Dr. Nieca Goldberg's Complete Guide to Women's Health

“I want to be the doctor going to the doctor with you,” Dr. Goldberg tells readers as she opens this user-friendly handbook to women's health. Goldberg, who runs NYU's Women's Heart Program and other cardiac projects, knows women's bodies aren't just small versions of men's. Women have different medical needs and different ways of relating to treatment, so they may not be getting the care they need. First, though, women have to get in the habit of telling their doctors everything–what symptoms they have, what medicines and supplements they're using–without deciding in advance what their doctors need to know. Goldberg explores the range of medical problems that might bring a middle-aged woman to the doctor's office, from hormonal imbalances to heart disease. She explains what the doctor may ask you and why, as well as the benefits and risks of various treatments. She wisely includes discussions of procedures like chemical peels, Botox and breast implants, since women often imagine they don't need to advise their regular doctors about such “cosmetic” interventions. Happily, the closing section on healthy lifestyles, mostly diet and exercise advice, is geared to realistic expectations. By offering solid, up-to-date medical information in a comforting, woman-to-woman tone of voice, Goldberg's got just what the patient ordered." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review)


If you’re a woman over thirty-five you probably have a lot of stress in your life–maybe even more than you realize. You may have a demanding job, family obligations, financial pressures, or a combination of all three. You’re most likely low on energy, gaining weight, and not sleeping as well as you once did. The fact is: your body is changing. You see and feel it happening, but you don’t know anymore what is normal and what is not. Your concern over your health is creating stress all by itself. And if you’re like most women, you don’t think your health care providers are giving you the help you need. In fact, traditional doctors may not even be aware of many diseases that present special problems in women.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg knows what you’re going through, because she has seen women dealing with these stressful bodily changes in her practice every day–and has experienced them firsthand. A renowned physician and pioneer in women’s heart health, Dr. Goldberg is also a passionate advocate for doctor-patient communication. In this welcome book she’ll give you a personal consultation so that you can understand the changes in your body, solve problems that plague women starting in their mid-thirties, and find the right doctor for optimal health care. Inside you’ll find

• the normal physical changes you can expect to experience at age thirty-five and after
• treatments for over- and underactive thyroids and other hormone issues
• the signs, symptoms, and management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• facts on fertility, contraceptives, pregnancy, and menopause
• information on good breast health, including preventive breast-cancer measures
• a comprehensive heart-to-heart about your cardiovascular system
• dealing with GERD, stomach ulcers, gallstones, IBS, IBD, and colon cancer
• strategies for keeping bones strong, fending off arthritis, and coping with foot and back pain
• the importance of diagnosing sleep apnea and saying good night to insomnia
• revelations about the mind-body connection–countering stress and relieving depression
• the ins and outs of medical exams–what to ask, and when to change doctors
• an eating program that will help you achieve a healthy weight
• an exercise program to strengthen bones, build muscle, and provide energy

There is so much unreliable health care advice on the Internet and so many fad “cures” that it can be hard to know what matters and what doesn’t. With warmth and encouragement, Dr. Nicea Goldberg gives you the solid information you need on the path to great health.

Nieca Goldberg, M.D., is an associate professor of medicine and the medical director of New York University’s Women’s Heart Program, the co-medical director of the 92nd Street Y’s Cardio Rehabilitation Program, and a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s “Go Red” campaign. She is the former chief of women’s cardiac care at Lenox Hill Hospital. Dr. Goldberg has appeared on many shows, including Today, The View, and Good Morning America, and her articles have appeared in many publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Fitness magazine. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Heart Association/NYC affiliate Dr. with Heart Award. She lives and works in New York City.

Alice Greenwood, Ph.D., is a sociolinguist who has worked in health care for many years. She specializes in research and writing about gender differences in communication styles. She has written and edited numerous professional and popular articles and books on various health care issues. She lives with her family in New Jersey and New York.