4/abstract

.FDA's Stamp of Approval: Unveiling Peptide Breakthroughs in Cardiovascular Diseases, ACE, HIV, CNS, and Beyond.

Journal of Peptide Science : An Official Publication of the European Peptide Society. 2024. Al Musaimi O.Review

Peptide‐based diagnostic and therapeutic agents: Where we are and where we are heading?.

Chemical Biology & Drug Design. 2023. Khalily MP, Soydan M.Review

New Molecules and Indications for GLP-1 Medicines.

The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2025. Gonzalez-Rellan MJ, Drucker DJ.RecentReview

Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026. Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, et al.RecentReview

Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance.

Sports Medicine. 2026. Mendias CL, Awan TM.RecentReview

Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing.

Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2025. McGuire FP, Martinez R, Lenz A, Skinner L, Cushman DM.RecentReview

Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review.

Pharmaceuticals. 2025. Józwiak M, Bauer M, Kamysz W, Kleczkowska P.Review

Impact of Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Combination With Long-Term Physical Training on Strength, Musculotendinous Remodeling, Functional Recovery, and Body Composition in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Sports Medicine. 2024. Bischof K, Moitzi AM, Stafilidis S, König D.SR

Collagen Peptide Supplementation for Pain and Function: Is It Effective?.

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2022. Kviatkovsky SA, Hickner RC, Ormsbee MJ.Review

Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications.

JBJS Reviews. 2026. Villegas Meza AD, Nocek M, Mitchell BC, et al.RecentReview

Illicit Injectable Peptides and Regulatory Gaps.

The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2026. Piatkowski T, Ganson KT, Nagata JM.RecentOpinion

Under FDA, Unapproved Peptides Likely to Become More Widely Available.

JAMA. 2026. Rita Rubin, MANews

Everyone’s heard them. Most people believe at least one.

In this episode of the Avaaz Health Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jiti, oncologist and cancer specialist, to break down some of the most common (and dangerous) health myths circulating right now.

From “Why screen if I feel fine?” to “Only smokers get lung cancer,” we unpack what’s fact, what’s fiction, and what you actually need to know to protect your health.

We also dive into hormone testing trends, testosterone myths, breast pain fears, mammogram radiation concerns, and the truth about cortisol.

🎧 Listen now and rethink what you thought you knew.

#HealthMyths #CancerScreening #PreventiveHealth #WomensHealth #MensHealth #HormoneHealth #Mammogram #LungCancerAwareness #MedicalFacts #AvaazHealth

Everyone’s talking about them—the so-called “magic” weight-loss injections. But what’s actually fact vs. hype?

In this episode, we break down GLP-1s (like Ozempic) in a physician-led, evidence-based conversation. How do these medications actually work in the body? Who are they truly for? What are the real benefits beyond weight loss—and what about the side effects and accessibility concerns?

From appetite regulation and metabolic health to the risks, costs, and unanswered questions, we’re cutting through the noise to bring you clear, science-backed insights you can trust.

Get the skinny on GLP-1s. Listen to the full episode on the Avaaz Health Podcast today.

#GLP1 #Ozempic #WeightLossScience #EvidenceBasedMedicine #AvaazHealth

Show Notes

https://vancouversun.com/news/what-do-generic-versions-ozempic-wegovy-mean-bc

https://globalnews.ca/news/11609231/health-canada-glp-1-pill-rybelsus/

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/canadian-health-officials-warn-against-counterfeit-versions-of-ozempic-mounjaro/

Menopause is everywhere in the conversation right now—but not all the information is accurate.

In our latest episode, “Not Your Mother’s Menopause,” we revisit this topic with the latest science-based guidance and break down what women need to know now:

✨ What actually happens during perimenopause?✨ Who should consider Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)? And for how long?✨ What exactly is genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) — and why does nobody talk about it?✨ If your libido changes, do you need testosterone?

We unpack all of this in a physician-led, evidence-based conversation.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and watch the episode on Youtube.

A huge thank you to the menopause experts whose work informed this episode:
• Dr. Ardelle Piper — OBGYN, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner
• Dr. Natalie Gamache — Gynecologist & menopause specialist
• Dr. Woganee Filate — Respirologist & sleep medicine physician
• Dr. Suzanne Rutherford — @thefitphysician

Show Notes

Medical management of menopause symptoms: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/dnd-mdn/documents/health/WDH_Clinician_Guide_Menopause.pdf

Pocket Guide to Menopause Management: https://www.canadianmenopausesociety.org/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Final-Pocket%20Guide.pdf

Step by step approach to determine the safety of prescribing hormone therapy: https://thischangedmypractice.com/determine-safety-of-prescribing-hrt/ 

 Menopause: Don't Sweat it: Part 1 - symptoms, by UBC CPD: https://thischangedmypractice.com/menopause-dont-sweat-it-part-1/

What to know about bioidentical hormone therapy: https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/pdf_files/What_to_Know_Bioidentical_EN.pdf

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) - a refresher: https://thischangedmypractice.com/genitourinary-syndrome-of-menopause/

Sexual counselling online: e-sense.com, IG: @esensehealth

In this episode, we discuss how South Asian genes lead to higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic syndromes, at a younger age. 

We talk about what tests you should be asking for, what helps (and what doesn't), and the fascinating role of epigenetics in shaping our current health risk factors.

Mubin Syed, MD, also know as @desidoc.md on Instagram, is a nationally recognised physician with almost 30 years of experience, specialising in endovascular therapy. He is also a health historian, a medtech entrepreneur, and a medical products inventor. His personal experience as a survivor of a heart attack, fuelled his desire to educate South Asians about their higher risks of disease, diabetes and other metabolic syndromes.  He is the author of a medical guide on pain treatment and two works focusing on the modern South Asian health crisis. He has been a TEDx speaker and was featured in the “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” PBS documentary, and in CNN International/ The Guardian and HuffPostUK. And he is the author of a new book, Healing From Our History: How Colonial-Era Famines Led to a Modern South Asian Health Crisis.

You won’t want to miss this week’s episode.

Resources 

ASCVD risk score (not a good indicator for S Asians) (https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/3398/ascvd-atherosclerotic-cardiovascular-disease-2013-risk-calculator-aha-acc 

MASALA study https://www.masalastudy.org/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4987009/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-97605-z

In many South Asian families, we talk about everything except the tough stuff—illness, prognosis, end-of-life wishes. Out of love, we avoid it. Out of habit, we call it fate.

But the next generation is left guessing when it matters most.

This episode breaks down why advance care planning isn’t disrespectful—it’s clarity, comfort, and care for your family.

Let’s stop assuming. Let’s start talking.
New episode out now. 🎙️✨

Show Notes:

Research/References:

1.  CFPC Guide to Advance Care Planning

2. https://bc-cpc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ACP-Checklist_SPREAD.pdf

3.https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/people/seniors/health-safety/pdf/myvoice_feb2013_pun.pdf (punjabi), https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/people/seniors/health-safety/pdf/hindi_myvoice_feb2020.pdf (hindi)

4. Advance Care Planning in BC (youtube video in English with Punjabi subtitles)

5.Serious Illness Conversation Guide

6. Taking serious illness conversations seriously: Unveiling South Asian perspectives on advance care planning using the Serious Illness Conversation GuideIssue: BCMJ vol. 67 , No. 5 , June 2025 , Pages 166-173 Original Research