Expert insight on health, performance, longevity, critical thinking, and pursuing excellence. Dr. Peter Attia (Stanford/Hopkins/NIH-trained MD) talks with leaders in their fields.

The Peter Attia Drive

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 In this episode, Peter welcomes back Jeff Cavaliere, a physical therapist, strength coach, and founder of ATHLEAN-X who has spent decades bridging the gap between rehabilitation, athletic performance, and strength training. Jeff begins by sharing how his experience working with professional athletes and managing his own injuries has shaped his approach to building strength and muscle while minimizing injury risk. He discusses how training should evolve as we age, particularly for those in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who want to continue making progress without compromising long-term joint health. Jeff explains why excessive training volume can be counterproductive and how to balance reps in reserve with training to failure to maximize results while managing fatigue and injury risk. He also explores the differences between training for aesthetics and functional performance, explaining why these goals are not necessarily at odds. The conversation then shifts to a muscle-by-muscle breakdown of effective exercises for building strength and hypertrophy. Jeff highlights common training mistakes, offers modifications for those dealing with pain or injury, and explains why often-neglected muscles deserve more attention. Finally, he walks through his "exercise graveyard," identifying popular exercises that may carry unnecessary injury risk and offering alternatives that deliver similar benefits with less risk. Throughout the episode, Jeff provides actionable guidance for making training more effective, sustainable, and adaptable as we age.
 We discuss:
  
Jeff's passion as an educator and the path that led him to build his YouTube channel [2:30];
 Jeff's injury history and how he overcomes injury in training [11:00];
 Qualities of great athletes and the tragedy of injury [20:15];
 Tom Brady—an example of the value of pliability and consistency [24:30];
 The athlete's mindset, how training changes in midlife, and the importance of a warm-up [28:15];
 Reducing risk of injury in middle age and beyond: reps in reserve, training to failure, and junk volume [35:15];
 How training intensity changes in midlife [44:30];
 Hypertrophy: misconceptions and common mistakes when training shoulders [48:15];
 Deltoid muscles of the shoulder: exercises beyond the overhead press [59:45];
 Triceps: compound movements and exercises that target the long head [1:11:15];
 Upper arm: best approaches for building hypertrophy and strength [1:21:00];
 Biceps: nuance around training [1:24:30];
 Forearm exercises that target the flexors and brachioradialis [1:31:45];
 Pecs and chest: pressing and crossover movements [1:34:15];
 Great abs: nutrition, rotation exercises, interval training, and more [1:45:30];
 Back: exercises to create that V-shape [1:52:30];
 Legs: training the quads, glutes, and more [2:02:00];
 Calves: training the gastrocnemius and soleus [2:13:00];
 Jeff's "exercise graveyard" and recommendations for modifications that achieve results with less risk of injury [2:21:00]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#414 ‒ Resistance training as we age: optimizing exercise selection and training intensity for muscle growth, function, and injury risk management | Jeff Cavaliere, M.S.P.T., C.S.C.S.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 In this episode, Peter sits down with Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychologist, neuroscientist, author, and distinguished professor at Northeastern University whose research challenges many of the conventional assumptions about emotions and how the brain works. Lisa is best known for her theory of constructed emotion, which challenges the idea that emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness are hardwired responses with universal biological signatures. She begins by explaining how unexpected findings early in her research led her to question traditional theories of emotion. She discusses why studying individual variation, rather than relying on averages, is essential to understanding the brain. Lisa then explores the idea that the brain is fundamentally a predictive system rather than a reactive one. She explains how past experiences and memories shape what we perceive, feel, and do. She also describes how the brain continuously anticipates and regulates metabolism through a process called allostasis. The conversation then turns to the effects of chronic stress, uncertainty, and childhood adversity on physical and emotional health. Lisa explains how our relationships help regulate our nervous systems and why the loss of a loved one can have such a profound physiological impact. She also discusses how deliberate practice and new experiences can reshape the brain's predictions, potentially changing how we think, feel, and respond to the world around us. Throughout the discussion, Peter and Lisa explore how this framework challenges traditional views of emotion and offers a greater sense of agency over our emotional lives.
 We discuss:
  
