In this episode of Blindspot Capital, Maryann sits down with Professor Angela Maas (cardiologist and pioneer of sex- and gender-specific cardiology) to unpack why women’s heart disease is still misunderstood and what medicine, policy, and innovation must change to close the gap.
Angela has built her career at the frontier of women’s cardiovascular science and clinical practice. Her work helped shift the field from “atypical symptoms” and one-size-fits-all assumptions toward a life-course view of women’s heart health spanning pregnancy, midlife, menopause, and the long tail of cancer treatment. This conversation exposes how medical blind spots persist, how cultural resistance slows change, and where cross-disciplinary innovation can unlock better outcomes.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating midlife health, clinicians working to close the gender gap in outcomes, and investors seeking the next frontier in precision medicine.
We Cover:
The moment a female patient confronted Angela and why it became a 35-year wake-up call for her career
Why women’s ischemic heart disease often isn’t “obstructive” and how spasm and microvascular dysfunction show up differently (especially ages 40–70)
The overlooked risk signals hiding in plain sight: migraines, hypertensive pregnancy, miscarriages, early menopause, and severe menopausal symptoms
Menopause and “myocardial stiffness” explained in plain language and why prevention must start at the beginning of the transition
The hidden cardio-oncology gap: how breast cancer treatment can drive heart damage years later, and why early detection matters
What sex-specific medical education should include and why policy starts with who holds leadership and decision power
Links
Learn more in Angela’s book, A Woman’s Heart: Why Female Heart Health Really Matters — a definitive guide to understanding women’s cardiovascular risk across the life course.
Follow Professor Angela Maas on LinkedIn
And share this episode with a woman navigating midlife health, clinicians and investors because this blind spot doesn’t fix itself.
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