What Preeclampsia Means for Long-Term Heart Health
Preeclampsia is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. It’s also a warning sign for women to be vigilant about heart health throughout their lives.
Many assume the health risk posed by preeclampsia goes away after delivery, but having preeclampsia requires close follow-up care even beyond the postpartum period.
“If you have ever had preeclampsia, it becomes another risk factor for the development of vascular disease, even 20 to 30 years down the road,” said
Dr. Mindy Gentry,
a Wellstar cardiologist who specializes in heart disease during pregnancy.
The good news is that when you know, you can act.
If you’ve had preeclampsia, it’s important to commit to a healthy lifestyle with
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What is preeclampsia and who is at risk?
Preeclampsia affects more than the heart. It can affect the placenta, blood vessels, kidneys and liver. It can also cause serious complications in the brain, lungs, blood system and eyes. Women 35 and older who are pregnant have an increased risk of developing preeclampsia. So do women who are overweight or obese, and those who have diabetes or high blood pressure. The chief warning signs for preeclampsia are sudden elevated blood pressure, significant leg swelling and shortness of breath. Preeclampsia symptoms include- Abdominal pain
- Blurred vision, or flashing spots or auras
- Burning sensation in the chest
- Sudden elevated blood pressure
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Leg swelling
- Heightened anxiety
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Oversensitivity to light
Short- and long-term health risks of preeclampsia
Pregnancy puts a strain on the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, blood vessels and blood. Preeclampsia signals stress in that system or an underlying susceptibility. If you’ve had preeclampsia, you have a higher risk of complications after birth. "We tend to get this false sense of security once the pregnancy is over and the woman has delivered, that they're in the clear. But providers must continue to watch women for even up to one year after birth," Dr. Gentry said. Women who have had preeclampsia have three to four times the risk of high blood pressure and two times the risk for heart disease and stroke later in life, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. They also have an increased risk of developing diabetes.How to prevent preeclampsia
Preventing preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications starts before becoming pregnant. “We encourage everyone who is planning a pregnancy to schedule an appointment with their OB/GYN for pre-pregnancy counseling. That’s particularly important if you have any kind of cardiac history or risk factors of significant cardiac issues,” Dr. Gentry said. Preeclampsia most often happens 20 weeks or later into pregnancy. If a patient’s blood pressure suddenly shoots up, providers may recommend delivering early. “Our goal is to follow patients and prevent them from getting to that point by controlling blood pressure during pregnancy,” Dr. Gentry said. “Hopefully, we can also prevent complications down the road.”Follow-up care when you’ve had preeclampsia
Follow-up checklist from Dr. Gentry if you’ve had preeclampsia- In the first six to 12 weeks after birth: Visit your OB/GYN for follow-up visits. Make an appointment with your primary care provider. Continue to monitor your blood pressure. Be on the lookout for any warning signs—the same ones you learned about during pregnancy.
- Within the first year after birth: See your primary care team and get a cardiovascular baseline reading that includes blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, height and weight.
- Look into cardiac care: It may be appropriate to add a cardiologist to your healthcare team. Your provider may recommend seeing a cardiologist if you continue to have high blood pressure or have risk factors such as a family history of heart disease, obesity or diabetes.
If you’ve had preeclampsia, it’s important to commit to a healthy lifestyle with
- Exercise
- Good nutrition
- Limited or no alcohol use
- No tobacco use
- Regular preventive care visits
- Weight management
Wellstar resources for expectant mothers
Wellstar has specialists in obstetrics and cardiology to care for patients before, during and after pregnancy:- If you’re pregnant or thinking about having a child, find a Wellstar OB/GYN near you.
- Read heart health facts every mom should know.
- Wellstar has a Cardio Obstetrics Program with specialists in maternal and postpartum care.
