Setting the Record Straight on HRT

In this episode of the Preventis Podcast, hosts Dr. Brett Haake (anesthesiologist) and Dr. Felice Haake (primary care and functional medicine physician) introduce themselves and their practice, Ikaria Concierge and Functional Medicine. They share the unexpected journey that led them to leave conventional medicine and embrace a functional, preventative, and direct-access concierge approach. They detail Dr. Felice's background in family practice, bariatric medicine (obesity medicine), and her realization of the profound impact lifestyle and functional interventions had on patients' overall health. Dr. Brett discusses his motivation, stemming from a personal sports injury and his experience as a cardiac anesthesiologist seeing the end-stages of vascular disease, leading him to focus on prevention and healthspan. The main focus of the conversation is a recent development in the medical world: the announcement by the FDA director regarding the removal of the black box warning for estrogen and the updated guidance on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in women. They discuss the historical context of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study and the significant benefits of HRT, including reduced risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. The doctors also outline their practice's core philosophy: addressing the root cause of disease, particularly metabolic dysfunction (insulin resistance), which they link to a majority of non-communicable diseases. They emphasize the value of time and access through the concierge model and introduce their sophisticated diagnostic tools, like the Vibrant Labs Cardio Zoomer, for a nuanced and precise approach to cardiometabolic risk and prevention.