Having kids increases a woman’s risk of having deadly heart problems by 14 per cent

HAVING children raises a woman’s risk of deadly heart problems by 14 per cent, a major study reveals.

Experts warn pregnancy and childbirth put permanent strain on a woman’s body.

It leaves them more likely to suffer a stroke or heart disease in later life - with risk increasing with every child.

Researcher said GPs should keep a closer eye on women after they become mums and advise them to ditch bad lifestyle habits.

Smoking, inactivity, poor diet and being overweight all raise the risk of heart problems.

The study in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology analysed data on more than 3 million women.

Experts say the heart works harder during pregnancy to meet the needs of both mother and child.

Lead researcher Dr Dongming Wang, from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, said: “Pregnancy may lead to inflammation in the body, and the accumulation of fat around the abdomen, in the blood, and in the arteries.

“These changes could have permanent effects on the cardiovascular system, leading to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke later in life.”

Around seven million Brits suffer from some form of heart disease.

The study found with each child, women saw their risk rise by four per cent and chances of having a stroke by three per cent.

Dr Wang added: “Doctors have a role to play here. Women should know that having children may raise their chance of future heart disease or stroke, and that more pregnancies could be increasingly risky.

“Pregnancy is a good time to get rid of bad lifestyle habits.”

But having a kid is not all bad for health. Being a mum protects women against breast cancer in later life.

Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study confirms that women who have more than two children have a slightly increased risk of future heart and circulatory diseases, but sheds no light on the possible reasons.

“It reinforces the message that women should not neglect the importance of a healthy lifestyle to keep their heart in good nick, even though this can become harder with more children to look after.”