The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

050 - Empowering Women to Receive the Right Menopause Advice - Liz Earle MBE & Dr Louise Newson

In the 50th episode of the Newson Health podcast series, Dr Louise Newson chats to Liz Earle MBE about how they first met and the work they have done together. Liz is very open and candid about her own menopause experience and admits how little she knew about the perimenopause and menopause before meeting Dr Newson. She is now a great advocate for women receiving evidence-based menopause advice and treatment. Liz and Dr Newson also discuss ways that women can become more empowered and receive the right advice and treatment. Liz works tirelessly to help women to improve their knowledge and is always campaigning for improved menopause care in the future.

Liz Earle's Three Take Home Tips:

1.  Knowledge is power! Take a look on menopausedoctor.co.uk and if you are experiencing menopausal symptoms then fill out the Menopause Symptom Questionnaire - you can then print it off and take it to your GP.
2. Go to your appointment armed with knowledge, be secure in that knowledge and understand that you may even know more than your GP about the menopause.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for a second or even third opinion. It's your body and your life, don't give up if you don't get the right help straight away.

049 - Anti-ageing, Hormones & Healthy Living - John Stirling & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson chats to John Stirling, the technical director of Bionutri. John speaks openly about his experience with immunotherapy treatments for his melanoma that was diagnosed when he was in his 20s. This experience started his real interest into disease prevention and healthy living. He is currently writing a book about anti-ageing and talks openly about different ways of slowing the ageing process. Many of these methods include reducing inflammation in the body and improving health. Dr Newson and John talk about the important role diet, exercise, supplements and hormones have when it comes to improving our future health. 

 John Stirling's Three Take Home Tips for Disease Prevention and Anti-Ageing:

1. Stress can be a huge factor - manage your stress and find time every day to have some quiet time to yourself.
2. Don't over-complicate your diet, keep it simple but nutrient rich and don't overeat.
3. Get moving! Gentle exercise such as a daily walk can be very beneficial.

048 - Newson Health in the North - Dr Zoe Hodson & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Zoe Hodson who is the lead doctor at the North West branch of Newson Health. Zoe has worked as a GP and GP trainer for over 15 years and has encountered many hurdles when trying to deliver menopause care; from lack of training as an undergraduate and postgraduate to being told that there wasn't any funding for a GP led menopause clinic in her area.  

Dr Newson and Zoe discuss many of the frustrations that GPs and their patients face as well as the work that is being done by Newson Health in areas such as GP education and the provision of evidence based, accessible information for women throughout the world. 

The team here at Newson Health believe that menopause consultations should be based on shared decision making and they discuss the importance of women and doctors being able to fully understand the long term health benefits and improved quality of life that HRT and holistic menopausal care can deliver.  

Dr Zoe Hodson's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Read or listen to as much evidence-based information as you can about the menopause before booking an appointment with your healthcare provider.  
2. Share a symptom checker with anyone who will listen - we have to start joining the dots and this is a cheap, easily accessible way to start. 
3. Gather your soapboxes! We need everyone to be sharing and signposting to correct, evidence based information.

Find out more about Dr Zoe Hodson and our new North West clinic in this video.

047 - Fermented Foods & Gut Health - Emma Ellice-Flint & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson talks to Emma Ellice-Flint, a very knowledgeable nutritionist, all about fermented foods. Emma takes it right back to basics and explains the importance of good gut health and how eating and drinking fermented products can be beneficial for our gut microbes as well as our overall health. Emma and Dr Newson also discuss sauerkraut, kefir and the variety of different ways we can boost our gut microbes - as well as the ways our gut health can worsen due to our diets. 

Emma's Three Take Home Tips for better gut health:

1. Buy some kefir, try having two tablespoons a day. It's a great place to start!
2. Bring as much fibre-rich food as you can into your diet - but introduce it slowly.
3. Don't be put off by how overwhelming it can seem! Simple, small changes can vastly improve your gut health.

https://emmasnutrition.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/emmas_nutrition/ 

 

046 - Menopause Education for Nurses - Mandy Garland, Sharon Hartmann & Dr Louise Newson

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Mandy Garland and Specialist Nurse, Sharon Hartmann - together they discuss nurse education for menopause and HRT in primary care. 

