The American Heart Association, the leading global public health organization devoted to a world of longer healthier lives for all, announced today a new maternal health section of its Support Network made possible by a significant gift from Los Angeles based music executive and 2021 Go Red for Women® Class of Real Women class lead, Jaime Zeluck Hindlin.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. and can negatively affect heart health during pregnancy and later in life. Between 1987 and 2015, pregnancy-related deaths rose from 7.2 per 100,000 live births to 17.2 per 100,000 live births.[1] As a result of the alarming rates, the American Heart Association and other leading health organizations are working with expectant parents, their health care teams and communities to address this urgent issue.
Hindlin was inspired to make this gift after her pregnancy resulted in heart failure that was almost diagnosed too late. "If I can get involved in making people more aware of maternal health, then I can hopefully change not one, but many people's lives," said Hindlin, who had an uncommon form of heart failure called peripartum cardiomyopathy that typically starts in the final month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth.
The Association's Support Network is an online community for survivors, caregivers, family and friends. Members share experiences, offer advice, monitor progress, and celebrate achievements with others on similar journeys.
Hindlin said "this gift and this cause are the most important things in the world to me. To be able to help other women who are going through anything close to what I went through is the best gift I could give anyone.
"I did not have the resources when I went through my heart failure and if I did, it would have been a game changer for me. I just want to be able to do that for other women and continue to keep spreading awareness."
The new Support Network Maternal Health Forum is for anyone expecting a baby, new moms and their loved ones to ask questions, get support and share their journey with others who've been there. It's open to people with pregnancy-related conditions that can affect cardiovascular health, including peripartum cardiomyopathy, peripartum stroke, peripartum heart attack, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and congenital heart defects.
