Obesity during early pregnancy can raise risk of heart diseases: Study

According to a study obesity during early pregnancy appears to be a strong predictor of future cardiovascular disease and has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as high blood pressure preeclampsia and gestational diabetesThe findings of the study which was supported by the National Institutes of Health were published in Circulation Research Obesity has long been recognised as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and pregnancy difficulties caused by high blood pressure They didnt know which factors influenced a persons cardiovascular disease risk years after pregnancy obesity or pregnancy problemsWhile having adverse pregnancy outcomes was linked with increased cardiovascular disease risks during pregnancy the complications accounted for a small percentage of increased cardiovascular disease risks in the years following pregnancy for people with obesityWere finding that certain pregnancy complications are unmasking and then increasing cardiovascular disease risks such as obesity that were already present This study provides insight into potential timing for interventions for people with overweight or obesity who are thinking about pregnancy said Victoria L Pemberton RNC a study author and researcher in the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute NHLBI part of NIHThe researchers analyzed data collected from the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study of more than 4200 firsttime mothers about half of whom were overweight or obese They compared the participants pregnancy experience to their health two to seven years laterThey found mothers who were overweight or had obesity during the first trimester of pregnancy had about twice the risk of developing gestational diabetes or having a pregnancy complicated by high blood pressure compared to participants with normal body weight These mothers also had increased risks of developing cardiovascular disease risks after pregnancyIn comparison pregnancies complicated by high blood pressure explained just 13 per cent of future risks for developing high blood pressure if a person is obese Likewise gestational diabetes explained only 10 per cent of future risks for diabetesWe want to do everything we can to support a persons heart health but especially around the time of pregnancy before during and in early pregnancy said Sadiya S Khan MD the studys lead investigator a preventive cardiologist and an associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine ChicagoThat includes achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight knowing your heart health numbers and finding ways to stay physically activeFor some complications the researchers found body weight did not factor into risks For example people with overweight or obesity did not have increased risks of having a preterm birth or a baby with a low birthweightAdditionally researchers found among all participants those experiencing preterm births had increased risks of having high blood pressure high blood sugar or high cholesterol a few years after pregnancy Having a baby born with a low birth weight wasnt found to increase risksLooking for ways to support and optimize a persons cardiovascular health is still of the utmost importance if someone has had an adverse pregnancy outcome said KhanHowever if we really want to make a difference in improving cardiovascular health and preventing these pregnancy outcomes we have to shift to the prepregnancy and early pregnancy spaceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever