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Menopause Matters, Let’s Talk
Lifestyle medicine… yes, it does work!
Lifestyle medicine, how simple tweaks and nudges to lifestyle choices can have a huge impact on helping to manage symptoms associated with the menopause.
We invited Dr Barbara Phipps on to help us unpick what lifestyle medicine is all about. What are the 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine which help support health & wellbeing…we discuss how they are all interconnected. It’s not a case of choosing one and discounting the others.
We discuss how making small steps with each of the pillars can be hugely important when going through the menopause, ones like nutrition and physical activity.
Tiny is mighty…incremental steps become sustainable and tend not to be overwhelming.
Listen to hear about Barbara’s ‘54321’ for helping to live in the moment and Heather’s advice of just giving your brain a rest.
Then there’s how socio-economic factors play a role, how CBT can be really helpful, what actually is the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and how to integrate lifestyle medicine into general practice…well worth a listen.
We’ve decided to switch it up a bit this series so, our Myth busting moments have now been replaced with Nuggets of Knowledge!
Dr Barbara Phipps is a GP who specialises in the care of people living with persistent pain.
In 2019, Barbara developed an innovative programme for patients in Edinburgh experiencing chronic pain, which is now funded by NHS Lothian. Her approach integrates neuroscience, lifestyle medicine, and patient empowerment to help individuals better understand and manage their symptoms.
Alongside her clinical work, Barbara serves as Deputy Director of Year 5 at Edinburgh Medical School and teaches on the MSc in Clinical Management of Pain at the University of Edinburgh. she is a Fellow of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
https://painplusscotland.co.uk/
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5. The Gut-Brain axis – what’s so important about this then?
35:26||Season 6, Ep. 5This is a fascinating insight into the interaction between your gut and your brain. We were delighted to be joined by consultant gastroenterologist Dr Elena Eliadou to give us a better understanding about everything.Reassuringly Elena points out early on in this episode that it’s not your fault things can sometimes become a tad imbalanced. She has a fabulous metaphor which explains what happens when the interaction of various systems in your body go a bit wonky. Listen to understand what dyspyosis is and what the effect declining & fluctuating levels of estrogen can have on your gut. Elena importantly flags up the worrying increase in younger people presenting with symptoms of bowel cancer and highlights the alarm - the red flag symptoms, to look out for to enable early diagnosis and treatment. Getting back to the estrogen…what part does the microbiome play in recycling estrogen in the body and what’s the bio-psycho-social approach all about. Hear why it’s so important to invest time in yourself and your health and what is one of the easiest, most successful practical tools to learn which can help to combat chronic stress alongside giving you that sense of control back. We find out if there is a specific menopause diet and why it’s important not only what we eat but how we eat…then there’s gut-directed hypnotherapy and behavioural therapies …do they work? Make sure you listen to the end to find out Elena’s top 3 takeaway key messages.
4. The Truths about HRT
34:42||Season 6, Ep. 4We continue the conversation about HRT – one not to miss With so much noise, misinformation and frankly rubbish about HRT on social media we thought an episode to clarify a few things was needed. To help us disentangle facts from fiction we invited Dr Olivia Hum along. Olivia is an experienced GP and a registered British Menopause Society Menopause Specialist. Gosh we get through a lot – as always, well worth a listen, especially if you’ve got a few unanswered questions. Listen to clarify the 3 main reasons for considering HRT, why there aren’t any tests that can tell you what you need and what are the most common reasons for it not working for some women. HRT is such a complex topic with many women not even sure why they’re taking it or what they’re actually on. You’ll get answers to common questions like…what is the best HRT…why am I getting unscheduled bleeding...and what about taking HRT when I’m over 60. Olivia gives an insight into the realistic challenges faced by GPs today alongside empathising about the many frustrations women face. We have our regular nugget of knowledge with Heather and look at why Menopause is considered to be a wake up call for many women…a turning point in women’s lives. And, why there’s been a shift to looking at your health-span rather your life-span. There’s a reminder about where to easily find trusted information and why that’s important instead of wading through the overwhelming noise on socials. We end with the key message about self care…keeping everything simple and looking after your long term health.
Menopause in the Workplace
38:11|Workplace support for menopause continues to evolve, but there is still a gap between what organisations believe is adequate and what employees actually need. In this episode, we welcome Deborah Garlick, founder and CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace and the driving force behind the Menopause Friendly and Menstruation Friendly Accreditations. Drawing on more than a decade of experience, Deborah shares practical advice on creating supportive, inclusive workplaces, highlighting the importance of listening to employees, recognising that every menopause journey is different, and moving away from one-size-fits-all solutions.Together, we explore how employers and managers can build confidence in supporting colleagues, encourage more open and multigenerational conversations, and foster lasting cultural change through strong leadership. We also discuss the introduction of Menopause Action Plans, the role they play in reducing the gender pay gap, and the steps organisations can take to create workplaces where people experiencing menopause can truly thrive.
2. Movement is One of the Essential Pillars of Life
34:50||Season 6, Ep. 2Our bodies are designed to move, they need to move in order to stay healthy. If you’re trying to manage menopausal symptoms, movement can be a life changer.For the latest episode of The Menopause Matters, Let’s Talk Podcast, Julie Robinson from Move it or Lose it joins Dr Heather Currie MBE and Ruth Devlin. A former PE teacher, Julie has spent her career translating research into practical, inclusive exercise, inspiring everyone to move more. They chat about why doing a combination of movement and exercise is so important… what FABS mean and why everyone bangs on about balance and strength exercising.Throughout the episode there are sprinklings of fabulous practical everyday tips, all approachable at any level, which will have a positive impact on your bone, muscle and heart health, as well as your mental health.
1. Dispelling the myths and misinformation – getting clarity.
43:58||Season 6, Ep. 1Menopause myths vs RealityHeather and Ruth cut through the misinformation and get the facts on menopause symptom management with leading UK endocrinologist Dr. Annice Mukherjee to separate sense from the "bonkers" advice out there.We recap on the menopause transition, understanding how hormones shift and eventually reach a stable equilibrium.We explore the bigger picture - why overall health, simple lifestyle tweaks and self care can be your best tools. We clarify the truth about HRT; why you need an individualised approach and why it’s not just about estrogen.Also, what do you need to know about the weight loss jabs and and the dangers of cherry picking advice.
12. Xmas Myth #12: Menopause is the same for all women?
01:43||Season 6, Ep. 12The last of our 12 mini podcasts, debunking 12 menopause myths in the countdown to Christmas is:Women experience menopause in the same way.
11. Xmas Myth #11: Testosterone?
01:10||Season 6, Ep. 11The eleventh of our 12 mini podcasts, debunking 12 menopause myths in the countdown to Christmas is:Testosterone is the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle when it comes to HRT.Links:Testosterone. The Role of Testosterone and HRT : Menopause Matters and Testosterone… what you really need to know! - Menopause Matters, Let’s Talk | Acast
10. Xmas Myth #10: HRT is expensive?
01:24||Season 6, Ep. 10The tenth of our 12 mini podcasts, debunking 12 menopause myths in the countdown to Christmas is:HRT is expensive.
Xmas Myth #9: Either HRT or alternative?
01:30|The ninth of our 12 mini podcasts, debunking 12 menopause myths in the countdown to Christmas is:You have to choose either a complementary therapy, or an alternative option or HRT.