female_health

Post-Preeclampsia Cardiovascular Follow-up

Women with preeclampsia have 2-4× lifetime risk of CVD. AHA recommends annual BP + lipid + diabetes screening + DASH diet + 150 min exercise/week starting 6 weeks postpartum.

Nutrition

Pattern

DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

Foods to emphasise

Fruits + vegetables 8-10 servings/day
Low-fat dairy
Whole grains
Lean protein
Beetroot juice
Hibiscus tea

Foods to limit

Sodium < 1500 mg/day
Alcohol ≤ 1 drink/day
Ultra-processed
Sweetened beverages

Exercise

Aerobic

Walking → moderate-intensity 150 min/week (drops SBP 4-9 mmHg).

Strength

2-3×/wk; isometric handgrip drops SBP ~10 mmHg.

Flexibility

Daily.

Weekly target

150 minutes

Supplements

CoQ10

100-200 mg/day

RCT

Modest SBP drop.

Magnesium

300-400 mg/day

RCT

Diarrhea at high doses.

Omega-3

1-2 g/day

RCT

Cardio-protective.

Monitor + cadence

What to track

BP at 1 week (mandatory), 6 weeks, then annually for life
Lipid panel at 6-12 weeks then annually
HbA1c annually
Annual cardio risk reassessment (ASCVD calculator)

Red flags — seek care

Severe headache, vision changes, RUQ pain in first 6 weeks → post-preeclampsia / HELLP recurrence — ER
BP > 160/110 at any time → ER
Chest pain, SOB, calf swelling → DVT/PE — ER

Sources

AHA Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy 2022
ACOG Practice Bulletin 222 (2020)
NICE NG133 Hypertension in Pregnancy 2019

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