ACOG Today's Headline / Chicago Tribune

Less than 5% of pregnant women have good heart health, according to Northwestern study. Experts say doctors need to do more in response.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and U.S. health experts are working to better understand why so many moms are dying.

But many women might be unaware of their heart risks while pregnant — and the importance of taking steps to improve heart health is becoming more clear in light of a new study.

On Monday, Northwestern Medicine researchers published what they say is the first study to examine the cardiovascular health of pregnant women in the United States.

Using 15 years of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Journal of the American Heart Association article analyzed records of 1,117 pregnant and 8,200 nonpregnant women, assessing key factors including diet, exercise and blood pressure.

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