Risk of Heart Attack Rising for Pregnant Women

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States who are pregnant or have given birth. Heart disease can lead to heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest. A recent study from the NYU School of Medicine shows that heart attack rates are on the rise in pregnant women. A heart attack, also called myocardial infarction, occurs when the blood flow to your heart, that provides much-needed oxygen, is reduced or cut off. This can happen when an artery that supplies the heart muscles with blood becomes narrowed from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances forming a plaque.