Health
The 9 most common questions women over 40 ask their doctors, according to a menopause expert
Staying healthy as a woman over age 40 starts with asking the right questions, doctors say.
Females in this age group face new health challenges and can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of the traditional health care system, according to Dr. Alexa Fiffick, a family medicine physician and menopause practitioner at Concierge Medicine of Westlake in Cleveland, Ohio.
As menopause is often viewed as a “taboo topic,” Fiffick — also a clinical fellow at Cleveland Clinic — is working to empower this group of women to take control of their health proactively.
MAJOR HEALTH ORGANIZATION MAKES STARTLING HEART DISEASE PREDICTION: ‘NEAR-PERFECT STORM’
“To do that, they need to ask their doctors the right potentially life-saving questions,” she said.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, Fiffick shared the top 9 questions women should be asking — along with her answers.
Dr. Alexa Fiffick, a family medicine physician and menopause practitioner at Concierge Medicine of Westlake in Cleveland, Ohio (left), revealed the most common questions she hears from her patients. (Dr. Alexa Fiffick/iStock)
1. ‘Am I at risk for heart disease?’
Women have a 50% greater chance of having a misdiagnosed heart attack than men, data shows.
It wasn’t until 2020 that the American Heart Association identified menopause as an individual risk factor for heart disease.
WOMEN EXPERIENCE MORE DENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAN MEN, EXPERTS SAY. HERE’S WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
“This giant, stressful health event wasn’t taken seriously for a long time,” Fiffick said.
“Finally, the science supports that menopause is a risk factor for heart disease. Women absolutely must ask their doctors about their individual risks based on this information, coupled with their medical history.”
2. ‘What types of exercise will keep my heart and brain healthy?’
For adults up to 65 years of age, experts recommend getting 150 minutes per week of exercise, combining moderate-to-vigorous aerobic workouts and strength training sessions.
For women in their 40s, lifting weights becomes particularly important, according to Fiffick.
For adults up to 65 years of age, experts recommend getting 150 minutes per week of exercise, combining moderate-to-vigorous aerobic workouts and strength training sessions. (iStock)
“There is a lot of emerging evidence of the benefits of weightlifting — especially lifting weights that are considered heavy,” she said.
“It’s been difficult for this age group in the past to lift heavier, because we were all raised to think that weightlifting builds a more masculine structure,” she said.
“But it’s really important for bone health and to prevent falls — and it also helps the brain stay cognizant of changes, which can be really helpful to stave off dementia.”
MICHIGAN MOM: ‘I HAD A STROKE AT 39 — AND THE WARNING SIGNS WEREN’T WHAT YOU’D EXPECT’
When choosing a weight, it should be heavy enough that it can’t be lifted repetitively with ease.
“It should be a challenge to do the motions with the weight, so you can continue to keep challenging yourself,” Fiffick said.
“That sort of heavy weightlifting is associated with maintaining bone density.”
“Weight loss is more about your food consumption and less about cardiovascular exercise.”
Cardiovascular exercise is also important for keeping the heart healthy, Fiffick said.
“People tend to think of cardio for weight loss because that’s what we used to teach in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s — but realistically, weight loss is more about your food consumption and less about cardiovascular exercise,” she said.
“So it’s really pertinent to staying fit and keeping your cardiovascular system nice and strong.”
3. ‘What am I doing now that could hurt my bone density?’
By the time women enter their 40s, most have already reached their peak bone density, as it begins to decrease in the years surrounding menopause, according to experts.
Many of Fiffick’s patients are surprised to learn that certain over-the-counter medications can contribute to bone loss.
THREE WOMEN — AGES 41, 55 AND 64 — SHARE THEIR SECRETS TO BETTER HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
Those include proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, a type of medication that prevents acid reflux.
“They can help degrade bone if you’re on them for a very long time,” Fiffick warned.
Some studies have suggested that metformin, a medication that is used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, could also impact bone density, according to the doctor.
