Tobacco is the most alarming avoidable risk factor because it’s responsible for the earliest cardiovascular events in women. At any age, for the same rate of tobacco use, the risk of heart attacks is 25% higher for women than men. Tobacco is harmful for the heart and arteries, no matter how much is [...]
In the majority of cases, chronic heart failure is a contraindication to pregnancy because it could put the mother’s life in danger. During pregnancy and delivery, her heart has to work very hard. Certain medications prescribed for heart failure are known to cause birth defects (they’re considered [...]
Aortic dissection is an acute tearing of the aorta, the vessel that leaves the heart and carries blood to all the organs. This is a rare event (1 in 100,000 pregnancies) but it is very serious and requires urgent treatment. Pregnancy contributes to this condition due to hormone impregnation that [...]