According to a study published today in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), only about 40% of women who gave birth in the United States in 2019 had good heart health before pregnancy.
The main causes of poor health before pregnancy observed by researchers are obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Age also affects it. About 42% of women aged 30 to 34 had good heart health, compared to 37% of women aged 40 to 44.
Geographically, good heart health was lower in the South and Midwest than in the West and Northeast.
Many women don't start regular doctor visits until they're pregnant.
If women have obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes before they become pregnant, it is often not diagnosed until they are pregnant. However, if this is diagnosed before pregnancy, your doctor should manage and optimize these pre-existing conditions.
Heart health affects both mother and child
dr. Nicole Weinberg, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., told Healthline that pregnancy takes a long time to put a strain on the body. High blood pressure and other pre-pregnancy problems get worse with pregnancy," Weinberg said. The result is a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
dr. Kecia Gaither is Dual Board Certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Maternal Fetal Medicine and Director of Perinatal Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx.
“The increase in heart rate, vascular volume and cardiac output is accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in vascular resistance. When cardiovascular health is not optimal, these changes can prevent cardiac dysfunction," Gaither told Healthline.
Depending on the underlying cardiovascular problem, the consequences can be devastating for both mother and child, he said.
Growth and well-being of the fetus should be monitored regularly. If the mother has a congenital heart defect, the fetus may be at risk for the same heart problem. Evaluation of the heart with fetal ultrasound, known as a fetal echocardiogram, can be performed by a pediatric cardiologist," Gaither said.
Impairment of heart health before pregnancy.
Things that are good for your heart are good for your pregnancy, Weinberg said. Eating healthy foods, sleeping and exercising doesn't have to be wild or tiring, it helps your heart. They help to get a good, healthy pregnancy. Regular checks can help to identify problems at an early stage.
If you're planning to conceive and have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or a history of maternal preeclampsia or a congenital heart defect, Gaither recommends seeing a doctor for a check-up.
Early screening can be offered to women with risk factors that may increase cardiac dysfunction,” he said. Slimming advice, nutritional advice from a nutritionist, change of dietary supplements or medication, etc., so that the pregnancy begins in optimal heart shape and health risks during pregnancy are reduced.
Improving heart health during pregnancy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 700 pregnancy-related deaths in the United States each year, nearly two-thirds of which are preventable.
He discovered that despite his best efforts, he can still have cardiovascular problems. Sometimes drug therapy is necessary and should not be viewed as a weakness. It's really about keeping your baby healthy during this stressful early period in life.