How unexpected results in graduate school changed Lisa's understanding of emotion [3:30];
 Why variation is the norm for emotion, and the danger in tracking averages instead of characterizing variation [15:30];
 Lisa's experience with Hashimoto's disease and the value of modeling individual variation [30:00];
 How Lisa's research challenges common views about emotions, and why there is no biomarker for emotions [40:00];
 The difficulty of defining emotions and the brain's role in regulating the body [49:15];
 Consciousness, interoception, and the limits of subjective experience [54:00];
 Defining emotion: fear and anger [1:00:15];
 The brain as a predictive system rather than a reactive one [1:13:15];
 Baseball as an example of the brain's predictive nature [1:31:00];
 How the human brain differs from that of other animals [1:44:00];
 The impact of stress on metabolism, and the role of the brain in maintaining allostasis [1:49:45];
 Childhood adversity, social regulation of the nervous system, and the effect of chronic stress [1:56:45];
 Understanding chronic stress: why some people respond differently, and its impact on metabolism [2:02:15];
 How practicing new predictions can change thoughts and feelings [2:10:15];
 Lisa's practice of finding awe in everyday experiences and the greater sense of agency it brings [2:13:30];
 The impact of grief on nervous system regulation and the metabolic "body budget," as well as practices that reduce sadness [2:22:15];
 The connection between memories and predictions, and Peter's closing thoughts [2:29:45]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#413 ‒ The neuroscience of emotion: challenging conventional theories of emotion, how the brain predicts and constructs our experiences, and gaining greater control over how we feel | Lisa Feldman Barrett, Ph.D.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 In this episode, Peter welcomes back Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, oncologist, researcher, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies. Fifteen years after the book was first published, Sid released an updated edition. This conversation examines what has changed in our understanding of cancer—not only in how we treat it, but in how we think about its causes, prevention, detection, and biology. Sid explores the contributions of genetics, environmental exposures, random mutations, and inflammation to cancer risk, including the emerging role of hyperinsulinemia and metabolism. He discusses why detecting cancer early remains so difficult, particularly in pancreatic cancer, and how advances in immunotherapy, CAR T cell therapy, and targeted treatments such as KRAS inhibitors are changing the treatment landscape. The conversation then broadens beyond cancer to what Sid calls "regenerative failure"—the declining ability of tissues to repair and replenish themselves with age. Peter and Sid explore how this process may contribute to conditions such as osteoarthritis, and whether longevity should be approached less as the prevention of individual diseases and more as the preservation of regenerative capacity. Sid weighs in on the potential for chemoprevention, metabolic interventions, and AI to transform cancer prevention and treatment. Finally, they discuss what it would take to develop meaningful biomarkers of longevity that could ultimately help to extend human healthspan and lifespan.
 We discuss:
  
What oncology has learned in the 15 years since The Emperor of All Maladies was published [2:45];
 The contributions of genetic risk, bad luck, and inflammation to cancer [14:45];
 The role of metabolism and hyperinsulinemia in cancer [31:00];
 Osteoarthritis: the role of inflammation and regenerative stem cells [40:45];
 How cancer escapes the immune system—the subtleties of neoantigens and immune checkpoints [49:45];
 AI and the thymus as a predictor of longevity, and T cell aging and immune regeneration [57:15];
 How CAR T cell therapy works and why solid tumors are harder to treat [1:04:00];
 Targeting KRAS in pancreatic cancer [1:10:45];
 The rise of colorectal cancer in younger adults [1:19:15];
 How AI may transform drug discovery [1:23:00];
 The future of cancer prevention: chemoprevention [1:33:15];
 Challenging the current model of longevity—disease prevention versus targeting regenerative failure [1:37:45];
 The need for a biomarker of longevity—comparing geroscience to atherosclerosis [1:50:30];
 Clinical trials targeting cancer metabolism [1:56:00];
 What Sid is currently writing about and a glimpse into his writing process [1:58:00]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#412 ‒ The evolving science of cancer: emerging approaches to prevention and early detection, and the advances reshaping treatment | Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., Ph.D.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter looks back on 400 episodes of The Drive with another installment of "strong convictions, loosely held," revisiting some of the positions he has taken over more than eight years of the podcast. He explains why changing one's mind in response to new evidence, conversations with experts, and clinical experience is essential for practicing medicine well. Peter begins with nutrition, describing how his views on ketogenic diets, extended fasting, and the framework of dietary restriction, time restriction, and calorie restriction have evolved. He explains why he no longer takes metformin for longevity and discusses his growing uncertainty around rapamycin despite compelling animal data. Peter also revisits his views on cancer screening, including whole-body MRI and liquid biopsies for early detection. On exercise, Peter explains how his approach to cardiorespiratory training and the 80/20 Zone 2 framework has changed, particularly for people with limited time to train. He also shares why he has moved away from heavy barbell squats and deadlifts and how he now thinks about balancing benefit and injury risk. Throughout the episode, Peter emphasizes the importance of focusing on durable principles, strong foundations, and sustainable practices rather than chasing optimizations that provide marginal gains.
 If you're not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you'll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you're a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #90 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.
 We discuss:
  
