Melbourne, Fla. – August 20, 2015 – The Preeclampsia Foundation and Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital are now accepting applicants to their online research study, Heart Health 4 Moms (HH4M). The study is open to women who have had babies in the last five months who had preeclampsia during their pregnancies.

Heart Health 4 Moms focuses on healthy behaviors in new mothers with recent preeclampsia to improve their long-term health.  Eligible applicants must live in a U.S. state or territory and have access to an internet-enabled smartphone or tablet. Up to $250 stipend will be provided.

Preeclampsia is a serious disease related to high blood pressure during pregnancy; it can happen to any pregnant woman during the second half of her pregnancy, or up to six weeks after delivery. Symptoms may include swelling of the face and hands, headaches, stomach pain, and visual disturbances. Knowing the symptoms and reporting them immediately may lead to more timely diagnosis and better outcomes.

According to the American Heart Association, preeclampsia doubles the risk of heart disease and stroke, and quadruples the risk of high blood pressure later in life. However, preeclampsia doesn’t necessarily lead to the development of cardiovascular problems. The HH4M study is designed to support new mothers with recent preeclampsia with heart-healthy education, tools, and information to reduce their risk.

Interested applicants can confirm their eligibility by completing a short survey at www.HH4M.org (English) or www.HH4M.org/es (Spanish); go to "Click here to join HH4M."

For information about the Preeclampsia Foundation, contact Debbie Helton at 321.421.6957 or Debbie.helton@preeclampsia.org.

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About the Preeclampsia Foundation: The Preeclampsia Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2000. It is dedicated to providing patient support and education, raising public awareness, catalyzing research and improving healthcare practices, envisioning a world where preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy no longer threaten the lives of mothers and babies.  For more information, visit www.preeclampsia.org or call toll-free (800) 665-9341.

About Brigham and Women’s Hospital: Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is an international leader in virtually every area of medicine and has been the site of pioneering breakthroughs that have improved lives around the world. A major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, BWH has a legacy of excellence that continues to grow year after year. BWH is an internationally-known referral center for the most complex cases in nearly all areas of medicine. In fact, U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks BWH among the nation’s top 10 hospitals and in the top 10 for specific specialty areas that in 2015 include cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and rheumatology. For more information, visit http://brighamandwomens.org/.