By the time women enter their 40s, most have already reached their peak bone density, as it begins to decrease in the years surrounding menopause. (iStock)
Other threats to bone health include significant alcohol or tobacco consumption, she said.
“If you’re having more than around one drink every evening, that’s probably a bit too much for bone health,” she noted.
“As far as tobacco goes, no amount is a good amount. Those sorts of things are actively hurting your bones.”
4. ‘Which supplements are effective and worth the money?’
With so many female-focused supplements on the market, it can be tough to determine which are essential and which can be skipped.
“My two go-to supplements are vitamin D and magnesium,” Fiffick told Fox News Digital.
DAILY MULTIVITAMINS MIGHT NOT HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, STUDY FINDS
“Getting enough vitamin D is important to help keep our bones healthy, but it can be difficult to get only through food, so most people need to take a supplement.”
Magnesium is also important for women in their 40s due to its impact on bone health, heart health, hormonal balance and mood regulation, according to experts.
“Getting enough vitamin D is important to help keep our bones healthy, but it can be difficult to get only through food, so most people need to take a supplement,” the doctor said. (iStock)
“Additionally, magnesium is said to help with the constipation that happens in perimenopause and menopause, as well as helping people sleep a little bit better,” Fiffick said.
For calcium, the doctor advises women to get it through diet rather than supplements.
“My two go-to supplements are vitamin D and magnesium.”
“Most people who eat a more American diet get more than enough calcium through foods,” she said.
To help determine whether you need a supplement, Fiffick recommends going to the National Osteoporosis Foundation website, which provides a list of foods containing calcium and vitamin D to help you calculate your own intake.
5. ‘A clinician told me I’m too young for perimenopause or menopause — is this true?’
Fiffick often hears from patients who assume they’re too young to transition into this next phase of life.
“‘Normal’ menopause can happen anywhere between ages 45 and 55 — but sometimes it happens” at a younger age, she told Fox News Digital.
IS IT MENOPAUSE? 6 HIDDEN SYMPTOMS WOMEN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NOW
For women starting the process at between 40 and 45 years old, it’s considered “early menopause,” Fiffick said — but it’s not treated separately from “normal” menopause.
After 55, it is considered late menopause, she noted.
“The group that we treat really separately are the people who are under 40 when they start menopause — those are the ones we call ‘premature menopause,’” Fiffick said.
“As your body stops having estrogen, it stops being able to protect your brain, your bones and your heart.”
Starting menopause before the age of 40 can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, Fiffick warned, which can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease.
“That happens because as soon as your body stops having estrogen, it stops being able to protect your brain, your bones and your heart,” she said.
For women starting the process at between 40 and 45 years old, it’s considered “early menopause,” the doctor said. (iStock)
“So all of the ‘diseases of aging’ — meaning high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis fractures — those all come on much quicker if you are menopausal earlier.”
A younger menopausal patient is treated differently than a menopausal woman in her 50s, Fiffick said.
“All the ‘diseases of aging’ come on much quicker if you are menopausal earlier.”
“For the older patients, we’re mainly trying to make you feel better and maybe do some preventative things,” she said.
“For women under 40, we’re trying to get you at least enough estrogen and progesterone so it’s as if your ovaries didn’t close up shop. So it’s a very different approach than for someone who’s a little bit older.”
6. ‘How much protein should I be eating?’
Women’s nutritional requirements change as they age, Fiffick said.
A general rule of thumb is for women in their 40s to consume about 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight — and the large majority aren’t hitting that mark, the doctor noted.
THIS POPULAR DIET COULD HELP WOMEN LIVE LONGER, STUDY FINDS
“If a woman comes into my clinic and I have her walk me through an average day of eating, even if she’s a meat eater, she’s likely only getting around 50 grams,” Fiffick said.
“With the average body weight exceeding 130 or 140 pounds, that’s not nearly enough.”
Fiffick encourages her patients to start tracking their protein to get a baseline, and then look for ways to augment that.
