Two of the most usual pregnancy complications for women, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, have a great impact on the future heart health of their children according to findings of a new investigation.
Findings and research significance
A research study showed that the kids of mothers who acquired both, or either, of the previously mentioned conditions before delivering demonstrated signs of heart health, lower-than-ideal, before the age of 12 years old.
“Through our research, we’ve found an association between diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy and indicators of compromised heart health in children on the cusp of adolescence,” said study lead author Dr Kartik Venkatesh, director of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. “This underscores the potential for interventions aimed at averting or managing these health issues before they escalate in adulthood,” according to the reports by Health Day News.
In the study, his group, in particular, analyzed 3,317 mothers and their kids. Of the women, 8% had gestational hypertension, while 12% developed diabetes and another 3% are diagnosed with both.
Pregnancy complications and child heart health
The researchers then studied the heart condition of their children who ranged in the age of 10-year to 14-year. They selected health indicators such as BMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Researchers, for instance, discovered that among the kids under only 12 years of age, at least half of the children (55.5%) had already acquired a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke.
These pregnancy complications, as previous studies have demonstrated, make it more probable that the mother will be forced to undergo a C-section either during delivery or be admitted into the Intensive Care Unit.
This was the main thing that researchers highlighted in their work.
The question of what a future mom should expect has arisen. Take aspirin as prescribed, refrain from redundant weight gain, practice physical activity and eat satisfactorily during pregnancy, the reports by the Health Day.
Cautious approach and further research
Indeed, this is so, and Dr. Yekaterina Ryzova, a pediatrician in Long Island, N.J., is of the same opinion, thus pointing at the need of further research in this area as well.
“There is not enough data available to make a conclusion that [these] are the only risk factors for kids’ cardiovascular health,” she said, noting that parental health, lifestyle, socioeconomic status and education can also impact children’s health.
Call for engagement and positive changes
Venkatesh made it a point that the outcomes are not to be interpreted as signs that the children have heart disease or that they will be diagnosed with it as adults.
Thus, he sounded importance of children’s capsules, for example, obesity prevention programs, meals policies that eradicate food insecurity and education on a healthy lifestyle.
“We know there are social and behavioral factors at play. Future studies should integrate these factors to better understand their impact,” Venkatesh said. “But this is an invitation for engagement, education and positive heart health lifestyle changes. It’s an opportunity for self-improvement.”