Entertainment | Gal Gadot's dangerous blood clot highlights health risks for pregnant women

Over the weekend, Gal Gadot revealed that the birth of her fourth daughter in early 2024 was accompanied by a life-threatening health crisis. Eight months into her pregnancy, the 39-year-old “Wonder Woman” actress was diagnosed with an enormous blood clot in her brain.

As Gadot also shared in an Instagram post on Sunday, she learned that she is just not alone among the many pregnant women who’ve experienced such a horrific medical emergency. “I had no idea that three out of 100,000 pregnant women in the age group over 30 are diagnosed with CVT,” Gadot said.

A CVT is a cerebral venous thrombosis that forms within the venous sinuses of the brain and prevents blood from draining from the brain, resulting in a buildup of pressure within the blood vessels and a stroke. in accordance with Johns Hopkins Medicine. While heart problems in pregnancy is “rare,” it will probably be serious. in accordance with a 2022 study published within the World Journal of Clinical Cases.

However, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that pregnant women In fact, there’s the next risk of other forms of blood clots while pregnant, childbirth, and the three months after delivery – especially people who form within the arms, legs, or lungs.

The risk increases because a girl's blood begins to clot more easily to scale back blood loss during labor and delivery, the CDC says on its website. Pregnant women can also experience reduced blood flow to the legs later in pregnancy because the blood vessels across the pelvis come under pressure from the growing baby.

According to the CDC, the chance of blood clots increases in women age 35 and older who experience complications while pregnant and childbirth, are immobile on account of prolonged bed rest, and provides birth by cesarean section. Other risk aspects include smoking, obesity and former blood clots or a congenital clotting disorder.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, symptoms for the variety of blood clot Gadot suffered include headache, blurred vision, fainting or lack of consciousness, lack of control or movement in a body part, or seizures. Someone affected by CVT must go to the emergency room immediately.

“I suffered from excruciating headaches that left me bedridden for weeks until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the shocking truth,” Gadot said on Instagram.

“We rushed to the hospital and within hours I underwent emergency surgery,” Gadot said, explaining that her daughter Ori, now 9 months old, “was born in this moment of uncertainty and fear.”

While Gadot said her daughter is healthy and now healed, this crisis taught her the importance of listening to “our bodies.” She said: “Pain, discomfort or even subtle changes often have a deeper meaning, and tuning into your body can be life-saving.”

By telling her own story, Gadot hoped to “raise awareness and support others who may be facing something similar.”

“In a moment, my family and I realized how fragile life can be,” she said. “It was a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change, and in the midst of a difficult year, I just wanted to persevere and live.”

Gadot indicated that she needed weeks of care after the surgery and birth. She thanked “the exceptional medical team” at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for his or her “weeks of dedicated care” that helped her “get through” and start her path to recovery.

“Today I am completely healed and full of gratitude for the life that has been given back to me,” she said.

Gadot initially announced the birth of her fourth child on Instagram in March, but didn’t mention the harrowing medical situation on the time, People reported.

“My sweet girl, welcome,” Gadot captioned a photograph of herself cradling Ori in a hospital bed on the time.

“The pregnancy was not easy and we got through it,” she continued, adding, “You have brought so much light into our lives and lived up to your name, Ori, which means “my light” in Hebrew. Our hearts are filled with gratitude. Welcome to the women' house. Dad’s pretty cool too.”

Gadot, who’s married to film producer Jaron Varsano, can be mother to Alma (13), Maya (7) and Daniella (3).

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