A new study by Chinese researchers has found that women who have given birth have a higher chance of developing heart disease and strokes than the childless.
Previous studies have shown that women usually show changes in vascular properties, blood volume and heart rates during pregnancy. However, the impact of pregnancy on subsequent heart disease has been debated.
Researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, based in central China’s Hubei Province, reviewed 10 studies to assess if pregnancy was related to cardiovascular disease risk.
The study involved about 3 million women worldwide, with more than 150,000 diagnosed with heart disease or strokes during the following six to 52 years.
The researchers found that giving a birth gave a 14 percent higher risk of heart disease and strokes. Read more