The American Heart Association has launched the My Health is Our Health campaign in Austin through its Go Red for Women movement to increase awareness of the connection between pregnancy and cardiovascular disease. The effort is supported locally by Ascension Seton and is intended to help pregnant women and new mothers better understand how pregnancy-related conditions can signal future heart risk and affect long-term health for both mothers and children.
Pregnancy acts as a natural stress test for the body, placing unique demands on the heart and blood vessels. Conditions that arise or worsen during pregnancy — for example, high blood pressure or gestational diabetes — are not merely transient complications. According to the campaign materials, these conditions often reveal underlying cardiovascular risk that might otherwise go undetected and can indicate an elevated lifetime risk of heart disease.
The initiative highlights multiple factors that affect cardiovascular health during pregnancy, including age, race and ethnicity, hypertension and weight. The release names specific adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to later cardiovascular problems, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. It also notes that fetal growth restriction (small babies) associated with maternal conditions can predispose children to metabolic and cardiac issues later in life.
The statement emphasizes that many pregnancy-associated deaths are avoidable. It also points out that the United States has the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries and that pregnancy-related deaths have risen markedly over recent decades.
The stated goal of My Health is Our Health is to help mothers recognize pregnancy-related signs and risk factors and to promote early management strategies that can protect maternal cardiovascular health now and over the long term. Ascension Seton’s support is presented as part of its commitment to improving maternal health outcomes and helping women access the information and care they need throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Ascension Seton describes the campaign as aligning with the need for comprehensive maternity care that prioritizes heart health. The organization frames its clinical teams as witnesses to how proactive education and early cardiovascular intervention can lead to better outcomes for expectant mothers.
Dr. Jeny Ghartey, Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist and Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ascension Seton, is quoted saying that a mother’s heart health "sets the stage for her baby’s future." She notes that when mothers experience high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, these conditions can predispose children to metabolic and heart issues, particularly when associated with fetal growth restriction. Dr. Ghartey emphasizes that early management both protects mothers now and shapes a healthier long-term future for their children.
Derek Curlee, Vice President of Women's Services at Ascension Seton, is quoted asserting that comprehensive maternity care must prioritize heart health to safeguard the community’s future. He highlights that Ascension Seton’s clinical teams observe daily how education and early cardiovascular intervention can improve maternal outcomes and that supporting the initiative empowers women to identify risks and advocate for their well-being.
The release directs readers to Go Red for Women resources on cardiovascular disease in pregnancy for further information. The American Heart Association presents awareness and education as central to reducing avoidable pregnancy-associated deaths and to improving long-term cardiovascular health for mothers and their children.
The American Heart Association describes itself in the release as a long-standing organization dedicated to extending healthier lives and ensuring equitable health in communities. It funds research, advocates for public health, and provides resources to address cardiovascular disease and stroke.
For media inquiries, the source lists Michael Vybiral with an email address at michael.vybiral@heart.org. For public inquiries, the American Heart Association provides a telephone number: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721). The release also points readers to the organization’s main websites for more information.