Pregnancy significantly increases the risk of related strokes, according to a recent study. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that the rate of hospitalizations from pregnancy-related strokes increased by 54 percent from the mid-1990s to 2007. The increased rate was much larger than originally expected, according to Health Day News.
Despite the significant increases, strokes related to pregnancy are still considered a rare occurrence. According to Health Day News, 4,000 to 6,000 strokes were recorded per year during the study, with higher amounts determined towards the end of the research period. Strokes also occurred during the postpartum period.
Pre-pregnancy medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and obesity, significantly increase the risk of stroke during pregnancy. Women that have any medical conditions are encouraged to control them before conception. Health Day News reports that women with preexisting medical conditions are increasingly getting pregnant.
“This is a very telling article that will raise awareness. Women might brush off some of the symptoms [of stroke], and just think they're exhausted because they're pregnant or just had a baby," said Dr. Mary Rosser, an obstetrician at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, as quoted by Health Day News.
