Pregnancy Blood Pressure
By: Meredith Land, KXAS
Updated: April 19, 2010
There's glaring new research for women who suffer high blood pressure during pregnancy.
It was long thought that once the baby was born the mother's risks were over.
But a new study may prove otherwise. A condition called pre-eclampsia, which affects between five and eight percent of pregnant women, results in high blood pressure.
A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics shows that pre-eclampsia can double the risk of a later heart attack or stroke.
"Up until now, we thought we'd cured pre-eclampsia once the baby is out and so the veil is being lifted.
It's good to know that that is a risk factor," said obgyn Dr. Bea Kutzler.
Dr. Kutzler says pre-eclampsia has a genetic component and any woman who has it should have their doctor monitor them for heart disease, post pregnancy.
Symptoms of pre-eclampsia are severe swelling, headaches and vision problems.
