Preventing Heart Disease in Women: New Guidance from the American Heart Association

Background and Objective

As cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death among U.S. women, the AHA has issued new guidance on unique opportunities for CVD prevention in women.

Key Points

For the first time, the AHA notes that women who are unable to breast-feed or who experience disrupted lactation may face greater risks for CVD and metabolic disorders in later life. This scientific statement examines the strength of the evidence for associations among adverse pregnancy outcomes, CVD, and CV risk factors.

Highlights of the scientific statement include:

• Adverse pregnancy outcomes (including gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, small-for-gestat…