Overweight Women Who Become Pregnant Twice As Likely to Experience Heart Disease Later in Life
February 14, 2023 – As the nation recognizes February as American Heart Month, doctors with HCA Florida Healthcare have an important message for women considering pregnancy or who may already be pregnant.
Women who are overweight and become pregnant are at a significantly greater risk – in some studies twice as likely – to experience heart disease later in life as a result of gestational diabetes developed during pregnancy.
“Without lifestyle changes after the delivery of their child, those who develop gestational diabetes are much more likely in mid life to develop calcium in heart arteries which leads to the build up of plaque,” explains Dr. Allan Stewart, cardiovascular surgery medical director of HCA Florida Healthcare’s Miami-Dade County hospitals. He is one of 2,500 physicians who make up HCA Florida Healthcare’s cardiovascular network, one of the state’s leading cardiac surgery teams.
Gestational diabetes impacts up to 10 percent of U.S. pregnancies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition is more likely in overweight individuals with a higher body mass index (BMI).
About half of women with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC.
“Which is why it is very important for women, whether they are planning to become pregnant or not, to know their numbers. It is not just obesity and diabetes that can make a woman’s pregnancy high risk, but also high blood pressure and a sedentary lifestyle, as these risk factors can increase the risk of the development of peripartum cardiomyopathy,” explains Dr. Tara Hrabowski-Blackman who specializes in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology at HCA Florida Largo Hospital. “Peripartum cardiomyopathy is heart failure that occurs during pregnancy and/or into the period after delivery. Women who have this condition are at risk of having heart disease and heart failure even years after giving birth, especially if they decide to become pregnant again.”
The good news, Stewart says, is if a patient views gestational diabetes as a moment to hit the reset button and eat healthier, lose weight and exercise after a baby is delivered, then there’s a good chance one won’t develop diabetes or coronary disease later in life.
“It’s very correctable,” he adds. “However those with unhealthy habits that lead to gestational diabetes in the first place more often than not maintain those unhealthy habits after they’ve had a baby,” he adds. “It’s not a genetic issue, it’s a lifestyle issue. It’s a cycle we have to break, and it starts with education.”
Recommendations for new mothers include breastfeeding, regular physical activity and blood sugar tests, increased fiber intake and fewer sweets such as sodas and desserts.
As always, individuals should consult with their primary care physician when considering any weight loss program. HCA Florida Healthcare offers a 24/7 Consult-A-Nurse line at 844.70.NURSE (6-8773) to provide quick, convenient and free expert medical advice.
About HCA Florida Healthcare’s Cardiovascular Network
HCA Florida Healthcare is one of the Sunshine State’s leading cardiovascular networks of care. Our 2,500 cardiovascular care experts complete more than 100,000 heart, lung and vascular procedures each year. Our cardiovascular care programs, including advanced procedures ranging from the latest, non-surgical procedures to transplants and open heart surgery, have earned the highest levels of clinical performance, including more than 80 cardiovascular recognitions in 2022 from Healthgrades.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 570 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms. United as a statewide network in 2021, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,000 experienced doctors and 77,000 colleagues working together to deliver advanced, collaborative care to more than 7.4 million patients each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provided nearly $836.6 million in uncompensated care and invested significantly in innovative technologies and facilities across Florida, including the new $360 million state-of-the-art, multi-specialty HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, Fla. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
