Is early tachycardia in pregnancy an abnormality or normal? Will this condition be dangerous? These questions are often asked by the fair sex who carry the child. However, a definite answer does not exist. In this article, we will take a closer look at the features of tachycardia during early pregnancy, the symptoms and signs of this condition, as well as the causes and methods of treatment.
What is tachycardia?
Tachycardia is called a rapid heartbeat. This is not about illness, but about the manifestation of some kind of hidden ailment. In a normal state, an average person has a heart rate of 60 to 80 beats per minute. In the case of tachycardia, the number of strokes increases to 90. Very often, tachycardia occurs during pregnancy in the early stages.
Tachycardia form
In the field of medicine, it is customary to distinguish three varieties of tachycardia:
- Sinus In this case, the heart rate remains the same, and the number of contractions increases to more than 90 beats per minute.
- Atrial In this case, strikes become more frequent to enormous rates of 140-250. The source is located in the atria.
- Paroxysmal. With this form of tachycardia, the rhythm is from 140 to 250 contractions, and the source of the problem lies in the ventricle of the heart.
Early on
In the first trimester of pregnancy, tachycardia should not provoke anxiety in a woman, since she can talk about the pathological process in the body. But if a woman worsens greatly during an attack, pain and anxiety, dizziness, nausea appear, then you should immediately contact a medical institution.
If a rapid heartbeat is observed in the first weeks of pregnancy and at the same time is constant in nature, such a pathology can be triggered by chronic ailments or lesions of the cardiovascular system.
Causes of failure in pregnant women
The causes of tachycardia during early pregnancy are:
- An increase in the amount of blood, which provokes a compensatory increase in heart rate.
- A change in the hormonal background, which provokes the excitability of the myocardium. This is due to increased production of estrogen.
- An enlarged uterus, which causes a restriction of the mobility of the diaphragm. In parallel with this, abdominal pressure rises, the position of the heart changes.
Tachycardia in the early stages of pregnancy will not cause any harm to the fetus if the woman does not have any cardiovascular pathology. But if they exist, such a condition can be dangerous not only for the baby's health, but also for the expectant mother.
Risk factors
Quite often, tachycardia is characterized as a sign of early pregnancy. However, there are other factors that provoke this condition. These include the following:
- Excess weight.
- Allergy to vitamins and drugs.
- Anemia.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Excessive thyroid function.
- Frequent use of tea and coffee.
- Inflammation of the respiratory system.
- Bleeding in the event of an ectopic pregnancy, trauma, early placental abruption.
- Toxicosis, during which there is depletion and dehydration of the body.
- Frequent stress, irritability, anxiety.
- A sharp increase in temperature. It is known that one degree increases the pulse by about 10-12 units.
- Sepsis, infections.
- Bad habits: addiction, alcoholism, nicotine addiction.
Danger to the fetus and mother
So, we have sorted out the factors and causes of tachycardia during early pregnancy. But in what cases will such a condition be dangerous to the health of the baby and mother? Before answering this question, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that in the early stages, heart palpitations are quite rare. In most cases, deviations from the norm are about 20 strokes. First of all, this is due to the stresses that a woman experiences during gestation. The body needs a large flow of blood to the uterus. Thanks to this, the future baby receives the necessary amount of nutritional components. However, strong tachycardia should not be ignored by specialists. In some cases, exacerbated vascular and heart diseases can provoke it. This will threaten the life of the fetus and mother. If you do not start treatment of tachycardia in early pregnancy, this can cause difficult childbirth.
Signs and Symptoms
During pregnancy, tachycardia will manifest itself in the form of the following symptoms:
- Painful sensations that are localized in the region of the heart.
- Cardiopalmus.
- Dizziness.
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Impaired urination.
These manifestations can occur individually or in combination. This condition is not dangerous if a similar attack lasts for several minutes. However, short-term malaise is an occasion to contact a specialist. Pathological tachycardia among pregnant women is most often associated with anemia, during which the amount of hemoglobin in the blood drops below 110.
