Why Women’s Heart Disease Is Still Misdiagnosed

Why Women’s Heart Disease Is Still Misdiagnosed

Author: by FemmeHealth Alliance January 29, 2026 Duration: 34:58

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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📌 Watch the full episode on YouTube



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There's a vast, often overlooked frontier in business and innovation, and Blindspot Capital is mapping its terrain. This podcast digs into the ideas, trends, and tangible investment potential shaping the future of women's health, a sector that has historically been underfunded and underserved. Each episode moves beyond surface-level discussions to examine the systemic gaps and the consequential opportunities they create. You'll hear from founders, investors, researchers, and thinkers who are actively building and funding solutions in this space, sharing their on-the-ground experiences and hard-won insights. The conversations are grounded in the reality of entrepreneurship and market dynamics, exploring not just the "why" but the "how"-how new technologies are being applied, how businesses are scaling, and how capital can be deployed to generate both impact and returns. Tune in for a clear-eyed look at an area ripe for transformation, where understanding the blind spot isn't just about awareness, but about seeing a path forward for savvy builders and backers alike. This isn't a niche side conversation; it's a central dialogue about the next wave of growth in healthcare and technology, delivered through a podcast dedicated to substantive, forward-thinking analysis.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 18

Blindspot Capital
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