Pregnancy and Hidden Heart Risks That Are Dangerous

Pregnancy is one of the most amazing experiences in a woman's life. A miracle of its own kind, an entire human being comes into existence, and that too, from just one cell. However, pregnancy comes with its own share of ups and downs and heart disease during pregnancy is one of the hidden factors. Based on the body's overall health during pregnancy, one may easily predict a person's cardiovascular health. You should consider any condition or problem during pregnancy seriously, as it may have repercussions in future. In fact, some of the pregnancy-related conditions may serve as a window for future health risks. Read on to find out about more of such diseases that may pose a negative effect on the body.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects a large number of pregnant women. The doctor usually diagnoses the disease when women are halfway through a pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes may notice a slight elevation in their blood sugar levels. This happens because the body becomes insulin resistant during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after childbirth. However, it makes a person prone to diabetes, which means they can develop the disease later on in life. Women who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy are five times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes over the next few years. Diabetes is often linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, women who have had gestational diabetes and do not develop diabetes later on also have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia (toxaemia) is a pregnancy-related blood pressure disorder that occurs in a few pregnancies. If one has been suffering from this condition during pregnancy, their risk of developing the cardiovascular disease may increase considerably. The risk of heart disease also rises due to disorders that start with high blood pressure. This includes hypertension that began before pregnancy and high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy (gestational hypertension).

Other Risks

Besides, there are other risks as well that pose a threat to the parents, these complications are-

• excess weight gain during pregnancy
• preterm birth
• preeclampsia/gestational hypertension
• the development of gestational diabetes/gestational impaired glucose intolerance
• growth-restricted baby
• clinically significant bleeding during pregnancy (abruption)

Understanding the Link between Heart Disease and Underlying conditions

The link between cardiovascular disease and conditions like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes is not clearly known. How do these conditions develop? And, do these conditions develop during pregnancy because of the underlying issue? Or, do the conditions themselves cause damage to the body, leading to risk later on? The most likely explanation here is that women developing these condition already have some predisposition. This may be genetic or metabolic predispositions that may be a response to increased pregnancy stress. However, the conditions may also pose a threat to overall health. For example, pre-eclampsia injures the blood vessel in the body, and gestational diabetes stresses the pancreas. These conditions may boost the risk of heart disease and other conditions directly.

Heart disease during the pregnancy- What to DO

If a woman has had any of the conditions during pregnancy, they must use this information wisely. One must be vigilant about controlling any cardiovascular risk factors, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, get regular physical activity and avoid tobacco. Besides this, here are a few other essential things that one must take care of- Visit the doctor- During the routine check-up or in case you notice any type of weird activity in the body, do let the doctor know. Even if the doctor does not ask about any of these conditions, they must know about any underlying condition that you have seen in the past. Do the test- While lifestyle changes are vital in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, women must also get regular tests done. This helps in the identification of any underlying conditions. For instance, women who have had pregnancy-related conditions in the past must get tests done every few months. Certain diseases do not show any symptoms until the body has a considerable effect. The CDC estimates that some 13 million American adults have undiagnosed high blood pressure.

Prevention

For people who may bear a child in the near future, it is advisable to prevent the disease wherever possible. Although it is not a sure shot technique, here are some strategies that reduce the risk of heart disease and also prevent gestational diabetes.

• Maintaining a healthy weight by monitoring calorie intake.
• Regular exercise like brisk walking, jogging, yoga, etc.
• Consuming a nutritious diet which has all necessary vitamins and minerals, i.e., fruits and vegetables.

Another thing to keep in mind is that these conditions are not just risky for women. Babies who are born to women who experience pre-eclampsia may be born prematurely and may suffer from other long-term health problems as well. Children of mothers who have gestational diabetes are open to risks like breathing distress and other complications due to high birth weight. Moreover, these kids are also more likely to develop obesity or diabetes when older.