What to know about the new guidelines to cut stroke risk in pregnancy

February is heart month, and it’s a perfect time to talk about something that can affect pregnant women -- the risk of stroke. While stroke is rare during pregnancy, it can be serious, accounting for 4% to 6% of pregnancy-related deaths in the US each year. Looking into those statistics further, women of color are likely to experience a stroke while pregnant. One of the biggest risk factors is high blood pressure. The American Heart Association released new guidelines that stress close monitoring, early recognition of stroke symptoms and prompt treatment for pregnant and postpartum women. Dr. Hebah Hefzy, a neurologist at Henry Ford Health, joined Local 4 Live to talk more about the stroke risk in pregnancies.