Strong convictions, loosely held: changing opinions as evidence, expert conversations, and clinical experience evolve [2:00];
 Nutrition: Peter's evolving view of ketogenic diets, energy balance, and dietary dogmatism [5:30];
 Extended fasting, autophagy, lean-mass loss, and who may benefit from prolonged fasting [12:00];
 The dietary restriction, time restriction, and calorie restriction framework—and why GLP-1 agonists are tipping the balance toward calorie restriction [20:15];
 Why Peter no longer views metformin as geroprotective for metabolically healthy people [24:45];
 Rapamycin for longevity: compelling animal data, unresolved human dosing, and Peter's growing uncertainty [29:15];
 The importance of early cancer detection, declining whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quality, and more targeted alternatives [41:30];
 Liquid biopsies for cancer screening: the NHS-Galleri trial, why early-stage rather than late-stage detection is what actually matters, and why the technology remains "fuzzy" [53:30];
 Evolving exercise goals, the limitations of the 80/20 Zone 2 framework, and programming cardio at lower training volumes [1:00:00];
 Exercise prescriptions for limited time, building a training habit, and becoming less dogmatic about forcing workouts [1:05:00];
 Moving away from heavy squats and deadlifts, alternative exercises, and deliberate risk management [1:13:00];
 Prioritizing principles, foundations, and sustainable practices over marginal optimization [1:21:30]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#411 ‒ AMA #90: Strong convictions, loosely held: how Peter's views on fasting, keto, metformin, rapamycin, whole-body MRI, and exercise have changed

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 In this episode, Peter sits down with Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Gray, a physician-scientist, high-risk obstetrician, and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Katie begins by explaining the remarkable physiologic changes that occur during pregnancy and how the cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal systems adapt to support both mother and developing fetus. From there, the conversation turns to some of the most important complications that can arise. Katie explains how gestational diabetes is screened for and treated, and what a diagnosis may mean for the long-term health of both mother and child. She then walks through the biology of preeclampsia, including who is at risk and how the condition is managed. She also discusses HELLP syndrome and postpartum depression. Peter and Katie explore the realities of labor and delivery, including breech presentation, the role of midwives, and the trade-offs between vaginal and cesarean delivery. The conversation also covers stillbirth and the growing role of cell-free DNA in prenatal genetic screening. Other topics include prenatal nutrition and folate, breastfeeding, and exercise during pregnancy. Throughout the episode, Peter and Katie return to a larger question: What can pregnancy reveal about a woman's long-term health? They discuss how complications during pregnancy can provide important clues about future health risks. Finally, Katie highlights some of the major questions that remain unanswered in maternal health and why greater investment in research is needed to improve outcomes for mothers and their children.
 Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely those of Dr. Kathryn Gray and do not represent the University of Washington or any of its affiliated units. Dr. Gray speaks solely in a personal capacity, and nothing here should be construed as an official position or endorsement from the University of Washington.
 We discuss:
  
