New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals that prolonged exposure to high temperatures can raise the risk of complications like sepsis, hemorrhage, and clotting disorders by up to 27 per cent in pregnant women.
This study, which examined over 400,000 pregnancies in Southern California, also discovered that exposure to high heat during the final week of pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of life-threatening delivery complications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out that pregnant women face greater challenges in regulating their body temperature, as they must cool both themselves and their developing baby. This makes them more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Additionally, due to increased vulnerability to dehydration, their bodies have a reduced ability to cool down.
Researchers advise pregnant women to limit their time outdoors during periods of extreme temperatures as the best precautionary measure.
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