It has been known for many years that post-abortive women, especially younger ones, are at a higher risk of developing different cancers. Now, the Charlotte Lozier Institute's new peer-reviewed study of over one million Medicaid-eligible women has discovered an association with cardiovascular diseases.
"This particular study looks at cardiovascular risk in the six months following a first live birth and found that women who had a history of abortion prior to their first live birth had an increased risk of a first time cardiovascular disease if they had not had a cardiovascular disease previously," relays Dr. David Reardon of the Elliot Institute.
Women with a history of abortion who later suffer a miscarriage are also at risk.
"Miscarriage has a similar increased risk of cardiovascular disease," Dr. Reardon notes. "That's already recognized by the American Heart Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who call on doctors to be aware of the effects of prior miscarriages on increased risk of cardiovascular health, because those are things that doctors can look for and watch for."
Dr. Reardon emphasizes that elective abortions, which are entirely avoidable, can contribute to miscarriages and health issues later on. He hopes this research will help women prevent the latter.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women.