What drew Katie to obstetrics and gynecology, and fundamental questions in the field that remain unanswered [3:15];
 Pregnancy as a cardiovascular and metabolic stress test; the first symptoms and early changes [6:30];
 Early hormonal changes, prenatal nutrition, and neural tube defects [16:00];
 Fetal development and the physiology of gestational diabetes [23:45];
 Diagnosing and treating gestational diabetes [30:00];
 Preeclampsia: diagnosis, biology, acute risk, and how it's managed [37:00];
 HELLP syndrome, what genetic studies reveal about preeclampsia, and the antihypertensive medications used to treat it [49:00];
 What pregnancy reveals about long-term cardiometabolic health [54:45];
 Cesarean delivery, breech presentation, and stillbirth [1:01:15];
 The onset of labor, cervical dilation, and membrane rupture [1:14:15];
 Vaginal delivery and breastfeeding: benefits versus myths [1:23:15];
 Exercise during pregnancy, sleep position in the third trimester, and postpartum depression [1:27:00];
 Prenatal genetic screening: the growing role of cell-free DNA and the gap between what is technologically possible and what gets deployed in the clinic [1:33:00];
 Midwifery and the realities of childbirth [1:39:00];
 Maternal health in the United States and the need for research investment [1:48:30]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#410 ‒ The biology of pregnancy: physiologic adaptation, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, childbirth, and long-term maternal health | Kathryn Gray, M.D., Ph.D.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 Lloyd B. Klickstein is a physician-scientist who has spent more than 20 years at the intersection of drug discovery, healthy aging, and preventive medicine. Drawing on his experience in academic medicine, translational research, and biotechnology, Lloyd walks through the full arc of modern drug development. He explains how scientists identify an unmet medical need and decide which diseases and therapeutic targets are worth pursuing. From there, he takes us through the process of engineering a drug, testing it in animals, and navigating clinical trials and regulatory approval. Using bimagrumab as a case study, Lloyd explains the rationale for targeting myostatin and activin signaling to increase muscle mass and strength and describes how the antibody was engineered and screened. He then walks through what was learned from early clinical trials. Unexpected effects on fat mass and type 2 diabetes helped reshape bimagrumab's development as a potential treatment for obesity, including its use in combination with semaglutide. Along the way, Peter and Lloyd explore the differences among drug modalities, including biologics and small-molecule therapeutics. They discuss the roles of patents and capital allocation in drug development, along with the requirements for IND submission and GMP manufacturing. They also examine why developing a new drug takes so long and costs so much, and why identifying failures early is critical. At the end of the episode, the conversation turns to mTOR inhibition and geroprotection, as well as Lloyd's current work on a novel pharmacologic approach to cancer prevention. This episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at how new medicines are actually created and the scientific, regulatory, and economic decisions that determine which ideas ultimately make it to patients.
 We discuss:
  
Lloyd's path from academic medicine to translational drug development [3:15];
 Drug modalities, patents, and the economics of innovation [11:30];
 Choosing sarcopenia as a target for drug development, and confronting the problem of measuring falls [23:00];
 The rationale for bimagrumab: improving muscle mass and strength by targeting myostatin and activin signaling (and why follistatin failed) [36:45];
 Engineering and screening the bimagrumab antibody, and the cost of developing a new drug [43:45];
 From candidate antibodies to animal proof of concept (impressive muscle hypertrophy) [54:15];
 Toxicology, capital allocation, and the path to an IND [1:02:45];
 IND requirements, GMP manufacturing, and gray market peptides [1:14:45];
 First in-human study design, patient selection, and protection of healthy volunteers [1:22:00];
 Phase 1 dosing, pharmacodynamics, and global trial strategy [1:33:45];
 Phase 2 lessons on muscle mass, function, and nutrition [1:43:30];
 Bimagrumab's effects on fat mass and type 2 diabetes [1:50:45];
 The BELIEVE trial of bimagrumab plus semaglutide [1:59:30];
 Selective mTORC1 inhibition and the challenge of testing geroprotection [2:11:45];
 A new pharmacologic approach to cancer prevention [2:15:45]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#409 ‒ Inside modern drug development: the science, economics, and regulatory hurdles behind bringing new medicines to patients | Lloyd Klickstein, M.D., Ph.D.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter takes a deep dive into thyroid health and explains why diagnosing and managing thyroid dysfunction is unusually complex. He begins with the basic biology of the thyroid gland and three commonly measured hormones—free T4, free T3, and TSH. He explains how T4 is converted to the active hormone T3 and the important functions T3 performs throughout the body. He also explains what reverse T3 is and when it may be useful to measure it. Peter then breaks down thyroid blood tests and their limitations and provides a practical framework for evaluating suspected thyroid dysfunction. He explains why symptoms alone are insufficient for diagnosis and reviews the criteria for diagnosing hypothyroidism, along with conditions that can mimic it. He also explores how hypothyroidism can be both underdiagnosed and overtreated and how to navigate subclinical hypothyroidism. Peter discusses treatment with T4 and T3, including why some patients continue to experience symptoms despite standard T4 replacement. He also explains how thyroid medications should be taken to optimize absorption. Additional topics include Hashimoto's disease, thyroid considerations during pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, the risks of excess iodine, and supplements marketed to support thyroid function. Finally, Peter offers guidance for patients who continue to feel unwell despite apparently normal thyroid tests.
 If you're not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you'll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you're a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #89 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.
 We discuss:
  
