MedStar Health has launched a specialized Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, expanding access to cardiovascular care for women before, during and after pregnancy.
The clinic serves women who are planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant or in the postpartum period and have known heart disease, new cardiovascular symptoms or pregnancy-related cardiovascular complications.
Led by Dr. Minhal Makshood, a board-certified cardiologist with advanced training in women’s cardiovascular health and cardio-obstetrics, the clinic brings together cardiologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, obstetricians and other specialists. MedStar says this level of specialty care has previously been available primarily at major academic medical centers.
“Pregnancy puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels,” Makshood said. “For women who have a heart condition, or who develop symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, fainting, high blood pressure, or heart failure during pregnancy, specialized heart care can make a critical difference.”
MedStar highlighted the experience of Montgomery County mother Jazzmin Plaid, who developed shortness of breath and swelling in her legs after giving birth to her fifth child by cesarean delivery. Specialized testing revealed a congenital heart defect involving a small opening between the heart’s upper chambers that had been present since birth but had never been diagnosed.
Plaid was referred to specialists at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where she underwent a minimally invasive procedure to repair the defect without open-heart surgery.
“Jazzmin’s story is an important reminder that heart-related symptoms during pregnancy or after childbirth should never be dismissed,” Makshood said. “Symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, a racing heartbeat, or fainting can sometimes signal a serious heart condition.”
Cardio-obstetrics is a growing subspecialty focused on cardiovascular disease before, during and after pregnancy. Conditions treated by the clinic include congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension and inherited cardiovascular disorders.
The clinic accepts referrals for women planning pregnancy with known cardiovascular disease, pregnant women with heart conditions or concerning symptoms, and women who develop cardiovascular complications during pregnancy or the postpartum period.