A general rule of thumb is for women in their 40s to consume about 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight. (iStock)
An easy way to increase protein is to add powder to shakes, which usually have about 30 grams of protein, she advised.
“If you do that in addition to eating chicken, fish, legumes and other sources of protein, you’ll usually be much closer to the goal.”
7. ‘How much sleep do I need each night?’
Women in their 40s fall into what Fiffick calls the “sandwich generation,” which can make it challenging to get the appropriate amount of sleep.
“Some women have really young kids, others have teens, and some have kids in their 20s,” she said.
“Recent research found that these women tend to need upward of eight to 10 hours of sleep,” Fiffick noted.
GOING TO BED AFTER THIS TIME COULD LEAD TO POORER MENTAL HEALTH, A STANFORD STUDY FINDS
While the longtime rule of thumb has been that seven hours is sufficient, “that is not necessarily good enough for women,” the doctor said.
Sleep plays an essential role in all aspects of wellness, according to Fiffick — including metabolism, heart health and brain function.
While the longtime rule of thumb has been that seven hours is sufficient, “that is not necessarily good enough for women,” the doctor said. (iStock)
“We see a lot of people complain about ‘brain fog’ in perimenopause and menopause,” she said.
“And one of the biggest reasons for that is the fact that they’re not sleeping.”
Fiffick encourages her patients to advocate for themselves and ask their doctors for help with sleep optimization, “because it’s literally vital.”
8. ‘Am I a candidate for weight-loss medications or surgeries?’
As women progress into their 40s, hormonal and metabolic changes can lead to weight gain.
Some women come into Fiffick’s office and say, “I don’t want to cheat by using weight-loss medication,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“But it’s not cheating,” the doctor said. “For some people, it’s the right fit and can help them see significant improvement.”
As every patient’s needs and goals are different, Fiffick said it’s essential for each woman to talk to her doctor and weigh the risks and benefits of medicinal or surgical options.
As women progress into their 40s, hormonal and metabolic changes can lead to weight gain. (iStock)
Some of the most important weight-loss strategies include getting enough protein and drinking enough water, according to the expert.
“By ‘front-loading’ your day with protein, you’ll stay full for longer, as it’s a slow-burning energy,” Fiffick said.
With carb-heavy breakfasts, she warned, you’re destined for a 10 a.m. slump.
When it comes to hydration, 3 liters of water daily is associated with weight loss or weight maintenance during perimenopause and menopause, Fiffick said.
“So if it’s not the right time to talk about meds with a certain patient, I automatically go back to protein and water,” she said. “In 99% of cases, one of those could be better.”
9. ‘What is my personal risk of cancer, and how can I help prevent it?’
Some of the most common cancer types affecting women include breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and skin — and the risk increases with age.
To help gauge your risk, Fiffick emphasized the importance of knowing your family history.
SENIORS AND BREAST CANCER: WHY AREN’T OLDER WOMEN TOLD TO GET MAMMOGRAMS?
“This is critical in order for a doctor to be able to do a good risk assessment for hereditary cancers,” she said.
A surprising share of women don’t have this information, in the doctor’s experience.
“The longer I’ve been a physician, I’ve realized that we don’t know what our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and cousins have going on with their health,” Fiffick said.
To help gauge your risk, the doctor emphasized the importance of knowing your family history. (iStock)
“Learning those things so that you can really understand your risk is critical — it may genuinely save your or your child’s life.”
One of the most effective ways to reduce cancer risk is to limit or eliminate alcohol consumption, according to Fiffick.
Dr. Alexa Fiffick, who is also a clinical fellow at Cleveland Clinic, is working to empower women to take control of their health proactively. (Dr. Alexa Fiffick)
“Drinking more than one glass of wine or one cocktail at night is associated with a significantly increased risk of seven or eight different types of cancers,” she noted.