Why thyroid management is unusually complex and what the thyroid does [2:00];
 Why symptoms are insufficient for diagnosis and the risks of underdiagnosis and overtreatment [9:00];
 Regulation of the thyroid axis and conversion of T4 to T3 [13:30];
 Reverse T3 and the metabolic effects of T3 [20:00];
 Thyroid blood tests, assay limitations, and who should be tested [22:45];
 Causes and mimics of hypothyroidism and the criteria for diagnosis [29:00];
 Navigating subclinical hypothyroidism [34:30];
 Treating hypothyroidism with T4 and T3 [37:00];
 Hashimoto's disease, pregnancy, and associated autoimmune risks [42:45];
 Proper timing and administration of thyroid medication [43:45];
 Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of hyperthyroidism [45:15];
 Iodine excess, the risks of thyroid-support supplements, and evidence for dietary interventions [53:45];
 A practical framework for evaluating and treating patients who suspect thyroid dysfunction [59:30]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#408 ‒ AMA #89: Thyroid health: interpreting symptoms, diagnosing and treating dysfunction, and navigating the gray zone

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 Michael Davidson is a world-renowned cardiologist, lipidologist, and the founding CEO of NewAmsterdam Pharma. He begins this episode by sharing how his family history shaped his interest in lipidology and primary prevention. He explains why prevention should focus on causal drivers of disease rather than near-term risk and examines the causal relationship between LDL and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Michael then traces the complicated history of CETP inhibitors—from the original rationale that raising HDL would reduce cardiovascular risk to the failures of torcetrapib, dalcetrapib, and evacetrapib—and explains how lessons from these trials ultimately led to the development of obicetrapib. He reviews the phase 2 and phase 3 trials of obicetrapib, its effects on LDL-C, apoB, LDL particle number, and Lp(a), the ongoing cardiovascular outcomes trial, and where the drug could fit alongside statins and other lipid-lowering therapies. Peter and Michael discuss the relationship between statins and diabetes risk, then turn to the potential role of obicetrapib in Alzheimer's disease prevention, exploring the genetics of APOE4 and CETP, cholesterol metabolism within the brain, and emerging biomarker data. Finally, Peter and Michael explore the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and the challenge of delivering DHA to the brain, as well as ongoing work on klotho in preparation for clinical trials. They discuss the potential for AI to transform clinical trials and the scientific and financial challenges of developing new therapies for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease.
 We discuss:
  
Michael's path to lipidology, and his passion for primary prevention [3:30];
 Reframing prevention around causal drivers rather than time horizon [9:30];
 What CETP inhibition does, the evolutionary biology of CETP, the HDL-raising rationale, and Pfizer's torcetrapib failure [15:00];
 Why raising HDL is thought to be beneficial, a quick review of the functions of HDL, and how this connects to torcetrapib [24:00];
 The graveyard of CETP inhibitors: Roche's dalcetrapib, Lilly's evacetrapib, and Merck's REVEAL trial [27:15];
 The causality of LDL in cardiovascular disease [34:30];
 Reviving obicetrapib at NewAmsterdam, and confirming the benefit is LDL lowering: the TULIP data, the abandoned statin-intolerance path, and the Mendelian randomization verdict on HDL [37:30];
 Phase 2 and phase 3 trials of obicetrapib—ROSE, BROOKLYN, BROADWAY, and TANDEM—and the PREVAIL outcomes trial, with the European and US approval paths [44:45];
 Discordance among LDL-C, LDL-P, and apoB with CETP inhibition, and obicetrapib's Lp(a)-lowering effect [50:30];
 Where obicetrapib fits in the lipid-lowering toolkit, the case against high-dose statins, and the problem of drug pricing [57:30];
 The case for obicetrapib in Alzheimer's: the APOE4 and CETP genetics, the animal models, and funding Alzheimer's research [1:03:45];
 Brain cholesterol metabolism and the APOE4 mechanism: the blood-brain barrier, astrocyte cholesterol efflux, the amyloid-tau cascade, the role of HDL, and why statins don't cause Alzheimer's disease [1:08:00];
 The biomarker evidence: the CSF pilot study, Alzheimer's as a disease of middle age, the pharma graveyard problem, and the p-tau 217 results from BROADWAY [1:17:45];
 Whether obicetrapib translates into clinical benefit for Alzheimer's disease: the risk of fooling yourself, the persistence of the amyloid dogma, ARIA in APOE4 homozygotes, and the next prevention trial [1:28:00];
 Fish oil, EPA, and DHA: the cardiovascular trials and the challenge of delivering DHA to the brain [1:32:00];
 Two open problems: using AI to reform clinical trials, and the statin–diabetes signal [1:41:15];
 What it takes to develop a drug, the biotech investment landscape, and the klotho program [1:48:15];
 Closing reflections: what to do if you carry APOE4, balancing motivation against over-testing, and the need for multiple therapies [1:55:15]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

