Search powered by AI
Healthy Women Image

Nieca Goldberg, MD, FACC

Cardiologist
NYU Langone Cardiology Associates
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine
A National Spokesperson for the American Heart Association
Founder and Former Medical Director, Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health

Dr. Nieca (NEE-sah) Goldberg is a board-certified cardiologist, educator, author, and advocate for women’s health, who is passionate about changing the narrative around heart health, from prevention to treatment. Dr. Nieca currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Heart disease remains the #1 killer for both men and women in the U.S. yet is still largely observed and treated as a male-focused disease. Through her nationally recognized platform and work, Dr. Nieca has made it her mission to unpack the complexities of our healthcare system and empower communities with the tools to advocate for a healthier future. Dr. Nieca is a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association and started the “Go Red for Women” campaign, the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women. She also currently serves as Board Member of HealthyWomen, as well as Advisory Board Member of the Barnard Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being. Dr. Nieca previously was medical director of NYU Women’s Heart Program, Senior Advisor of Women’s Health Strategy at NYU Langone Health, and the founder and Medical Director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health at the NYU Langone Medical Center.

Dr. Nieca currently serves on the Woman’s Day Editorial Advisory Board and hosts the podcast Beyond the Heart™ where she explores essential conversations with doctors, thought leaders, health practitioners, and game-changers to help listeners redefine the healing process and become their best health advocate. Dr. Nieca is the author of DR. NIECA GOLDBERG’S COMPLETE GUIDE TO WOMEN’S HEALTH. She has also authored the award winning and highly acclaimed book WOMEN ARE NOT SMALL MEN, which was updated and titled THE WOMEN’S HEALTHY HEART PROGRAM: Lifesaving Strategies for Preventing and Healing Heart Disease published by Ballantine Books. To raise awareness of heart health best practices, Dr. Nieca has made numerous appearances on programs such as The Today Show, The View, Good Morning America, CNN, and CBS Evening News. In addition, she has been featured and interviewed in leading national and international publications discussing women's health and heart disease, where she can be found sharing tips and insights on cardiovascular research updates, nutrition, exercise, and more. A graduate of Barnard College and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, Dr. Nieca completed her medical residency at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center and a cardiology fellowship at SUNY Downstate.

Full Bio

Learn about our editorial policies

A Cardiologist Explains If Alcohol Is Good for Your Heart
iStock.com/Ranta Images

A Cardiologist Explains If Alcohol Is Good for Your Heart

Forget the myth that alcohol is good for your heart. A cardiologist explains why it's healthier to drink alcohol sparingly, if at all.

Menopause & Aging Well
heart health

You may want to think twice before drinking to your health.

There's a prevailing myth that alcohol is good for your heart, and that red wine is even better. But current medical research shows that alcohol may be bad for your heart, and that women are especially vulnerable.

Too much alcohol can raise your triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood. When combined with high low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol, high triglycerides have been associated with a buildup of fat on artery walls, which in turn puts you at risk of heart attack or stroke.

Another thing to consider is that studies that reported positive results from alcohol consumption are based on moderate intake—one drink a day for women and one or two drinks a day for men. That means 5 ounces of wine, one 12-ounce beer, or 1.5 ounces of an 80-proof alcohol such as vodka, whiskey or gin.

Overconsumption has dangerous consequences—high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmia. Binge drinking is particularly dangerous for women. Having four or more drinks within two hours can put you at risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, which can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure. In addition, alcohol has calories, which contribute to obesity and diabetes.

But what about the protective effects of red wine in the French and Italians? The truth is that it's hard to tease out other factors that might play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease among traditional wine drinkers. We know that the flavonoids and antioxidants in wine are protective, but you can also get them from dark grapes and their juice or blueberries. (Read more about heart-healthy foods.) People from Mediterranean cultures who commonly enjoy a glass of wine with dinner also have a healthier lifestyle—they walk and bicycle more, eat less and consume more fruits and vegetables.

While having an occasional glass of wine, beer or spirits won't hurt you if you're an adult in good health, consume alcohol sparingly. The best way to protect your heart is to lower your cholesterol, control your blood pressure, manage your weight, exercise regularly, quit smoking and eat a healthy diet. Save those toasts for special occasions, and you'll really have something to celebrate.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg is medical director of NYU Women's Heart Program; clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine; senior advisor of Women's Health Strategy, NYU Langone Health; founder and former medical director, Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health, NYU Langone Health; and a member of HealthyWomen's Women's Health Advisory Council.

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
You might be interested in
Trending Topics