Maternal โฃMortality โ& Heart Health: A โGrowing Crisis โฃin Pregnancy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Newโ data released by the CDC reveals a stark โคdisparity inโค maternal mortality rates: pregnant Black women die at a rate more thanโค three โคtimes higher than โคwhite women. โThe report,detailing deaths during pregnancy,childbirth,and up โฃto 42 days postpartum (excludingโค accidental deaths),recorded 669 โmaternal deaths inโ the United States in 2023.
While โขexcessive bleeding, bloodโข vessel blockages, โand infections contributed toโฃ thes deaths, a notable โandโฃ frequently enough overlooked factor is preeclampsia – now recognized as a heart โdisease.
“The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate ofโ any industrialized country โขin the world,” โstates โDr. Connie Graves, a maternal Fetal Medicine Obstetrician โin โNashville. Dr.โ Graves specializes in the care of โhigh-risk pregnancies.
Dr. Graves โemphasizes systemic issues contribute to the crisis, notablyโค for Black women. “Weโค know many ofโฃ the maternal deaths, especially among Black women, are โคbecause of the biases that still existโฃ in our system. Frankly,โข they are โless likely to be listened toโฃ when they present with complaints.”
Preeclampsia isโ the number โฃoneโ killer of pregnant women and the leading cause โคof stillbirth, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. Recent research over the past two โฃdecades has established a critical link between preeclampsia โand cardiovascular health,โค highlighting the importance ofโค recognizing pregnancy as a โขcritical time for heart health. โ
This understanding is โprompting a shift in how healthcare providers approach prenatal care, focusing on identifying and managing cardiovascular risk factors in pregnant women.
For moreโ information on this developing story, visit: https://www.wsmv.com/2025/02/28/heartbeat-heroines-caring-hearts-pregnant-women/
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