Obesity is another major risk factor for cancers, the doctor said.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
“I heard a recent citation that up to 30% of all new breast cancers each year are associated with nothing other than obesity as the risk factor,” Fiffick said.
“So the two things that are really within your control are weight and alcohol consumption — and if you’re a tobacco smoker, please stop. It’s terrible.”
Every day we’re faced with a zillion small choices: Go to sleep early, or watch one more episode of that Netflix drama. Call an old friend to catch up, or cruise social media. Of course, no single action will guarantee a long, healthy life or doom you to an early grave. But those little daily decisions do add up, and over the long term they can make a difference when it comes to both your longevity and your health span, the amount of life spent in relatively good health.
Scroll through this theoretical “day in the life” and select the option that best fits your typical day. Not every situation will apply perfectly, but think about which choice you’d be most likely to make. This isn’t a formal scientific assessment. The goal here isn’t to assign you a “good” or “bad” score, but to help you understand the central factors that shape the way we age and how long we live.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A study from Harvard Medical School indicates natural selection has favored the red hair gene, resulting in a potential increase in the number of redheaded people as humanity continues to evolve.
By analyzing nearly 16,000 ancient genomes spanning 10,000 years, researchers identified a list of traits that nature is actively pushing forward. Among the most prominent were the genetic variants for red hair.
“Perhaps having red hair was beneficial 4,000 years ago, or perhaps it came along for the ride with a more important trait,” the authors noted.
22 HEALTH CARE PREDICTIONS FOR 2025 FROM MEDICAL RESEARCHERS
The study, published in the journal Nature, relied on a large database of ancient DNA from West Eurasia. Using new computing methods, the team was able to filter out random fluctuations in DNA to identify what it called “directional selection.”
Directional selection happens when a particular version of a gene gives an organism a strong survival or reproductive advantage, causing it to become more common in a population faster than it would by chance, according to experts.
Directional selection is when a specific gene provides such significant benefits that it rises in frequency across a population much faster than random chance. (iStock)
Prior to this study, scientists only knew of about 21 such instances in human history, one of which was lactose tolerance. This new research uncovered hundreds more.
“With these new techniques and a large amount of ancient genomic data, we can now watch how selection shaped biology in real time,” Ali Akbari, first author of the study and senior staff scientist in the lab of Harvard geneticist David Reich, said in a press release.
COMMON EATING HABIT MAY TRIGGER PREMATURE IMMUNE SYSTEM AGING, STUDY FINDS
The data showed that genetic markers for red hair are among 479 gene variants that have been strongly favored over the past 10,000 years. One likely explanation, the researchers said, is a major shift in human history: the transition to farming.
Scientists have long pointed to vitamin D synthesis as a likely driver for the rise of traits like fair skin and light hair. (iStock)
As humans moved away from hunting and gathering and settled into agricultural societies, their environment and behavior changed radically, triggering an evolutionary “acceleration.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
While the Harvard study provides the first definitive statistical proof that red hair was actively selected during the rise of farming, the researchers noted that the exact prehistoric benefit still requires more study.
However, scientists have long pointed to vitamin D synthesis as a likely driver for the rise of these light-pigmented traits in northern climates.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
While redheads remain a minority of the global population today, the Harvard study’s analysis suggests that they may not be an evolutionary accident.
While redheads remain a minority of the global population today, the Harvard study’s analysis suggests they may not be an evolutionary accident. (iStock)
Instead, the red hair trait was “boosted” by natural selection as humans adapted to the challenges of a modern world, according to the researchers.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The researchers urged caution in how these findings are interpreted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“What a variant is associated with now is not necessarily why an allele propagated,” the authors noted.
Dr. Megan Jack, a neurosurgeon in Cleveland, often works 60 or 70 hours a week. And she’s completely unavailable when she’s in the operating room. That makes it tough to be a caregiver for her 76-year-old mother, who lives in a separate unit on Dr. Jack’s property, 30 minutes away from the hospital.
