Preeclampsia and heart arrhythmia - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Preeclampsia and heart arrhythmia

Kaz747 profile image
17 Replies

I've been reading up on the link between preeclampsia and heart problems later in life.

I had preeclampsia with both my pregnancies (27 and 25 years ago) and had my babies delivered at 35 and 37 weeks. I was very healthy before and after my pregnancies. Nothing was ever mentioned back then about possible future heart problems although I do have a niggling memory that they may have said something about greater risks of high blood pressure down the track.

I'm wondering if any other women on this forum had preeclampsia or pregnancy complications?

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Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747
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17 Replies
Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday

I take medicine for high blood pressure. My A-Fib was stressed, Predisone for allergies, etc.

I had my gall bladder removed.

Have A-Fib now. Awful

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply toAprilbday

Not much fun, eh?! X

stormcloud profile image
stormcloud

I had it with all my children, (five) but it was called toxaemia in those days.All were induced several weeks early.

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply tostormcloud

I had 2 weeks bed rest in hospital with my first before being induced and a few days in hospital before being induced with my second. With my first the placenta was a mess and my blood pressure so high after delivery that they wouldn't move me from the delivery suite to my room. I could only visit the nursery in a wheelchair for the first few days (baby was in a humicrib). The second birth was easier thankfully.

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday

Are you on Anticogulation meds now?

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply toAprilbday

No. I was for a week after I was cardioverted 4 weeks ago.

GrannySmithgs5 profile image
GrannySmithgs5

I had pre-eclampsia with my first pregnancy . Had high blood pressure for five years in my early 50s whilst running a stressful business. Only A.F now .

An interesting connection , so many women suffer pre-eclampsia , especially during their first pregnancy .

Jean x

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply toGrannySmithgs5

I was fine with my second until 36 weeks then it hit me suddenly and the doctor sent me straight to hospital. He recommended not to have any more kids.

kkatz profile image
kkatz

Yes I had it with 2 pregnancies. One 49 years ago & one 43 years ago .In one case my husband was told I might not make it through the night. I have had high BP since the first pregnancy. AF now.

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. Have any doctors/cardiologists ever asked you about your pregnancies? I'm going to speak to my specialists when I see them next.

psage profile image
psage

i also had toxemia, bp spike in my 6th month, ordered to bed rest in the 7th month, twins born in the 8th month -- 1982. Diagnosed with HBP 2001 and AF 2009. Never heard of possible connection between toxemia/pre-eclampsia and later AF or even HBP. HOWEVER: real question is, has there been research on this issue and what do the stats say?

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply topsage

If you google preeclampsia and heart disease later in life there's quite a few articles and generally they say women who have preeclampsia are 2 - 4 times more likely to have heart disease, arrhythmias or strokes later in life. It looks like there needs to be a lot more research in this area.

psage profile image
psage in reply toKaz747

that's quite alarming, i've been treated for AF and HBP for so many years and nobody ever mentioned that connection, or even asked questions that could have put me in that statistical pool for the benefit of researchers.

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply topsage

Yes. One article was saying that doctors should be asking about pregnancies when taking medical histories and of course today's pregnant women who have these problems should be warned about the increased risk so they can take precautions and be aware of signs/symptoms in the future.

NannyChickens profile image
NannyChickens

I had undiagnosed twins in 1975 went to two weeks post term had pre-eclamptic toxaemia and was sedated out of labour for 24 hours. I did go on to have another baby in 1979. All are now wonderful adults with 7 grandchildren. I have had high BP for many years - well managed, and in permanent AF although that doesn’t cause me too much grief. Interesting link though.

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply toNannyChickens

Thanks for sharing your story NannyChickens. it is interesting and I'd love to see more research in the area.

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747

news.heart.org/preeclampsia...

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