With the onset of pregnancy, cardinal changes occur in a woman’s body, which everyone knows about, especially the fair sex itself. Moreover, they affect all systems, including the composition of blood plasma. In this regard, even elevated cholesterol in pregnant women is considered the norm, but only if its level does not exceed acceptable indicators.
Otherwise, there is a need to reduce lipoproteins in order to avoid serious complications in relation to the mother and her unborn child.
What is this substance?
Cholesterol, or cholesterol, is a fat-like substance that is produced by a healthy body (80%). Various bodies take part in this process:
- liver;
- kidneys
- adrenal glands;
- intestines;
- genital endocrine glands.
Among them, the main supplier of such a complex and necessary organic compound is the liver. The remaining 20% comes with food. The importance of cholesterol for the body is difficult to underestimate - it takes part in the synthesis of nerve cells, vitamin D, increases the strength of cell membranes.
To everything else, without it, the production of a number of hormones is impossible. Therefore, it is so important to know whether the blood cholesterol is elevated in a pregnant woman or not. This will allow you to prescribe an appropriate course of treatment or take action if necessary.
In the blood, the much-needed compound is in the form of lipoproteins, which vary in degree of solubility:
- Low density lipoproteins, or LDL ("bad" cholesterol).
- High density lipoproteins, or HDL ("good" cholesterol).
The formation of atherosclerotic deposits in blood vessels occurs precisely due to LDL - it is not without reason that it is called “bad”.
Physiological feature
In the early period of pregnancy, cholesterol ensures the production of progesterone to form the placenta. Also, its role is to ensure that the embryo can safely attach to the wall of the uterus. In addition, the need for cholesterol is due to the exclusion of the probability of rejection of the fetus by the female body. As the development and growth of the placenta, including the genital organ, occurs, the need for a hormone increases.
Therefore, do not be surprised at increased cholesterol in pregnant women in the 3rd trimester. At a later date, it is necessary to prepare the mammary glands for breastfeeding. And here, too, is not complete without hormones, and therefore cholesterol. In addition, increasing the level of organic compounds helps to stimulate uterine growth, prevent premature birth, and also supports the nervous system of the expectant mother.
For this reason, the concentration of cholesterol can double in size, which so far cannot be considered a pathology. After the birth of the baby, the indicators will return to normal.
Other triggering factors
If we talk about a change in the level of lipids of a pathological nature during pregnancy, then in this case the reasons are quite diverse. This is the maintenance of an improper diet, obesity, the use of trans fats in large quantities. Moreover, if a woman leads a sedentary lifestyle, the indicators increase. Also affected by age and hereditary predisposition.
If cholesterol is elevated in a pregnant woman, a cause (in addition to the above) can be caused by some pathologies:
- Diseases of the liver, kidneys associated with the synthesis of cholesterol.
- Violation of the metabolism.
- Improper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Symptoms of endocrine disorders.
- The development of infections in a chronic form.
- Somatotropic insufficiency.
- Dysbacteriosis
It is worth noting that in women in the late stages of pregnancy, the development of various diseases is more common than under normal conditions. At the same time, due to the burdened heredity, cholesterol can grow from the first weeks of the gestational period.
Normal limits
In healthy people, indicators regarding blood cholesterol do not exceed 3-4 mmol / L. As we now know, an increase in blood cholesterol in pregnant women is not yet a pathology. After all, it is rather a necessity due to the active development of the fetus - the birth of a new life requires various “building materials”, and lipids play an important role here.
The table below shows the cholesterol norm, depending on age and “position”. This will determine - the concentration of cholesterol in the blood of a pregnant woman is increased or is within normal limits.
Age (years) | The norm among women in the absence of pregnancy (mmol / l) | Normal values in pregnant women (mmol / l) |
16 to 20 | No more than 5.18 | 3.07-5.19 |
From 20 to 25 | No more than 5.59 | 3.17-5.6 |
25 to 30 | No more than 5.75 | 3.3-5.8 |
31 to 35 | No more than 5.96 | 3.4-5.97 |
35 to 40 | No more than 6.27 | 3.7-6.3 |
From 40 | No more than 6.53 | 3.9-6.9 |
As you can see from the table, young girls have less cholesterol than women of an older and more mature age. During the entire period of bearing a child, women donate blood for analysis in order to monitor the level of lipids in the blood. And if a significant excess is detected, it is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner in order to avoid serious complications.
Risk awareness
Many women, being pregnant, are aware of the seriousness of the situation and try to protect themselves from many negative factors. In this case, the level of lipids in the blood plays an important role. And not only during pregnancy, but also in everyday life.
The fact of increased cholesterol in pregnant women should not be ignored! Otherwise, this can threaten not only the deterioration of the condition of the future mother, but also serious complications:
- Blood begins to thicken, due to which the load on the heart increases. But with a special “status” of a woman, he already has to work with a vengeance!
- The risk of developing atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels increases. Due to the presence of dense lipid deposits in the veins and arteries, the lumen is noticeably narrowed, which in turn leads to impaired circulation.
- Excessively high cholesterol gives rise to the development of varicose veins, which causes swelling. As a result, bearing a child is significantly complicated.
- Due to the narrowed lumen of the blood vessels, oxygen and nutrition are insufficient. This results in disruption of the functioning of internal organs and the possible development of ischemia.
