Cholesterol during pregnancy: the norm and the reasons for the increase

During pregnancy, changes in the work of almost all organs occur in a woman's body. Protective mechanisms are reduced, blood counts, the activity of the endocrine and nervous systems are changing. There are deviations from the norm, which are considered physiological. And some are pathological. What is the norm of cholesterol during pregnancy and what are the causes of deviation? This is described in the article.

Norm

The main indicators related to the level of cholesterol in the body of a girl carrying a child are determined by the content of substances:

1. The norm of cholesterol during pregnancy (total cholesterol) is 3.07-13.8 mmol / l.
2. Atherogenicity - 0.4-2.5 units.
3. Fatty acids - 0.4-2.2 mmol / L.

The large ranges in these standards have several reasons. Each age has its own cholesterol norms during pregnancy:

• At 16 years old - 3.07-5.19 mmol / L.
• At 25 years old - 3.17-5.6 mmol / l.

In addition, the norm of cholesterol during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester and third increases 1.5-2 times. It turns out that in 16-20 years it can be 3.07-10.38 mmol / l. The norm of cholesterol during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester is almost the same as in the second. A doctor can determine its level.

Improper nutrition, overweight, and lack of exercise can lead to a deviation from normal cholesterol during pregnancy. Especially harmful are products with transisomers of fatty acids, which acts on the blood and lipid metabolism. It is undesirable for women to eat red meat, lard, and confectionery while carrying a child. These products include fatty acids, they act on the violation of the norm of cholesterol in the blood during pregnancy.

Why rises?

An increase in the rate of total cholesterol during pregnancy can develop due to heredity. If there are people in the family who suffer from atherosclerosis, the risk of cholesterol levels is increased. The older the pregnant, the greater the number of diseases that can manifest itself. This applies to systemic diseases, an age-related increase in blood cholesterol. Harmful is sunflower oil, which is better to replace with olive.

There are other reasons for increasing cholesterol in women during pregnancy. This may be due to:

• pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• the presence of foci of chronic infection;
• kidney disease, including kidney failure, nephroptosis;
• violation of the pancreas;
• lack of growth hormone, diabetes mellitus.

Changes during pregnancy are harmful because with them the level of beneficial cholesterol in the blood decreases and the “bad” level rises. Acquired diseases with age, bad habits before the conception of a child only aggravate the condition, which can lead to negative consequences.

High and low hazard

Pregnant cholesterol is checked every 3 months. An increase in its level in the late period, especially in the 3rd trimester, can cause health problems in mother and child. Anxiety occurs when the norm increases by 2-2.5 times. In this case, cholesterol is dangerous for a woman and a child.

With a 2-fold increase in the norm, an increase in blood viscosity and fragility of blood vessels is likely. This can lead to cardiovascular pathologies in the mother. There are situations when a child develops heart disease. Diseases of the heart, blood vessels, thyroid gland, kidneys and liver can be the cause of a strong increase in cholesterol over 9-12 mmol / l.

Lowered cholesterol during pregnancy is also undesirable. Lack adversely affects the formation of the child. A reduced level leads to premature birth, worsens the well-being of the mother, weakens her memory. Therefore, it is important to be examined by a doctor in a timely manner in order to identify health disorders in time and correct it. Only a specialist can recommend effective measures to improve well-being and improve the health of mother and child.

How to reduce

It is not difficult to influence the reasons for the increase in cholesterol during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester. It is necessary to control nutrition, monitor weight, undergo examination, donate blood for cholesterol.

It is important that lowering your substance (cholesterol) during pregnancy is safe. Therefore, do not use medications. It should be borne in mind that the body needs cholesterol, it will be dangerous only in excess. When using medicines and folk remedies, it is important not to overdo it, since the pregnant woman’s body works for two, a slight violation of lipid metabolism will not be harmful to him.

To normalize cholesterol during pregnancy, the following rules must be observed:

1. You should adhere to a diet: do not eat fatty foods, butter, reduce sweets in the diet.
2. Physical activity helps. To do this, you need special gymnastics for expectant mothers. Exercise normalizes lipid metabolism and weight.
3. Freshly squeezed juice and tea, preferably green, have a positive effect on metabolic processes. Preventive measures help normalize cholesterol levels.

Pregnancy can not go quite easily, and therefore many women are not up to recommendations. Many pregnant women direct all actions to eliminate toxicosis, poor health, sleep disturbances and appetite. This also can affect the increase / decrease in cholesterol, because habits and lifestyle affect the metabolism.

Prevention

To maintain normal cholesterol in the third trimester of pregnancy, preventive measures must be followed. To do this, you need to adhere to proper nutrition, be in a stable psychological state, use safe folk remedies, natural herbs. It is important to get rid of bad habits.

