Important Facts about Cardiovascular Problems in Pregnancy

Heart disease is a leading cause of maternal death. Women with cardiovascular conditions are advised to learn of possible risks associated with pregnancy. The risk depends on the type of heart disease. Cardiovasular problems in pregnancy might include heart problems such as pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary stenosis.

In the case of a woman being diagnosed with a heart disease, it is advisable to insist on a current assessment before conception. The patient needs to understand available pre-pregnancy intervention that can be used to reduce the risk of pregnancy.

Women with heart disease are advised to avoid delaying pregnancy as maternal risk may, also, increase with age. In some cases, a patient may be advised against pregnancy as this might highly increase their risk.

Cardiovascular problems related to pregnancy are additive. In this case a patient with a low risk heart disease may move up to a high risk category. This may happen if they have conditions such as poor ventricular function or non-cardiac conditions such as diabetes.

The likelihood of increasing risks during a pregnancy can be estimated using risk factors, such as prior cardiovascular events in conditions such as arrhythmia, pulmonary oedema, stroke or transient ischaemic attack.

The presence of a risk factor during a pregnancy raises the likelihood of suffering an additional risk of cardiovascular problems in pregnancy by up to 27%. If a patient suffers from more than one heart disease condition, then the risk rises up to 75%.

Another thing to consider is the effect of the condition on the fetus. A woman with cardiovascular problems in pregnancy such as cyanotic heart disease, which is considered relatively risky during pregnancy, has a 12% chance of having a live birth. This is where pre-pregnancy resting arterial oxygen is less than 85%.

When you improve respiratory problems, you can also improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risks of serious complications, such as blood clots during pregnancy. A woman’s health and her baby’s health can be greatly affected by cardiovascular problems in pregnancy.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.