Heart Attack Risk During Pregnancy

Pregnant women deal with a wide spectrum of symptoms, including nausea, tender breasts and frequent urination.

But if you're pregnant and get chest pains, doctors say you need to get immediate help. It could be a heart attack.

About one third of heart attacks occur in women younger than 50. The leading cause of pregnancy-associated heart attacks is a condition known as Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD).

SCAD is a previously little-known condition, but according to Robert O. Atlas, M.D., Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy, it's a potentially devastating cause of heart attacks in young women.

There can be some risk factors, but it can happen to anyone and that's what is so concerning," Dr. Atlas said. "But it is not regular it is not very frequent that we see this. It is highly unusual."

Dr. Atlas noted that outside of chest pains, one should also watch out for pain that goes up into the neck and down the arm, sweating and increased heart rate.

You may be at higher risk of SCAD if you have hypertension, are obese or have conditions like Lupus or Marfan syndrome.

View Dr. Robert Atlas' interview regarding causes of heart attack in pregnant women.