Pregnancy complications in the likes of Kim Kardashian can quadruple heart attack risk, study warns… so here are the telltale signs to watch for

Pregnant women with preeclampsia are four times more likely to have a heart attack and stroke in middle age, according to a study.

The condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy can increase the risk of fatal attacks as early as seven years after birth, research shows.

This means thousands of British and American women are at increased risk of heart attack and stroke each year, the results suggest.

Experts advocate regular blood pressure checks for those over 35 who have had the disease.

Although the link between preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease is well known, this is the first study to look at how soon after pregnancy these heart attacks and strokes can occur.

READ MORE: From back pain to constipation: clear symptoms of cervical cancer REVEALED

Cervical cancer symptoms to look out for include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex, and low back or pelvic pain

Researchers examined the medical records of more than a million pregnant women in Denmark between 1978 and 2017.

Overall, women with preeclampsia were four times more likely to have a heart attack and three times more likely to have a stroke within 10 years of giving birth than women without preeclampsia.

The risk of a heart attack or stroke was still twice as high in the preeclampsia group as in unaffected women more than 20 years after birth, researchers found.

Dr Sara Hallum, from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, said early onset means preventive treatment for cardiovascular disease should start within 10 years of birth.

She said: “The high risk of cardiovascular disease after preeclampsia manifests itself at a young age and early after birth.

“This suggests that interventions to prevent heart attacks and strokes in affected women cannot wait until middle age if they are eligible for traditional cardiovascular screening programs.”

The condition, which is usually accompanied by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, affects around six per cent of UK and US pregnancies.

Most cases are mild, but preeclampsia can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if not treated in time.

Symptoms include severe headaches, abdominal pain and nausea, which women may consider “normal” pregnancy symptoms and therefore not see a doctor until the condition becomes serious.

Kim Kardashian was diagnosed with preeclampsia while pregnant with her oldest daughter, North West.

Up to 2 percent of those with preeclampsia in their first pregnancy had a heart attack or stroke within two decades of delivery, compared with up to 1.2 percent of unaffected women.

Most cases are mild, but preeclampsia can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if not treated in time (file photo)

When the researchers looked at cardiovascular disease risk by age, women between the ages of 30 and 39 with a history of preeclampsia had five and three times more heart attacks and strokes than women of a similar age without.

The increased risk continued into adulthood, with women over 50 still at double the risk, according to results published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

Dr Hallum added: “Our study suggests that women who have had preeclampsia after the age of 35 and those who have had it more than once are most likely to benefit from screening.

“Prevention should start within 10 years of giving birth, for example by treating high blood pressure and educating women about risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking and physical inactivity.”

Joanne Whitmore, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This large study is an important addition to the evidence we already have about the link between preeclampsia and cardiovascular risk.

It is critical that we continue to expand our knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors, such as preeclampsia, so that we can continue to improve care for women.

“Women with risk factors such as preeclampsia should be followed up post-pregnancy so that advice can be given quickly on how to improve their cardiovascular health.

“This will ensure that women who are at higher risk of heart attack or stroke do not go online.”