Bloomberg Businessweek NIH Backs Leading Cardiologist's Work on Women's Heart Health
Dec 5, 2025
Dr. Nupoor Narula, a leading cardiologist and director of the Women’s Heart Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, discusses critical issues in women’s heart health. She highlights that heart disease is the top killer of women and emphasizes the importance of awareness around aortic aneurysms, especially during pregnancy. Dr. Narula reveals insights from her NIH-funded research on aortic disease, urging proactive health measures and genetic awareness. She also clarifies that while pregnancy can enlarge existing aneurysms, it doesn't directly cause them.
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Heart Disease Affects Women At All Ages
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and affects people at many ages, not just the elderly.
- Awareness must extend beyond older adults because 44% of U.S. women live with some form of heart disease.
The Aorta As A Vital Organ
- The aorta was recently appreciated as its own organ and plays a central role delivering blood to all major organs.
- Aortic disease deserves specialized attention because its dysfunction affects the entire body's circulation.
Why Aortic Aneurysms Are Dangerous
- An aortic aneurysm is a bulging or dilation of the aortic wall that can tear if it grows too large.
- Preventive surveillance and timely surgery can avert catastrophic aortic rupture or dissection.