Toronto Aug 19 (IANS) Women who experience high blood pressure condition during pregnancy are likely to face an increased risk of heart disease and hypertension later in life according to a study.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.
The findings showed that women with hypertension during pregnancy had a 2.2-times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with women without hypertension during pregnancy.
They also had a 5.6-times higher risk of developing hypertension after pregnancy.
"This study highlights the need for long-term follow-up of women with a history of hypertension during pregnancy to provide early management of risk factors for cardiovascular disease " said lead author Sonia Grandi doctoral candidate at McGill University.
The results were published in the journal Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology.
Gestational hypertension also referred to as pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) can lead to a serious condition called preeclampsia that can lead to serious even fatal complications for both mother and baby.
For the study the team included 1 46 748 women with a first pregnancy.
After a follow-up of approximately four-and-a-half years 997 were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and 6 812 developed hypertension.
"To efficiently tackle modern lifestyle diseases like hypertension we need to move from curative to preventive care. Regular health check-ups reduction of salt sugar intake promoting physical activity early detection and treatment are some of the possible ways to have a preventive approach towards such diseases " Kenneth Thorpe Chairman Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease said in a statement.
Lifestyle modifications including salt restriction diet full of fruits and vegetables are more important in day-to-day life Thorpe added.
--IANS
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