EP258: Doctor V. Risk & Child Birth

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Podcast Summary Introduction Dr. Warrick Bishop, a practicing cardiologist and author focused on patient education about heart health, hosts this episode featuring Dr. V from North Carolina, an OBGYN with 20 years of experience. The episode explores the critical intersection of pregnancy complications and long-term cardiovascular risk in women, with both doctors sharing a passion for preventative, holistic medicine and empowering patients to take control of their health through lifestyle changes. Key Takeaways: Lifestyle medicine is now a recognized medical specialty that empowers patients to use diet, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors to treat or prevent chronic diseases, with growing patient demand to reduce medication dependence. Pregnancy complications including preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, proteinuria, and low birth weight are significant markers of increased cardiovascular disease risk throughout a woman's life. Women at higher risk for preeclampsia include those who are obese, have a history of high blood pressure or kidney disease, are African-American, or are at age extremes (very young or 40+), though the exact cause of preeclampsia remains unknown. Delivery of the baby is the treatment for preeclampsia, though severe cases may require early delivery to preserve the mother's life, and some women require antihypertensive medication for weeks or months postpartum. Women should prepare for pregnancy through exercise and clean diet to reduce cardiovascular risk, and those with pregnancy complications should maintain regular primary care follow-up even when not pregnant. Progressive weight gain across multiple pregnancies is common and problematic, with many women retaining 10+ pounds per pregnancy, contributing to long-term obesity and cardiovascular risk. Breastfeeding is recommended to help women return to ideal body weight, as it can burn up to 800 calories per day and supports physiological recovery after pregnancy. Family history of hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes contributes to increased risk for pregnancy complications, making genetic predisposition an important screening factor. Women with severe pregnancy complications often become highly motivated to make lifestyle changes and maintain wellness care to prevent recurrence in future pregnancies. Many women only see healthcare providers during pregnancy, missing critical opportunities for preventative cardiovascular screening and risk management during non-pregnant years.