Diagnostics
What to do with tachycardia during early pregnancy? First of all, it is necessary to be examined by a specialist who will identify the root cause of this ailment.
For this, a general blood test is done to clarify the level of red blood cells, as well as hemoglobin. Thanks to this, it will be possible to exclude or confirm a blood disease: anemia, leukemia. In addition, it is necessary to do a blood test for the amount of hormones, due to which the function of the thyroid gland is determined.
The doctor prescribes a urinalysis to determine the breakdown products of adrenaline.
To identify cardiac pathologies, an electrocardiogram is prescribed.
To determine the state of blood vessels, elasticity, tone, and also blood supply, rheography is prescribed. Physical exercise tests will help to identify the condition of the myocardium. An ultrasound or echocardiogram of the heart is designed to assess the condition of muscles, valves, the absence or presence of defects, as well as other chronic ailments.
Treatment features
We continue to consider the treatment and causes of tachycardia during pregnancy in the early stages. Features of therapy will depend on the diagnosis. We have determined the danger of tachycardia during early pregnancy. However, in most cases, it proceeds quite easily. If discomfort is felt, then the woman should sit down, calm down. Pretty effective is washing with cold water, a cool compress on the face, as well as immersing the face in ice water. You can also lie down in a well-ventilated area, while taking the most comfortable pose.
Experts also recommend relaxing practices such as meditation or yoga. It will also be useful to drink the liquid in the required amount. A woman should avoid excessive stressful situations.
To eliminate the symptoms of tachycardia, you should adhere to a special diet. Exclude or minimize caffeinated drinks from the menu, including tea and coffee. Without fail, foods that are rich in magnesium should predominate in the diet. The fact is that a deficiency of this element in the body negatively affects the work of the heart. Before childbirth, it is necessary to minimize the consumption of medicinal chemicals.
Medicines
The danger of tachycardia during early pregnancy, what to do with this condition - we found out. However, if the above tips do not help you, then you can use sedatives, which your doctor should prescribe. Most often, these include: Novo-Passit, Persen, Magnerot. They will also be useful in monotherapy, but it is best to combine them with funds based on hawthorn and rosehip.
To eliminate deficiency conditions, vitamin complexes are used. It is desirable that the medications themselves contain potassium, which maintains the water-salt balance in the body, as well as magnesium, which regulates the function of the heart muscle.
If during pregnancy a woman gained weight, then it is necessary to adjust the diet and diet, but before that you should consult your doctor.
If tachycardia was caused by any specific pathology, then its treatment will be carried out.
Possible complications and prognosis
If tachycardia during pregnancy is caused by natural changes in the female body, then the prognosis will be very favorable. As a rule, after childbirth, unpleasant symptoms pass completely without a trace for a woman. But in the case of a prolonged manifestation of tachycardia, as well as a lack of reaction from the expectant mother and specialists, very unpleasant complications can arise. These include:
- Heart failure.
- The formation of blood clots, which can lead to a heart attack and stroke.
- Fainting state.
Preventative measures
If a pregnant woman is attentive to her own health, she will be able to reduce the likelihood of possible complications of tachycardia. Prevention of this condition includes the following steps:
- It is necessary to control the mass of your body, as well as its changes.
- Experts recommend exercising, attending special trainings that are designed for pregnant women.
- It is imperative to adhere to a healthy regime and diet, the menu of which is dominated by the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals for the normal health of the child and the expectant mother.
- Around a pregnant woman, a psychologically favorable environment should prevail, there should be no conflicts, as well as all kinds of unpleasant situations and stresses.
- Of course, you will have to abandon bad habits: smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, as well as drinking coffee, which stimulates the nervous system.
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, it can be concluded that tachycardia in pregnant women is almost a normal condition. But if the first warning signs appear, then you should immediately contact your doctor. In some cases, a similar symptom may indicate the presence of a serious illness in the expectant mother.