Pregnancy is like a stress test on the body. Most women adapt just fine, but for some, the strain can dramatically raise the risk of heart disease — even in young women. Worse, that risk can remain elevated for years and even decades. On this episode (recorded June 2023), host Sandra Lindsay, DHS-c, RN, speaks with Evelina Grayver, MD, about how to prevent heart-related problems before, during and after pregnancy. Because heart disease continues to be the No. 1 cause of maternal mortality in the US, Dr. Grayver helped launch a cutting-edge Cardio-Obstetrics Program at Northwell Health to help detect and prevent heart issues for expectant moms. The specialty is relatively new, so education for patients and clinicians is critical, says Dr. Grayver, who serves as director of Northwell's Women’s Heart Program for the Central Region; and is a member of the Katz Institute for Women's Health. Read more about Northwell's cardio-obstetrics program -https://www.northwell.edu/news/insights/cardio-obstetrics-protecting-heart-health-in-pregnancy Chapters: 00:01 - Intro 01:21 - Pregnancy is a stress test on the body 02:42 - Adverse pregnancy outcomes 03:40 - Risk factors pregnant women should know 06:00 - What's "normal"? 08:18 - Valvular disease and pregnancy 09:00 - Peripartum cardiomyopathy 10:30 - Preventing heart disease during pregnancy 11:22 - Pre-conception counseling 14:09 - What is cardio-obstetrics? 16:19 - Launching a program during Covid-19 17:38 - A personal challenge and a national crisis 18:50 - Disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, 850 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 83,000 employees — 18,900 nurses and 4,900 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners — are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit http://bit.ly/2Z7iHFL and explore our many opportunities. The Well - https://thewell.northwell.edu/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/northwellhealth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/northwellhealth X - https://www.x.com/northwellhealth LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin/northwellhealth