by KYW's Cheryl Elias
A condition during pregnancy is a risk factor for later development of heart disease in adult women.
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the US, often post-menopause. But risk factors can develop during the earlier child bearing years. Pennsylvania Hospital's Director of the Women's Cardiovascular Center, Dr. Nazanin Moghbeli, defines preeclampsia:
" High blood pressure and protein in the urine."
Medical research is connecting these dots which is why Dr. Moghbeli asks all her women patients if they've ever had preeclampsia:
" A couple of studies recently that have come out that have shown that yes if you had preeclampsia in your youth, you might have a much higher rate of developing heart disease."
Pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary insufficiency are two conditions that pose the highest risk in pregnancy.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
