DALLAS – September 21, 2016 – Most women who develop high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy see their blood pressure and blood sugar levels return to normal a short time after the birth. But that doesn’t mean they’re off the health hook.

“These women are at higher risk for developing hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in the future and should be followed long term,” says cardiologist Dr. Monika Sanghavi, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

About 5 to 6 percent of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes and about 6 to7 percent develop high blood pressure during the course of their pregnancy, according to the National Institutes of Health. “Cardiologists call pregnancy nature’s stress test,” Dr. Sanghavi says.

While some consider it discouraging to get news of future heart risk at an early age, Dr. Sanghavi says it means there is plenty of time to make a difference.

Getting down to or maintaining a normal weight, eating a heart-healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, and having your blood pressure or blood sugar levels checked on a regular basis by a physician who has an eye on your heart health are all measures that can make a significant difference, Dr. Sanghavi says. 

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