To help care for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Jack uses an array of high-tech tools, some of which didn’t exist just a few years ago. She manages her mother’s medications with a smart pill box. She changes her television channels with an app, sends appointment reminders through a digital message board — and, with her mother’s blessing, uses cameras for communication and monitoring.
“It’s been invaluable that I can both make sure she’s safe and make sure everything is going well,” Dr. Jack said, “but also give her the independence and the freedom that she still deserves.”
America is aging rapidly. Roughly 11,000 people are turning 65 each day in the United States. And many of them — 75 percent of people over 50, according to AARP’s most recent survey, from 2024 — hope to spend their remaining years in the comfort of their homes, rather than in assisted-living or other care facilities.
One thing that could help fulfill those wishes is the budding field of “age tech,” which encompasses tools that support older adults. Industry experts say that age tech is making homes safer for older adults and is easing the minds of their caregivers, especially those who live far away or work outside the home.
Dr. Jack said that age tech had “really allowed me to integrate caregiving into my life, as opposed to caregiving taking over my life.”
The age tech boom
If older adults don’t have loved ones who are both close by and able to help, they might believe they don’t have a ton of options. They can live independently, or, if they can afford it and qualify medically, they can move to an assisted-living facility or a nursing home, without a lot of choices in between. In-home help can be expensive without Medicaid and can also be difficult to find, given the serious shortage of home care workers.
Age tech can help bridge some important gaps, said Emily Nabors, the associate director of innovation at the National Council on Aging, a nonprofit advocacy group. Already, AARP reports that 25 percent of caregivers are remotely monitoring their loved ones with apps, videos or wearables, nearly double the percentage from five years ago.
“We used to say homes are the health care settings of the future, but they really are health care settings now,” Ms. Nabors said. “Aging in place is very realistic.”
More than 700 companies are in AARP’s AgeTech Collaborative, a group that connects businesses, nonprofits and funders to help get new technologies off the ground. Altogether, the collaborative’s start-ups have raised nearly $1 billion in the past four years.
The products include smart walkers, glasses with lenses that provide real-time captions of conversations for those with hearing issues, and a concierge service that connects older people to drivers and deliveries, even if they don’t have a smartphone.
Ms. Nabors does foresee some affordability and access barriers to age tech, including the lack of high-speed internet in rural areas, but she said one vital resource would be local aging agencies, which can offer advice and, sometimes, free support.
Janet Marasa leaned on the agency near her home in Rockland County, N.Y., to get a free robotic pet for her mother, Carol DeMaio, 80, who has dementia. The pets, manufactured by a company called Joy for All, aim to offer emotional support without the upkeep.
Ms. DeMaio named the robotic dog Sabrina, after a golden retriever who died. The new Sabrina stays at the foot of her bed at night. As soon as Ms. DeMaio stirs awake, the dog reacts. “She said it gives her a reason to get up in the morning,” Ms. Marasa said.
The dog has been a boon to her, too. “It provides comfort and interaction that I can’t provide every second,” said Ms. Marasa, who lives with her mother but works full time for the county government. “It gives her something that she can feel like is totally her own.”
In Broward County, Fla., where the population of residents over 85 is expected to nearly triple over the next few decades, the local agency on aging has used state and federal money and private grants to provide technologies to nearly 4,000 of the county’s seniors at no cost.
Its offerings include a company that uses radar to sense falls and a program that allows seniors to make video calls through their televisions.
“The possibilities are endless,” Charlotte Mather-Taylor, the agency’s chief executive, said. “It’s pretty great to see all the new technology coming out so quickly, and I think that can only benefit our older population and also our caregivers.”
Here comes A.I.
Even technologies not specifically marketed as age tech can help older adults maintain their independence, said Laurie Orlov, founder of the blog Aging and Health Technology Watch. She pointed to video-calling and telehealth platforms; remotely controlled thermostats and lights; and smart speakers, doorbells and watches.