The main rule of prevention is a healthy lifestyle. Juice therapy is effective, which does not eliminate the cause, but strengthens the immune system:

1. On the first day of treatment, 50 ml of celery juice and 130 ml of carrot juice are prepared. Use them 2 hours after a meal.
2. On day 2, cucumber, beet, carrot juices of 100 ml each are used to reduce cholesterol. Drink in the morning, at lunch and in the evening.
3. On day 3, cabbage, carrot, apple juices are mixed in any proportions (to taste).

ethnoscience

There are safe and effective traditional medicine that reduce the level of harmful substances in the blood:

1. In olive oil (2 cups) add garlic (10 cloves), which is previously passed through a garlic squeezer. The tool is infused for a week. The resulting oil is used to prevent atherosclerosis. And when cholesterol is elevated, then the tool in combination with other activities will help to safely lower it.
2. Need dill (1/2 cup), honey (1 cup), valerian (1 tbsp. L.). The components are mixed and poured with boiling water (1 liter). Then the remedy is insisted for 2 days. The resulting infusion is stored in the refrigerator and taken 3 times a day for 1 tbsp. l 30 minutes before meals. This is an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis, since each component can normalize a high level of harmful substances in the blood.

Healthy foods

The following foods must be included in the diet:

1. Avocado. This is a valuable product for the prevention of atherosclerosis and lowering blood cholesterol in pregnant women. If for 21 days there is ½ fruit, then bad cholesterol is reduced by 5%.
2. Olive oil. It contains many phytosterols, which reduces the harmful substance and restores the overall balance. Crude oil has an anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Fish fat. It is abundant in sardines and salmon. These products are leaders in the content of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, marine representatives contain less mercury. Thanks to red salmon, when used regularly, cholesterol is lowered. This product is considered a strong natural antioxidant.

Fish oil and omega 3

In addition to the daily use of omega-3 in foods, it must be obtained from drugs. Doctors recommend a trusted manufacturer and prescribe a dosage. In capsules there is an oil concentrate of the substance. If there is no way to eat fish, nuts, avocados every day, then such a tool will be the most suitable.

In lesser amounts, omega-3 is present in fish oil. It is sold in a pharmacy - oil solution and capsules. The negative property of the product - it should be consumed in large quantities to replenish the daily norm of omega-3. The average dosage of a fish oil capsule is 50-100 mg. The oil solution is unpleasant in taste, nausea may appear from the smell, so capsules are easier to take.

Flaxseed oil and seeds

Flax seeds are effective. They are ground in a coffee grinder and poured with hot water. It turns out a jelly-like solution. Use it for 1 tbsp. l three times a day before meals. More seeds are added to low-fat dairy products.

Useful linseed oil. It contains a concentrated extract from flax seeds. It is used as part of dishes or 1 tbsp. l three times a day with meals. But the oil should not be subjected to heat treatment, as valuable substances are lost. In a pharmacy it is sold in capsule form. They are easy to use and retain valuable components.

Food

During pregnancy, women should follow the doctor's recommendations. This is especially important for high cholesterol. Since malnutrition is a common cause of atherosclerosis, you should pay attention to the diet.

In nutrition, you must adhere to the following principles:

1. It is necessary to change the fat composition of food, replace saturated fats with unsaturated ones, which immediately eliminates the causes.
2. It requires a variety of products, a combination of fruits, vegetables, meat and fish.
3. You should eat fresh foods that contain the necessary vitamins and minerals.
4. Food must be prepared at home.

It is advisable to eat in small portions, but often. This is best done 5-6 times a day. Useful snacks in the form of yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk with low fat content. It is better to cook food in such ways as cooking, stewing, steaming, baking in the oven. Fried and smoked dishes should not be eaten.

Healthy diet

The menu should consist of:

• vegetable oils;
• fruits and vegetables;
• greens;
• croup;
• fish;
• nuts
• soy products - soy milk, cheese, cottage cheese.

Omega-3s are important. It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. It covers the body's need for fats, and also dissolves atherosclerotic plaques. Omega-3s are found in vegetable oils, avocados, walnuts, and oily fish. It is advisable to eat these foods every day.

The calorie content of the menu should be reduced to 2500 kcal per day. The norm of fluid per day is up to 2 liters. In the later stages of women, puffiness appears and blood pressure rises. In these conditions, consult a nutritionist and gynecologist.

Nutritional nuances

It is especially necessary to eat fresh vegetables. It is advisable that they replace fatty foods. They are considered the main sources of vitamin E, C, beta-carotene, mineral components. The most useful products can be selected by color. Dark green, dark yellow, red vegetables and fruits are more useful than others.

The diet should have vegetable and fruit salads, leafy vegetables rich in folic acid (it protects against the appearance of bad cholesterol). This diet is considered a good prevention of diseases of the endocrine system and malignant processes. You should limit your intake of saturated fats. It is important for pregnant women to adhere to the following rules:

1. It is better to replace fatty foods with plant foods to eliminate the cause.
2. You need to choose lean meat or remove fat before cooking.
3. Eat chicken should be without skin, do not cook meat broths, because they contain a lot of cholesterol.

Particular attention should be paid to broths. The accumulated fat on the surface is dangerous, therefore it must be removed before use. Pregnant women with high cholesterol need to be under the supervision of a cardiologist and endocrinologist all the time a child is bearing.