Should Pregnant Women Worry About Heart Attacks?

A new study shows heart attacks in pregnant women are on the rise. The good news in a new study by the New York University School of Medicine showing more pregnant women are having heart attacks is that data is being collected about heart disease in women.  If we can clearly define the problem, a solution is much more likely.  Organizations like the American Heart Association have worked hard to make sure women are included in heart disease studies, and studies like this one help decrease the number of deaths due to heart disease. Should pregnant women be worried about heart attacks? As I shared in this interview on CBS, pregnancy is like a months-long stress test.  During pregnancy the heart works harder. Many women are waiting to have children, and our risk of heart disease increases with age. Pregnancy hormones can increase other heart disease risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.  In preparation for birth, our blood gets stickier and more likely to clot.  Blood clots in the arteries leading to the heart can cause a heart attack.   In addition, weight gain, fluid retention, and inactivity can all strain the heart. Should you be worried?  No, heart attacks in pregnant women are still rare, .009% of women have heart attacks.  Don’t let it keep you up at night.  BUT… don’t ignore the signs of heart attack – and do all you can to keep your heart healthy. What should pregnant women do to protect their hearts? Know ...
Source: Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Heart Disease Risk Factors Heart Health Pregnancy and Heart Health Women's Wellness Source Type: blogs