#407 ‒ Preventing cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease: lowering LDL early, APOE4, and promising new therapies | Michael Davidson, M.D.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter delves into the critical subject of blood pressure, which is one of the three primary causes of atherosclerosis, along with high apoB and smoking. He begins by unraveling the nature of high blood pressure, its prevalence, and why it often goes undiagnosed. Peter describes in detail the proper way to accurately measure blood pressure and what determines a diagnosis. Next, Peter discusses the actionable steps one can take in response to high blood pressure, shedding light on the extent to which factors like weight loss, exercise, and nutrition can make an impact. He also explores the pharmacological options available and offers valuable insights on how to approach them.
 We discuss:
  
Blood pressure and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease [2:30];
 Defining blood pressure and the purpose and meaning of a blood pressure measurement [5:45];
 The implications of high blood pressure and the importance of maintaining an optimal level [10:30];
 The importance of accurate measurements of blood pressure and how Peter approaches the care of patients at the very top range of "normal" [21:45];
 The prevalence of high blood pressure—a hidden epidemic? [24:30];
 The consequences of high blood pressure on cardiovascular health, brain health, kidneys, and more [24:45];
 Low blood pressure: symptoms and consequences [35:30];
 How to properly measure blood pressure [37:45];
 Daily variance in blood pressure and the transient changes in blood pressure during exercise [48:00];
 Primary hypertension vs. secondary hypertension: what to look for [51:45];
 Lifestyle factors impacting blood pressure: weight loss, exercise, and sodium [57:45];
 Impact of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes on blood pressure [1:04:45];
 How sleep impacts blood pressure [1:06:45];
 Pharmacologic options for managing blood pressure [1:08:00]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Blood pressure: how to measure, manage, and treat high blood pressure (AMA #48 rebroadcast)

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode
  Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content
  Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter
 Brian Grosberg is a world-renowned headache specialist who joins Peter to provide a master class on the diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders. In this episode, Brian explains the distinction between primary and secondary headaches and breaks down the defining features of the "big three" primary headache types (migraine, cluster, and tension headache)—highlighting how often they are misdiagnosed and how they are treated. He explores the epidemiology of headaches, describing migraine as an invisible disease affecting about 12% of the population, disproportionately affecting women, while cluster headaches more often affect men. He discusses the major gap between demand for headache care and available specialists, and he offers advice on when to see a physician. Brian dives into the multifactorial nature and pathophysiology of migraine, including genetic and hormonal influences, neurovascular changes, and inflammatory signaling, and connects these mechanisms to modern therapies. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the individualized nature of headache disorders and the importance of a detailed headache diary. Brian shares practical strategies for treating headaches including lifestyle changes, medications, and neuromodulation devices.
 We discuss:
  
Brian's interest in headaches and how Peter met Brian [2:15];
 Differentiating the types of headaches: primary versus secondary headache and tension versus migraine headache [7:30];
 The epidemiology and burden of migraine, its disproportionate affect on women, and the shortage of headache specialists [20:00];
 Genetic susceptibility to migraine and the role of hormones [24:45];
 Migraine triggers, the impact of hormones, and the importance of a headache diary [31:15];
 The phases of a migraine: premonitory symptoms, aura, the headache itself, and the postdrome [38:15];
 Tension headaches: symptoms, causes, and prevalence [41:45];
 Cluster headaches: extreme pain, distinctive symptoms, and frequent misdiagnosis as a sinus infection or allergies [43:15];
 Lifestyle interventions to prevent headaches [51:15];
 Pharmacological treatments to prevent headaches [1:05:00];
 What's known about the pathophysiology of migraines: neurovascular changes, release of neuropeptides, and inflammatory response [1:14:45];
 CGRP antagonists for the treatment of migraines: large monoclonal antibodies and gepants [1:20:15];
 Use of calcium channel blockers and Botox to treat cluster headache and migraine [1:28:30];
 Drugs for the acute treatment of migraines [1:32:30];
 Treatment of migraines with electrical stimulation devices [1:40:00];
 Use of THC or cannabis to treat headaches [1:44:00];
 What Brian wants people to know about headaches [1:45:45];
 Brian's advice on when to see a doctor about headaches and how to prepare for that visit [1:49:15]; and
 More.
  
Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube