Program at AdventHealth helps save lives of women with high blood pressure during pregnancy

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  • Kristi Powers
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Dr. Patricia Guerrero discusses the Mother's Heartwise program with WESH 2 News anchor Summer Knowles.

Nearly one in three pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are due to cardiovascular problems, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy can also put stress on the mother’s heart and forecast potential health risks in the future.

To address these issues, expectant moms can now participate in an AdventHealth pilot program called the Mother’s Heartwise program, which can prevent current and future heart issues at an earlier age through education and early intervention.

Dr. Patricia Guerrero headshot
Dr. Patricia Guererro is one of the main designers of the AdventHealth Mother's Heartwise program.

“Pregnancy can bring to light cardiovascular issues like hypertension (high blood pressure) and even diabetes,” Dr. Patricia Guerrero, medical director for cardiovascular wellness and prevention at the AdventHealth Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute and one of the main designers of the pilot program, recently told WESH 2 News. “They foretell a risk of cardiovascular disease at an earlier age. This (program) is an opportunity to intervene through lifestyle modifications or medications to decrease that risk.”

If mothers don’t get in right away to see a doctor, the narrow window to catch these complications goes away – and the opportunity may be lost, especially with underinsured patients.

“Oftentimes, their access to medical care is only during pregnancy and immediately post pregnancy,” Guerrero told Florida Trend magazine.

Add to that, the younger generations’ misconception that they are safe from things like heart disease and heart attacks, and the challenge the program is trying to address is apparent.

The goal is help them understand that “small changes right now can truly have a strong impact on your future,” Doreen Forsythe, senior nurse manager for AdventHealth’s Women and Children Health Navigation program, told Florda Trend magazine.

Learn more about the risk factors that can be uncovered during pregnancy and for more information about the Mother’s Heartwise program contact the women’s health navigator at 407-720-5191.

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