“All technology can be customized to help older adults stay longer in their homes and help their family members feel good about it, or at least tolerate it,” Ms. Orlov said.
That will only become more true with the continued proliferation of artificial intelligence, Ms. Orlov added. Some older adults are already using conversational A.I. to get answers about things like the weather or their medications. (Relying too heavily on A.I. can, however, have negative consequences because chatbots often give flawed medical advice and can lead patients astray.) A.I. can also assist in pattern detection: alerting caregivers to signals that might indicate declines in someone’s cognition or mental health, such as changing their speech pattern or leaving the house less frequently.
One A.I.-powered age tech tool is ElliQ, a tabletop companion robot that looks like a sleek silver desk lamp with a screen. About a year and a half ago, Camille Wolsonovich got one for free, thanks to a local nonprofit, for her 90-year-old father, Bill Castellano. He lives alone in a senior community.
Ms. Wolsonovich, who runs a consulting business, relies on ElliQ to lead her father in exercises and remind him to take his pills and drink water. The robot also asks her father about his sleep and mood via automated check-ins.
“Everything’s just another layer that gives us more confidence, from a caregiving standpoint, that he’s good,” Ms. Wolsonovich said. “I don’t have to necessarily track everything all the time and be overbearing.”
As for Mr. Castellano? He plays trivia digitally and converses daily with ElliQ. The robot, which has a friendly female voice, asks questions, cracks jokes and remembers his likes, dislikes and friends. “She’s great company,” he said. “Everybody around me wants one.”
What about ethical concerns?
Clara Berridge studies the ethics of age tech at the University of Washington.
She has many privacy concerns, namely that most direct-to-consumer products aren’t subject to medical privacy laws, despite being privy to sensitive health information. Though she hopes the federal government will eventually step in to regulate these products, as it has in other countries, the onus remains on the consumer for now.
And even if an age tech product isn’t selling mom’s personal data to the lowest bidder, Dr. Berridge said there’s still the question of whether certain tools are ethical.
“It’s really important for caregivers to recognize that using these new technologies that give them more information about someone can represent greater intrusion into someone’s life,” she said.
What may be well-intentioned monitoring could reveal information that an older adult would rather keep private, such as issues with incontinence, or the comings and goings of a romantic partner.
“It can lead to somebody feeling infantilized,” Dr. Berridge said. “Like there’s not a place to hide within your own home.”
Her research shows that adult children often underestimate how much their parents can understand about technology and how much they want to be involved in tech-related decisions.
She encouraged caregivers to have transparent conversations about privacy implications and to avoid ultimatums or the idea that any decision must be permanent. She said caregivers should put themselves in their parents’ shoes: Is this something they’d want their own children monitoring?
Dr. Berridge is working on an advanced directive for technology, which outlines older people’s wishes for how technology is used in their care. Ultimately, she hopes that questions about age tech will become a standard part of planning for the future.
“If you’re at the start of what, for many people, ends up being a long road of supporting someone potentially through the end of their life,” she said, “seeking to understand each other’s concerns and priorities better is time very well spent.”
-
Dallas, TX5 minutes agoWild vs. Stars Game 3: Key takeaways as Dallas takes series lead on Wyatt Johnston’s 2OT winner
-
Miami, FL11 minutes agoMiami-Dade deputies detain elderly father who they say shot and killed his son after a domestic dispute
-
Boston, MA17 minutes agoBoston has one of the best public markets in the country, says USA TODAY
-
Denver, CO23 minutes agoRed flag fatigue? Colorado sees near-record number of critical fire days
-
Seattle, WA29 minutes agoFOLLOWUP: West Seattle pickleball players band together to save court access
-
San Diego, CA35 minutes agoPadres sign Giolito to 1-year deal with option for '27
-
Milwaukee, WI41 minutes agoTempers flare, fans get involved in ugly end to Wave-Sockers Game 1
-
Atlanta, GA47 minutes agoBraves News: JR Ritchie called up, Didier Fuentes starts, more