Pregnancy's hidden heart risk: study exposes knowledge gap

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A recent national survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that many Americans are unaware of the long-term heart disease risks linked to pregnancy. The survey revealed that many women dismiss common symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and fluid retention during and after pregnancy not recognizing these as possible signs of serious heart issues. About 73% of respondents considered fatigue and 65% considered nausea as normal while symptoms like fluid retention and neck pain were overlooked by half of the participants, despite being linked to heart conditions like hypertension, cardiomyopathy and preeclampsia.

Lauren Hassen, a cardiologist at Ohio State, explained that hormonal changes during pregnancy increase heart rate and fluid levels, which can strain the heart and the physical stress of labor exacerbates this. She emphasized the importance of discussing pre-existing health issues and changes during or after pregnancy with healthcare providers. Conditions like gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes increase long-term heart disease risks with preeclampsia linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, potentially affecting women up to 10 years earlier. Hassen is working on a $12.5 million study to improve postpartum blood pressure management aiming to enhance care for women at risk of long-term heart complications after pregnancy, thus improving health outcomes for future generations.