Bloomberg Businessweek – “NIH Backs Leading Cardiologist's Work on Women's Heart Health”

Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Carol Massar & Tim Stenovec
Guest: Dr. Nupur Narula, Director, Women’s Heart Program at Weill Cornell Medicine

Episode Overview

In this episode, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec focus on the often-overlooked issue of women’s heart health, centered around heart disease—the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Their guest is Dr. Nupur Narula, a prominent cardiologist recently awarded NIH funding for her groundbreaking research on aortic aneurysms and the importance of proactive diagnostics, particularly in women and pregnant patients.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Heart Disease: Prevalence and Misconceptions

• Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.
  • Over 60 million women (44% of U.S. women) are living with some form of heart disease ([02:07]).
  • Quote:
    • "It can affect women at any age... not just an over-60 or over-70 situation.” — Tim Stenovec ([02:07])
  • There's a misconception that heart disease primarily affects older populations.

2. Understanding the Aorta and Aneurysms

• Aorta as a distinct organ: In 2024, the aorta was officially recognized as an organ due to its centrality in human physiology ([03:38]).

• Aorta’s Function:

  • It's the largest artery, moving blood from the heart throughout the body.
  • Analogy:
    • “It’s actually shaped like a candy cane.” — Dr. Narula ([03:38])

• Aortic aneurysm:

  • A dilation or bulging of the aortic wall; dangerous as it can tear or burst unpredictably.
  • Not the same as a brain aneurysm, but individuals can have both ([03:38]).

3. New NIH-Funded Research on Aortic Aneurysms

• Study Focus:

  • Using advanced imaging and genetics to monitor individuals with aortic conditions, especially post-surgery ([04:41]).
  • Emphasis on prevention:
    • “We want to be proactive rather than reactive.” — Dr. Narula ([04:41])

• Catastrophic Risk:

  • Aneurysms may have no symptoms until an emergency occurs:
    • “You may not know that you have one until something catastrophic occurs.” — Dr. Narula ([05:33])
  • Improved provider awareness and routine imaging is aiding early detection.

4. Barriers to Prevention and the Role of Family History

• Preventative Scanning:

  • Other countries (like Korea) scan patients head-to-toe annually, which hosts praise as preventive but acknowledge is rare in the U.S. due to cost ([06:13]-[06:27]).
  • More frequent scanning in the U.S. is cost-prohibitive and may lead to over-testing.

• Accessible Prevention:

  • Family history is an invaluable, no-cost tool:
    • "Taking [family histories] from our family is free... Did anybody die suddenly in the family?... Was an autopsy done?" — Dr. Narula ([06:35])
  • Research participation, especially among women, is critical:
    • "Women's involvement in studies is really, really important." — Dr. Narula ([07:10])

5. Focus on Pregnant Women and Heart Health

• Pregnancy as a Risk Factor:

  • Physiological changes during pregnancy (blood pressure, heart rate, hormones) can place women with underlying aortic conditions at higher risk ([07:50]-[08:33]).
  • Advice:
    • "Understanding their condition, instituting appropriate surveillance... allows us to take women through pregnancy safely." — Dr. Narula ([08:20])

• Proactive Guidance:

  • "Know your numbers. Really know your numbers... and know your family history." — Dr. Narula ([08:40])

• Clarification:

  • Pregnancy does not cause an aneurysm, but can worsen an existing one ([09:02]).

6. Heart Attack Symptoms Can Be Subtle

• Heart attack symptoms, particularly in women, aren’t always “classic.”
  • Erratic blood pressure may be a signal, but context matters:
    • "There can be atypical symptoms, not the classic symptoms that we see. And so, I think if anything feels unusual, bring that to your provider." — Dr. Narula ([09:35])

Notable Quotes

• On Awareness & Age:
  "It can affect women at any age...not just over-60 or over-70." — Tim Stenovec ([02:07])

• On the Aorta:
  "The aorta… [is] shaped like a candy cane… critical for our sustenance." — Dr. Narula ([03:38])

• On Family History:
  "Taking [family histories] from our family is free." — Dr. Narula ([06:35])

• On Research Participation:
  "Women's involvement in studies is really, really important." — Dr. Narula ([07:10])

• On Pregnancy and Heart Risk:
  "Pregnancy is a very delicate time in our lives...these women are in a more vulnerable state." — Dr. Narula ([07:50])

• On Physician Engagement:
  "If anything feels unusual, bring that to your provider." — Dr. Narula ([09:35])

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [01:59] — Heart disease as the leading cause of death for women.
• [03:38] — Explanation of the aorta and aortic aneurysms.
• [04:41] — NIH-funded research into imaging, genetics, and preventing aortic complications.
• [05:33] — Asymptomatic nature of aneurysms and catastrophic risk.
• [06:13] - [06:27] — Costs and accessibility of preventative scanning in the U.S. vs. other countries.
• [07:15] - [07:42] — Importance of research participation and sex-specific data.
• [07:50] - [08:33] — Risks for pregnant women and the importance of surveillance.
• [08:40] — Advice to pregnant women: “know your numbers.”
• [09:35] — Subtlety of heart attack and aneurysm symptoms; importance of self-advocacy.

Conclusion

This episode spotlights the significance of heart health in women, the need for early and proactive intervention, the value of understanding family medical histories, and the importance of women’s participation in research. Dr. Narula advocates for knowing personal health data and consulting physicians promptly if anything feels off. Her NIH-backed research and focus on women—especially during pregnancy—promise to advance understanding and care for aortic disease and heart conditions in women moving forward.