Researchers from California have found that women who have a history of gestational disorders are at high risk of developing heart diseases in comparison to those who don’t suffer such gestational disorders.
According to Erica P. Gunderson, senior scientist in the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, women who experienced gestational disorders may be at higher risk of developing atherosclerosis before development of Type2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. He also says pregnant women with background of gestational disorders are at higher risk of developing heart diseases in later stage of their lives.
Experts say, gestational disorders usually disappear after pregnancy, but increase risks of heart diseases in later age.
For the study, the researchers measured thickness of the artery walls of participants on an average of 12 years after pregnancy. They found 0.023 mm thicker elevated size of carotid artery wall in participants who experienced gestational diabetes and who did not develop diabetes or metabolic syndrome. About 13% of women also developed gestational diabetes.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.