
Show Notes
In this episode, we discuss how South Asian genes lead to higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic syndromes, at a younger age. We talk about what tests you should be asking for, what helps (and what doesn't), and the fascinating role of epigenetics in shaping our current health risk factors.
Mubin Syed, MD, also know as @desidoc.md on Instagram, is a nationally recognised physician with almost 30 years of experience, specialising in endovascular therapy. He is also a health historian, a medtech entrepreneur, and a medical products inventor. His personal experience as a survivor of a heart attack, fuelled his desire to educate South Asians about their higher risks of disease, diabetes and other metabolic syndromes. He is the author of a medical guide on pain treatment and two works focusing on the modern South Asian health crisis. He has been a TEDx speaker and was featured in the “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” PBS documentary, and in CNN International/ The Guardian and HuffPostUK. And he is the author of a new book, Healing From Our History: How Colonial-Era Famines Led to a Modern South Asian Health Crisis.
You won’t want to miss this week’s episode.
Resources ASCVD risk score (not a good indicator for S Asians) (https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/3398/ascvd-atherosclerotic-cardiovascular-disease-2013-risk-calculator-aha-acc MASALA study https://www.masalastudy.org/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4987009/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-97605-z
More from Avaaz Health
f you’ve been told your cholesterol is “borderline” and it’s being monitored, or you’re already on cholesterol-lowering medication and are wondering if the goalposts recently moved – they did.
Why do South Asians experience higher rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes earlier in life? Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women worldwide, and South Asians carry a disproportionate burden of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, often at younger ages and lower body weights than other groups. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alka Kanaya, anInternal Medicine physician and Professor of Medicine at UCSF, founding Principal Investigator of the groundbreaking MASALA Study (Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America).We discuss what a decade-plus of data is teaching us, with a special spotlight on women.
Peptides are being promoted everywhere.For weight loss, injury recovery, muscle growth, skin, hair, sleep, andanti-aging. But what are peptides, which ones are actually evidence-based, andwhich claims should make you pause? In this episode of the Avaaz HealthPodcast, Dr. Madhu and Dr. Nav break down the science behind peptide therapy.Our moderator Rup, guides the conversation as we discuss established peptidemedicines and the difference between regulated prescriptions and experimentalproducts being marketed online, and why popularity on TikTok or in gym cultureis not proof of safety or effectiveness. We also discuss retatrutide, a newerinvestigational medication attracting attention for its early weight-managementresearch, and we dive into the risks of unregulated “recovery,” “anti-aging,”and “glow” peptide stacks. Before considering a peptide, rememberthe three Ps: Is it proven? Is it prescribed? Is itpure? *This Avaaz Health Podcast and thisepisode are for general education only, and is not a substitute for medicaladvice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak with a qualified health-careprofessional about your individual circumstances.
Everyone’s heard them. Most people believe at least one. In this episode of the Avaaz Health Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jiti, oncologist and cancer specialist, to break down some of the most common (and dangerous) health myths circulating right now. From “Why screen if I feel fine?” to “Only smokers get lung cancer,” we unpack what’s fact, what’s fiction, and what you actually need to know to protect your health. We also dive into hormone testing trends, testosterone myths, breast pain fears, mammogram radiation concerns, and the truth about cortisol. 🎧 Listen now and rethink what you thought you knew. #HealthMyths #CancerScreening #PreventiveHealth #WomensHealth #MensHealth #HormoneHealth #Mammogram #LungCancerAwareness #MedicalFacts #AvaazHealth
Everyone’s talking about them—the so-called “magic” weight-loss injections. But what’s actually fact vs. hype? In this episode, we break down GLP-1s (like Ozempic) in a physician-led, evidence-based conversation. How do these medications actually work in the body? Who are they truly for? What are the real benefits beyond weight loss—and what about the side effects and accessibility concerns? From appetite regulation and metabolic health to the risks, costs, and unanswered questions, we’re cutting through the noise to bring you clear, science-backed insights you can trust. Get the skinny on GLP-1s. Listen to the full episode on the Avaaz Health Podcast today. #GLP1 #Ozempic #WeightLossScience #EvidenceBasedMedicine #AvaazHealth