Recommended Reading: “Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Guide to Women’s Health”

I came across a relatively new book on women’s health by Nieca Goldberg, M.D., a physician in New York City who is the medical director of NY University’s Women’s Heart Program. “Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health” focuses on women over 35 and I have to say it’s one of the better books out there for a number of reasons.

Using case studies from her own practice, she does a particularly good job of explaining the changes that most women experience in mid-life to one degree or another (i.e. weight gain, changes in skin quality, vision and joint pain), and the problems you’re likely to bring to your physician’s attention. And that’s where she begins: how to choose the right doctor and how to be a good patient.

Dr. Goldberg covers a range of topics from urinary incontinence to breast health. But it’s her deep expertise in heart health that sets her apart from other physician-authors. She explains the connection between blood pressure and heart disease and emerging risk markers such as homocysteine, lipoprotein, and C-reactive protein that we should be aware of.

Dr. Goldberg also devoted a chapter to the gastrointestinal tract and she elaborates on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses that are more common to women than men including Gerd (reflux disease), ulcers, and IBS. Another chapter focuses on the endrocrine system, which is particularly relevant for menopausal women. With all the research I’ve done, I still learned a lot about adrenal hormones from this chapter alone.

There are other chapters on normal skin aging, and what she calls “the keys to four-star health” (healthy eating, sleep, and exercise), but she goes beyond the superficial advice that most books on women’s health are guilty of.

If you’ve read Dr. Goldberg’s book, I’ll be interested in your opinion of it.