Study: Women at higher heart disease risk post-childbirth

A new study from the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) reports that 44% of women with high blood pressure during pregnancy begin hypertension medication within two years after giving birth. Further, up to 25% of these women get their first prescription for blood pressure-lowering drugs three months or later postpartum. Overlæge Morten Beck Sørensen at Herlev Hospital emphasizes that this could lead to chronic high blood pressure and increased risk of brain hemorrhage and heart disease later in life. He suggests adopting national guidelines to monitor and treat mothers soon after childbirth to prevent subsequent diseases. However, Bolette Friderichsen, chair of the Danish Society for General Medicine, warns of the potential for over-treatment and the importance of mother-child bonding, such as establishing breastfeeding, hinting at the need for balance in postpartum care policies.