Q: "I've just had my first baby and suffered with pre-eclampsia, although my baby and I were both fine. Could there be any after-effects from the condition, or is it unlikely to affect my health further now?"

A: Dr Pensee Wu, a lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology at Keele University who has just led a study into pre-eclampsia's long-term impact on women's health, says: "After a pregnancy complicated with pre-eclampsia, your future health can be affected in several ways.

"For instance, the American Heart Association recognises pre-eclampsia as a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. A woman with a history of pre-eclampsia would have approximately double the risk of subsequent heart attack or angina and stroke, as well as triple the risk of future high blood pressure.

"You're also more likely to develop pre-eclampsia in subsequent pregnancies. To help manage this risk, however, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend the use of aspirin from the 12th week of pregnancy to reduce the risk of developing recurrent pre-eclampsia. This is worth bearing in mind if you're thinking about becoming pregnant again.

"Research has also shown that there's a link between pre-eclampsia and increased risks of developing clots in the legs and lungs, diabetes and kidney diseases.

"You can reduce your risks by making positive lifestyle choices such as having a healthy diet, being more active and stopping smoking."