Complex Pregnancy Can Double Risk Of Heart Disease In Women

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Experts Urge Expecting and New Mothers To See Cardiologist

​Cardiologists at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi are encouraging expecting and new mothers to take informed care of their health as they may be at higher risk of heart disease.

Fewer than one in five women in the UAE are aware that a pregnancy can increase their risk of heart disease according to a survey conducted by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi earlier this month. This lack of awareness comes despite warnings that changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy can put them at the risk of heart disease. 

The most common factors that can increase a person’s risk of heart disease are obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, and these are three conditions that pregnancy can reveal a pre-disposition to or even provoke in expecting mothers. In order to mitigate the risk of heart disease, it is important that women make active lifestyle choices during pregnancy and after giving birth. 

“Nearly 80% of women have at least one heart disease risk factor. When a woman becomes pregnant and her body and lifestyle changes, it can initiate a pathway that left unmonitored, can increase her risk of heart disease. This is particularly true in the case of complex pregnancies,” says Dr. Dima Quraini, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. 

While the majority of pregnancies are free of complications, doctors have warned that complicated pregnancies can double a woman’s risk of heart disease. Complications such as preeclampsia, advanced maternal age, multiple pregnancies, and pre-existing conditions have strong links to increased heart disease risk in women. 

As the trend of women having children later in life increases, doctors warn that related complications may have a more significant impact on new mother’s health. 

It was originally thought that this increased risk only persisted in the short to medium-term after giving birth. However, new research indicates that this risk can remain for the rest of a woman’s life, necessitating regular checkups to monitor and manage risk factors. 

“Becoming a mother is a precious gift. It’s important that new mothers take some time for themselves and see a cardiologist if they have experienced any complications during their pregnancy or have any lingering effects. Awareness of heart disease and prevention really work, particularly if they are done early.  By helping women identify their risk factors, we can work together to reduce them,” concludes Dr. Quraini.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is raising awareness of heart disease in women and the unique challenges it presents. The hospital recently opened a women’s heart health clinic to ensure women receive comprehensive, multi-disciplinary care tailored to their specific needs. 

Women who want to know more about the risks of heart disease and the steps they can take to reduce them can visit womenshearthealth.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae