Pregnant women – and perhaps their unborn kids – face higher heart risk. Expert offers insight into oft-overlooked issue

Young women with healthy hearts may be unaware that they – and perhaps their unborn children – face elevated risks of developing heart disorders after becoming pregnant. Even worse, the issue may go undetected for years after giving birth because symptoms may mimic those of pregnancy, says Dr. Rina Mauricio, a UT Southwestern cardiologist who specializes in women’s cardiovascular health.

Dr. Mauricio can discuss how research, such as this new study, should make clear to expectant mothers the importance of checking for various heart issues that can develop during pregnancy. This can range from preeclampsia to more severe conditions such as postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), an uncommon form of heart failure that occurs in the final stages of pregnancy or months after giving birth.

Dr. Mauricio established a “Complex Postpartum Care Clinic” at UT Southwestern to diagnose more young mothers earlier. However, because not every medical center offers such services, she says patients should be proactive about seeing a cardiologist during and after pregnancy.