Type 2 diabetes - Gestational diabetes increases the risk of coronary heart disease in black women

Type 2 diabetes - Gestational diabetes increases the risk of coronary heart disease in black women

Pregnancy complications, particularly gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, are known to increase the risk of coronary artery disease, to which black women are particularly vulnerable. Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in the US compared black women with a history of...

• gestational diabetes (148 women),

• Preeclampsia (137 participants) or

• Premature birth (154 women),

with 445 black women who had normal healthy pregnancies. Their findings were reported in the journal in July 2019Circulation and cardiovascular imaging.

In coronary artery disease, the arteries that supply fresh blood to the heart muscle become clogged with plaque, which consists primarily of cholesterol. Women with any of the complications studied had a higher rate of blocked coronary arteries than women without such difficulties. Women with a history of gestational diabetes had more than three times the risk of coronary artery disease than women without pregnancy complications. The other pregnancy complications were associated with a slightly increased risk of coronary artery disease.

Preventing gestational diabetes consists of…

• normalization of body weight before conception,

• healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables,

• gain only the recommended amount of weight, and

• exercise regularly.

Coronary artery disease may present without any signs or symptoms. Often the disease is found when the person is at increased risk for the problem. They are then examined with a computed tomography angiography, which is similar to an X-ray that takes images of the heart.

Signs and symptoms of the disease are…

• Pain, often described as a feeling of heaviness or tightness in the chest, back, jaw, arms, shoulders, or upper abdomen;

• Dizziness,

• weakness or tiredness,

• nausea and vomiting,

• the perception of indigestion or heartburn,

• Shortness of breath,

• Sweating or anxiety and

• a rapid heartbeat, palpitations and

• The heart beats faster

If coronary artery disease is diagnosed, patients are advised to…

• to normalize their weight if necessary,

• eating a diet that is low in solid fats and high in fruits and vegetables,

• stop smoking,

• exercise as prescribed,

• reduce the stress in your life and to

• Avoid drinking excess alcohol.

Medications include…

• cholesterol-lowering medications that prevent arteries from developing more plaque,

• aspirin, to prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries,

• Beta blockers to put less strain on the heart muscle,

• calcium channel blockers to relax blood vessel walls,

• Ranolazine, an anti-anginal drug, improves blood flow to the heart and

• Nitroglycerin belongs to a class of drugs known as nitrates and is given to open the coronary arteries and improve blood flow to the heart.

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) lower blood pressure.

Inspired by Beverleigh H Piepers