Red Whale Primary Care Pod Untreated, 50% of men and 30% of women with this condition will have had a myocardial infarction by the age of 60
Aug 9, 2024
Ali Smith, a part-time GP from Cheshire and content creator for Web Whale, joins the discussion to shed light on critical health topics. They explore familial hypercholesterolemia, emphasizing its risk of heart attacks and the importance of early detection and lifestyle changes. The conversation also dives into Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDS), revealing its widespread impacts on both athletes and everyday active individuals. Listeners are encouraged to identify REDS signs and understand hormonal imbalances affecting health.
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REDS Affects More Than Athletes
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDS) affects both males and females, not just elite athletes but also recreational exercisers and those with physically active jobs.
- REDS is due to a prolonged energy deficit where calorie expenditure exceeds intake, and it's a multi-system condition affecting mental, bone, endocrine, and cardiovascular health.
REDS Diagnostic Steps
- When suspecting REDS, perform eating disorder screening and comprehensive blood tests including FBC, thyroid, ferritin, B12, vitamin D, cortisol, prolactin, LH, and testosterone.
- In females, include FSH, estradiol, pregnancy test, and consider celiac screening and bone density scan if high fracture risk or amenorrheic.
REDS Management and Hormone Advice
- Manage REDS by modifying diet and exercise to restore energy availability, ideally with a multidisciplinary team of sports physician, dietitian, and psychologist.
- Do not prescribe combined hormonal contraception to manage menstrual problems in REDS, as it only masks symptoms and may worsen bone health.