Both Mandy and Sharon chose to develop their own skills and knowledge in menopause by completing the accredited training through the British Menopause Society. They are currently waiting to submit their final log book; following an intensive 2 years of study, specialist visits and practical assessments. 

In this podcast, Dr Newson chats to Mandy and Sharon about how they have used evidence based practice to develop a pathway of care, offering patients at their busy NHS surgery a holistic service founded on NICE guidance; such as initiating and reviewing a patient’s use of HRT. This has been particularly challenging due to the lack of funding their surgery receives for management of the menopause. Mandy and Sharon hope that the long term benefits will be evident, with the improved quality of life women experience when on appropriately prescribed HRT, and that nurses all over the UK will receive the same opportunity to study at a higher level.

Mandy Garland, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Menopause Specialist and Nurse Prescriber - @garland_mandy

Sharon Hartmann, Specialist Nurse: Integrated Sexual Health, Menopause Specialist and Nurse Prescriber - @hartmann_sharon

Mandy and Sharon's Three Take Home Tips for nurses who want to gain a better menopause education:

1. Menopause is a complex, in-depth subject and should be seen as a Holistic Medicine.
2. During your training, find a like-minded nurse or professional that you can work with and study alongside.
3. Attend as many clinics as you can within the local area and work with your local pharmacy.

045 - Menopause Yoga - Petra Coveney & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Petra Coveney, Founder of Menopause Yoga - the UK’s first specialist style of yoga to support women going through the menopause. 

Petra, who is a member of the British Menopause Society (BMS) for health practitioners and a senior yoga teacher and trainer, developed Menopause Yoga to meet the physical and emotional needs of women going through menopause. Last year, due to demand from women and yoga teachers, she launched the world’s first Menopause Yoga Teacher Training course at Newson Health, which is accredited by the UK’s main governing bodies the British Wheel of Yoga and Yoga Alliance Professionals. Her aim is to train a yoga teacher in every town so that women across the country can practice locally where they live. The course has drawn teachers from all over the world, many of whom have trained at Newson Health. In April 2020, she piloted the first online Menopause Yoga classes and in May she is launching the first online Teacher Training course, which includes Dr Louise Newson as a Guest Speaker. Dr Newson’s book on the Menopause is a core course reading text.  

In this podcast, Dr Newson and Petra discuss: 

• Petra’s own menopause journey,  
• What inspired her to develop Menopause Yoga, 
• Combining western medical science with eastern Indian Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 
• The Chinese concept of post menopause as a woman’s ‘Second Spring.’ 
• How yoga, breathwork and meditation can support women to transition positively through menopause, 
• How to reduce stress levels, master your hot flushes and change your perception of menopause. 
• Why it is important to educate women about the menopause, to feel empowered and embrace post menopause. 

Petra Coveney's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Stressful thoughts exacerbate all menopause symptoms. Learn simple breathing exercises to calm your mind and tap into your parasympathetic nervous system that helps you to Rest & Digest. 
2. Writing a daily journal will help you to release negative, stressful thoughts and recognise which foods, drinks, activities, thoughts, etc trigger your menopause symptoms. Every woman is unique. Gaining insights into your triggers will aid your self-growth. 
3. Nourish & Nurture yourself. Eat well, Sleep well. Pamper yourself.  

Petra will be returning to Newson Health later in the year to run women’s workshops here at Newson Health. You can find out more on her website: www.menopause-yoga.com   

Instagram: @Menopause_Yoga 

044 - Gransnet & the Menopause - Cari Rosen & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson chats to Cari Rosen; author, writer and editor of Gransnet.com.

Gransnet was set up following the success of Mumsnet. Gransnet has 320k users, bringing in 3 million page views a month. Many perimenopausal and menopausal women feel socially isolated and alone when they experience symptoms that often they don't even realise are related to their reducing hormone levels. It can be very useful to share symptoms and also discuss experiences with other women. Increasingly, women are turning to platforms such as Gransnet where they can be frank and open with people they don't know and seek out support at various times of the day and night. In this podcast, Dr Newson and Cari discuss the various ways women can support each other during the perimenopause and menopause, as well as dispelling some myths about the menopause and HRT along the way. 

www.gransnet.com

Cari Rosen's Three Take Home Tips and reasons to visit Gransnet:

1. Know you're not alone - there is always someone to talk to.
2. Share your experiences. It can be so helpful to talk to someone who has gone through something similar and come out the other side.
3. If you are feeling frustrated, it's good to share those frustrations with others that aren't your nearest and dearest.

043 - Changing the Language Around Menopause and Midlife - Lorraine Candy & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined (virtually!) by Lorraine Candy - co-founder of the podcast series 'Postcards from Midlife'. Lorraine and Dr Newson chat about the stigma surrounding the word “menopause” and how we need to work together in order to break that down and really empower women so they can receive the correct help and treatment. They also discuss menopausal symptoms such as anxiety and fatigue and how they can have a massive, negative impact on women's lives if left untreated. 

Dr Newson and Lorraine also talk about how important it is for women to receive the right dose and type of HRT. Many women wrongly think that HRT is a single treatment, whereas in fact, there are different hormones available and also different doses. The importance of exercise, nutrition and wellbeing is also discussed. Lorraine also talks very openly about her own experience and how she struggled for several years before receiving the right help. 

www.postcardsfrommidlife.com

Follow Lorraine on Instagram:

@sundaytimeslorraine

@postcardsfrommidlife

Lorraine Candy's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Feel your power - you have lived an amazing life and have an enormous amount of experience. Don't let that inner voice tell you you don't have the confidence.
2. Arm yourself with information before any visits. Seek out the facts and write them down so you don't forget.
3. Talk to your friends, family and other women about what you're going through. Let's spread the word!

042 - The Big M - Kate Irvine & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Kate Irvine and together they discuss Kate's online perimenopause and menopause survey, The Big M. 

Kate began her survey as a way to find out how women really feel about the perimenopause and menopause, including which aspects of the Big M women find the most difficult, whether they felt they could discuss it with anyone and whether they had any help getting through it. Kate hopes to be able to use the information given to help other women in the future. Kate also intends to compile the detailed responses into a  book which helps women to feel better about what they are going through, she and Dr Newson discuss how the idea for the book came about, and how Kate hopes it will work. 

During this podcast, Dr Newson and Kate touch on several different topics which the survey highlighted, such as realising you are perimenopausal, how helpful GPs can be (or otherwise), women leaving the workforce because of their symptoms, the over-prescribing of anti-depressants and symptoms such as vaginal atrophy. Ultimately they agreed that talking is vital and makes you feel better, and Kate hopes that (if published!) reading her book will be like having a chat with friends about a common issue. 

The survey is still open for responses, or if you just want to email her about any aspect of your menopause experience you can reach her at: kate@thebigm.net 

Kate Irvine's Three Take Home Tips:

1. Don't feel alone! Don't be frightened to talk about it - communicate with your friends.
2. Look for helpful evidence-based advice such as the resources on menopausedoctor.co.uk and the British Menopause Society website
3. If your GP hasn't been the most helpful, look for a doctor that specialises in the menopause. They should be better informed.

041 - You Are Feeling Sleeeepy - Kathryn Pinkham & Dr Louise Newson

In this podcast, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Kathryn Pinkham, Founder of The Insomnia Clinic, the UK’s largest insomnia service. 

Kathryn, along with her team at The Insomnia Clinic, help people who suffer with poor sleep and insomnia using NHS recommended techniques. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia is a structured programme which helps people to identify and change unhelpful behaviours and thoughts which maintain poor sleep. 

In this podcast, Dr Newson and Kathryn discuss:

• Why sleep is important but how putting too much pressure on sleep can cause us to get even less 

• How sleep hygiene can make a sleep issue worse for poor sleepers 

• The cycle of insomnia and how to break it

• Tips to strengthen your sleep drive to fall asleep faster and wake less but also how to improve quality of sleep 

• The importance of managing anxiety in boosting energy levels 

• Techniques to manage anxiety 

 

Kathryn Pinkham's Three Take Home Tips to Aid Sleep:

1.  Shorten your time in bed - go to bed later and get up earlier. Even if it's just by half an hour.
2. Set your alarm and then turn it over. When you wake up in the night, resist the urge to look at the clock.
3. Spend time managing your worries and anxieties instead of focusing on your lack of sleep. If you focus on lowering your stress levels then your sleep should improve too.

 https://www.instagram.com/theinsomniaclinic