Now we find it can be the forerunner of heart disease later in life. Between one in 100 and six in 100 pregnancies are affected by high blood pressure, but after giving birth it usually goes back to normal. Recurrent ­ miscarriages, pre-term birth, foetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia all have a link to a greater risk of heart disease. In some way, high blood pressure in pregnancy causes lasting damage that emerges later in life as cardiovascular disease. Dr Oliver-Williams added: “It’s important that women know that it isn’t their fault that they developed high blood pressure in pregnancy, and developing heart disease isn’t a foregone conclusion.

Source: Daily Mirror September 28, 2020 15:03 UTC