Heart disease was once considered a condition that mostly affected older adults, but medical experts are raising the alarm about its growing toll on women during and after pregnancy. According to the American Heart Association, one in four women between the ages of 20 and 44 has some form of cardiovascular disease, and heart disease has become one of the leading causes of pregnancy related death across the country.
Physicians who specialize in obstetrics say the connection makes biological sense. Pregnancy places enormous physical demands on the body, and the heart has to work considerably harder to support both the mother and a developing baby. Blood volume increases, the heart rate rises, and the cardiovascular system is under sustained pressure for months at a time. For women who already have underlying conditions, that added strain can quickly become dangerous.
Some women face a much higher risk than others
While heart complications during pregnancy can affect any woman, medical professionals are clear that the risk is not evenly distributed. Black women, Native American women, and women who identify as multiracial face disproportionately higher rates of complications. Existing health conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes can compound those risks significantly, making early screening and consistent care even more critical for these communities.
Maternal health advocates and physicians alike say that addressing these disparities requires not just individual awareness but systemic changes in how prenatal care is delivered and accessed.
IVF and assisted reproductive technology add another layer of risk
Women who become pregnant through in vitro fertilization or other assisted reproductive technologies may also face an elevated risk of heart-related complications. These fertility treatments can increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy, both of which are known to raise the risk of heart failure. As IVF becomes more common in the United States, doctors say it is increasingly important to factor reproductive history into cardiovascular screenings for pregnant patients.
Warning signs that are easy to miss
One of the most challenging aspects of pregnancy related heart disease is how easily its symptoms can be overlooked or mistaken for routine pregnancy discomforts. Shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles, and persistent fatigue are all typical complaints during pregnancy. But when those symptoms become disruptive interfering with a woman’s ability to carry out everyday tasks they can signal something far more serious.
Experts urge pregnant women to pay close attention to any change in their condition that feels out of the ordinary or that limits their daily functioning. The distinction between what is normal and what is a warning sign can be subtle, which is why open communication with a healthcare provider matters so much throughout pregnancy.
Lifestyle choices can meaningfully lower the risk
Doctors emphasize that while some risk factors are beyond a woman’s control, there are concrete steps that can reduce the likelihood of heart complications during pregnancy. Walking for at least 30 minutes a day and reducing the intake of fried and heavily processed foods are among the most accessible and effective measures women can take. Staying active and eating a balanced diet throughout pregnancy supports cardiovascular health and can make a measurable difference in outcomes.
Women who have pre-existing heart conditions, such as supraventricular tachycardia an abnormal heart rhythm that causes the heart to race often receive closer monitoring throughout their pregnancies, which can help catch problems before they escalate.
Advocacy and coordinated care can save lives
Medical professionals stress that women should feel empowered to speak up during prenatal appointments. Knowing one’s own body and communicating symptoms clearly to a care team can be the difference between a condition being caught early and one that worsens without intervention. When obstetricians and cardiologists work together to monitor high risk patients, outcomes improve substantially.
Standard screenings, timely treatment, and a healthcare team that listens are among the most powerful tools available in the fight against pregnancy related heart disease and experts say every pregnant woman deserves access to all three.
