Pregnant women with high blood pressure have a greater stroke risk later in life, a latest study says.
Researchers analysed various studies on pregnant women.
"We've found that women who had high blood pressure during pregnancy could be at higher risk of stroke, particularly if they had pre-eclampsia, which is a more severe form of high blood pressure," said Dr Aravind Ganesh, a neurology resident at the University of Calgary. "The elevated risk of stroke could be as high as 40 per cent."
The participants were followed for one to 32 years after pregnancy. The study authors noted the possible risk of stroke for pregnant women with high blood pressure. The analysis showed that constant hypertension during pregnancy increases the chances of stroke in future.
Hypertension is known to have various health impacts such as low blood flow to the placenta and early delivery.
Dr. Ganesh, along with Neha Sarna (medical student), Dr Rahul Mehta (internal medicine resident) and senior author Dr. Eric Smith (stroke neurologist) analyzed nine separate studies to reach the conclusion.
"These women should be more closely followed for a re-emergence of hypertension, as well as for cholesterol, diabetes or other markers of increased risk of stroke," says Dr. Ganesh.
Though researchers were uncertain about the link between hypertension and pregnancy, health experts believe that women are genetically prone to high blood pressure and pregnancy only aggravates it. Experts also advise that women need to check their blood pressure regularly to reduce risk of having a stroke later.
"Hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke," says Dr Michael Hill, co-chair of the Canadian Stroke Congress.
"Knowing your blood pressure may be one of the most important steps you can take to reducing stroke risk, something that is particularly true among women with a history of pregnancy-associated hypertension."
