Why the Heart of Pregnant Needs Attention

Pregnancy puts an additional strain on the vascular system, even as it does on other parts of the body. the quantity of blood within the body, as an example, rises the maximum amount as 50 percent by the trimester of pregnancy. It’s also normal for the pulse to extend during pregnancy. While most girls can tolerate pregnancy with no difficulties, the added demands placed on the guts are overwhelming for a few, particularly those with existing cardiac problems or those at greater risk for developing upset.

A concerning trend is that cardiovascular disease has become the No. 1 explanation for death during pregnancy within the U.S. today. One example of this is often heart attacks before, during, and after delivery. Although they’re still relatively rare, they’re on the increase, with a recent study reporting a 25 percent increase between 2002 and 2013.

Jeff Chapa, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine (high-risk pregnancy) specialist who is a component of a special program at Cleveland Clinic for ladies with heart conditions who are pregnant or considering pregnancy, says the rise in heart-related complications is probably going because of some major factors:

There’s a better look after women with cardiovascular disease today. which means better survival rates and quality of life. “For example, for girls who are born with heart defects, we’re ready to fix those surgically and manage them medically as well as, so those women are reaching child-bearing age, enjoying an improved quality of life, and getting pregnant,” Dr. Chapa explains.

Women have gotten pregnant later. the typical age of first-time mothers within the U.S. has risen over the last several decades, per CDC data. With age comes the next risk of cardiopathy and coronary failure.

The obesity epidemic. In the U.S., the obesity rate for adults has risen by quite 9 percentage points since 2000. Obesity and related conditions like diabetes and hypertension are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.