At the same time, increased cholesterol in pregnant women has a negative effect not only on their body, the child is also at risk. Due to obstructed blood flow, the embryo often begins to experience oxygen starvation, which leaves a negative imprint on its development. As a result, such babies are born with a low body mass index, pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Among children, one can also observe a serious developmental delay.
In addition, there remains a high probability of cardinal changes in the work of the kidneys, liver, endocrine system, and not for the better. In turn, this threatens the development of concomitant diseases. In some cases, excess cholesterol from the normal range ends with placental abruption and premature delivery.
Characteristic signs
Usually, any expectant mother tries to listen to her own body and can recognize any changes throughout her pregnancy. However, it is not so easy to understand that pregnant women’s cholesterol level has risen above standards as it may seem. In this regard, you should notify your doctor about changes in well-being.
A number of symptoms that in any case should alert women:
- significant weight gain;
- headache often;
- dizziness;
- the appearance of the so-called stars on the legs;
- leg cramps, especially at night;
- prostration;
- heaviness in the legs;
- heartaches.
In some cases, pregnant women may appear yellow spots above the eyes or in the eyelids. Is this direct evidence of an increase in blood cholesterol? It is possible, but only partially, because this symptom may indicate the development of other pathologies.
Elevated cholesterol in pregnant women - what to do?
The fact that pregnant women have a high level (above the established norm) of cholesterol should already be alarming in itself! Of course, this is by no means a reason for panic, but it is clearly worth taking appropriate measures. Moreover, it will not be difficult for future mothers to influence this. And you can do without taking medications, because many drugs are simply contraindicated in such a critical period. Their reception can be prescribed by doctors only in critical situations.
In any case, if necessary, lower cholesterol, do this only under the supervision of a doctor. For this, it is necessary first of all to establish the correct diet, to reasonably increase physical activity. For this purpose, you can pay attention to some classes (of course, with the approval of a specialist):
- Yoga
- swimming;
- water aerobics;
- walking.
All of them are shown even during pregnancy. The main thing for expectant mothers is to minimize a sedentary lifestyle, because otherwise, even despite a special "status" that gives certain privileges, this threatens the development of physical inactivity. And in this case, high cholesterol in a pregnant woman is a matter of time.
In extreme cases, exercise can be replaced by a walk in the fresh air, trips to the forest. This will saturate the body with oxygen, which will positively affect the body and well-being of the woman herself.
A competent diet
It’s worth stopping at nutrition in more detail. To bring cholesterol to normal, pregnant women must follow a diet, which implies the rejection of fried and fatty, as well as salty (excessively) foods. The body, as we know, is able to produce most of this substance on its own.
In addition, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Reduce the intake of carbohydrates, which are full in sweets, pastries, cakes, or even eliminate them.
- The daily food intake is divided into 5 or even 6 meals. As a result, it will be possible to avoid overeating and improve the metabolism process.
- It is imperative to include fiber in the menu due to the consumption of fruits, herbs and vegetables. Carrots and spinach, bell peppers and eggplant, garlic, citrus fruits and apples - all this contributes to the normalization of lipid metabolism.
- Meat should choose lean varieties. It is better to pay attention to dietary types - chicken breast, turkey, rabbit.
- Butter or sunflower oil itself should be replaced with an olive or sesame counterpart.
- Among berries, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, and currants should be used to lower lipids.
In addition, in the treatment of high cholesterol in pregnant women, the water regime is also important - you need to drink at least 2 liters of water during the day. This will maintain the electrolyte balance at an optimal level.
And since pregnancy imposes certain restrictions on drinks, women are recommended vitamin juices and fruit drinks from carrots, apples, berries, rosehip infusion.
List of useful products
You can control your cholesterol with a number of healthy foods. And if there is no predisposition to the development of an allergic reaction, then you can safely use:
- avocado;
- olive oil;
- fish fat;
- persimmon.
Avocados help prevent the development of atherosclerosis. And if the level of cholesterol already exceeds the norm, then it will ensure its reduction to the necessary limits.
In olive oil, phytosterols are present, which allows you to normalize hormonal balance. In addition, not only lipid metabolism improves, but also the tone of the walls of the blood vessels.
Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. And actually due to this, the fight against high cholesterol is at the level of taking drugs with lipid-lowering effect.
In persimmons, you can find many useful and necessary microelements, including iron, manganese, potassium, and sucrose. Thanks to such therapy against high cholesterol in pregnant women, its level will come to normal.
Help traditional medicine
In addition to medicines that can be prescribed by a doctor in case of emergency, you can pay attention to herbal remedies in the form of linden flowers, dandelion, flax seeds, garlic. The combination of onions and apples is also a healthy vitamin mix. In addition, among the means of traditional medicine, it is worth using herbal preparations. In particular, we are talking about the following plants:
- valerian root;
- fennel fruits;
- peppermint leaves;
- chamomile flowers pharmacy.
Also, in order to reduce the dangerous level of cholesterol, it is worth consuming chopped walnut kernels with a course of several months.
Tomato, carrot, beetroot juices will help stabilize blood lipids.
In conclusion
In the end, it remains to clarify and recall important points once again. The level of cholesterol must be monitored throughout the gestation period! When the first signs of its increase appear, it is necessary to take appropriate reduction measures in a timely manner.
And if the pregnant woman’s cholesterol is elevated, the reasons should not be discounted, they must be eliminated in a timely manner! And so that subsequently there would be no problems at all with regard to lipid metabolism, care should be taken in advance to organize a healthy diet.