In the body of a pregnant woman, from the moment of conception, cardinal changes begin to occur. The hormonal background changes, and also the internal organs begin to work in a different mode. The main organ, due to which blood circulation is ensured, is no exception and is also at risk. Often the heart hurts during pregnancy or gives other signs: aching, pulling, pricking. But in most cases, expectant mothers are not able to describe their condition: there is something bad, but that is incomprehensible.
Exposure to external factors
Because of their “special status,” which is what some women call pregnancy, their bodies become susceptible to many environmental influences.
Sometimes some of these factors provoke pain in the heart, and these may include the following:
- A sharp change in weather conditions.
- Long stay in an uncomfortable position.
- The effect of stress.
- Overwork.
- Loud extraneous sounds (music, screams, street noise).
- Being in a poorly ventilated area or in crowded places.
Often, these factors lead to the appearance of pain in the heart. In this case, it is enough to eliminate the provoking cause, and the symptoms will begin to decline. That is, if heart problems are caused by stuffiness in the room, you should open the windows, and preferably windows, and ventilate the room. The influx of fresh air will positively affect the condition of the pregnant woman.
Internal causes
Nevertheless, when the heart hurts during pregnancy, there are reasons for this that are not related to the external environment and are caused by purely internal problems of the body. As a rule, they have a persistent character and pronounced severity. In this case, timely consultation with a specialist is necessary. We will analyze several cases when pain in the heart provokes any pathological condition of the body.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system
And we are talking about those diseases that were diagnosed even before conception. Among the options - arterial hypertension, heart defects (acquired or congenital) coronary heart disease, all kinds of cardiomyopathy. As is now known, the heart of the expectant mother is subjected to tremendous stress, and in the presence of any disease, the pathological condition worsens.
Those diseases that are in a chronic stage are an extremely serious pathological condition. In this case, a woman who wears a child under the heart should be under vigilant medical supervision. She also relies on supportive care. And when the heart hurts during pregnancy, all this is a prerequisite.
Anemia or anemia
The most common disease among pregnant women is iron deficiency anemia. This is primarily due to the fact that a new life develops in the womb, and it also needs iron. Therefore, there is a high need for this element. And the usual diet is often not enough to make up for the loss.
In this case, the appearance of characteristic signs cannot be avoided:
- pallor;
- dizziness attacks;
- weakness;
- heartaches.
It is not difficult to diagnose this type of pathological condition. To do this, it is enough to take a general blood test, which will show the amount of hemoglobin. Treatment consists in adjusting the diet, as well as the need for iron supplements.
Why does the heart ache during pregnancy, or the manifestation of toxicosis
In some cases, cardiac pain is characterized by a persistent, growing character, and against the background of increased blood pressure, swelling and headaches. In the presence of such signs, you must immediately go to the doctor. After all, all this symptomatology indicates developing toxicosis, which, without proper medical care, tends to progress.
It should be borne in mind that such a pathologically complex condition negatively affects not only the mother's body, the child also suffers.
A comprehensive diagnosis should be made, and if necessary, appropriate therapy should be prescribed. At the same time, a woman must be under vigilant supervision by medical specialists. In addition, clinical and laboratory control cannot be dispensed with either.
Pain on the left side
And why does it hurt under the heart on the left during pregnancy? The manifestation of any symptom usually indicates a problem in relation to any internal organ or even the entire system. If there are such signs, a pregnant woman should definitely visit a doctor in order to perform a diagnosis, which will determine the cause of the pain. Based on this, the necessary therapy will be prescribed.
As a rule, this is due to some diseases, among which the following can be distinguished:
- pleurisy;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- heart disease
- osteochondrosis;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- hernia;
- pneumonia;
- bronchial asthma;
- colds.
During pregnancy, the body produces the hormone relaxin, which has a special effect on all internal organs - they soften so that the uterus is freely located. In addition, the reproductive organ can exert pressure on the ribs, and for this reason during pregnancy it hurts under the heart on the left side.
In addition, the expectant mother increases body weight, which in turn increases the load on the spine. Sometimes the center of gravity shifts, due to which its uneven distribution occurs. In this case, the pain is also localized on the left side of the chest.
Healthy heart of a pregnant woman
Not always pain in the region of the heart is pathological in nature and, as a rule, the reason for this phenomenon lies in physiology. The pain may not appear due to the fact that there is any disease, but due to internal changes in the body.
What exactly can this be caused by? The whole thing is this:
- An increase in blood volume.
- Lowering blood pressure.
- Influence of the genital organ.
In the body of a pregnant woman, blood is 22-25% more. Moreover, it becomes more fluid, which leads to an increase in the load on the myocardium and blood vessels. In other words, the heart now has to work with a vengeance to pump all this increased volume of plasma. Vessels are also not easy, because they need to accommodate all this amount.
As for blood pressure, due to its fluctuations, it also hurts in the heart during pregnancy. This is mainly due to the fact that the value begins to decrease with the advent of II trimester by 10-15 mm. Hg. Art., due to exposure to placental hormones. The frequency of contractions of the heart muscles increases by 15-20 beats per minute. This also happens because the female reproductive organ puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, which leads to a decrease in the flow of venous blood to the heart and a drop in blood pressure. In this regard, often pregnant women suffer from tachycardia (accelerated heartbeat).
Since the uterus increases in size over time, this leads to a displacement of a number of internal organs upward. The diaphragm's mobility is limited and it rises. As a result, the heart literally takes a lying position. In this case, physiological noise can be heard at the apex or pulmonary artery.
Reason to seek medical attention
As we now find out, if the heart hurts during pregnancy, this can endanger not only the body of the pregnant woman, but also the health of the child. When should you go to the doctor immediately? This must be done with the following symptoms:
- Increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
- Swelling of the lower extremities and the whole body.
- The presence of headaches.
- Fainting, dizziness.
- Blurred eyes in the background of flashing flies.
- Nausea, vomiting, changes in stool.
A pregnant woman should be doubly serious about her health during the period of bearing the fetus, because now she has a double responsibility. The presence of at least one of the listed symptoms against a background of heart pain should be alarming. You should not hesitate to go to the doctor, who will prescribe a comprehensive examination, as well as select the necessary course of treatment.
How do heart problems affect a child?
Why can my heart ache during early pregnancy? Under normal conditions, oxygen-enriched plasma bypasses the placental barrier and enters the circulatory system of the embryo through the umbilical vein. During the fetal development of the fetus, its pulmonary circulation is not yet able to function, because the lungs do not work. Therefore, the main source of oxygen for the child is only the mother's body.
Now we can make a simple conclusion - any dysfunction of the circulatory system of a pregnant woman leads to a violation of the oxygen supply to the fetus. In this case, events can occur in one of two main ways.
Option number 1
The lack of oxygen may be due to anemia of the female body. In other words, anemia is implied when hemoglobin is clearly not enough to transport the required amount of O 2 . The lack of this element is noticeably reflected in both the mother and the child, and the consequences for the baby can be most severe.
Option number 2
A violation of oxygen transport (as a result of which the heart hurts during early pregnancy) is sometimes associated with its dysfunction. This may be due to arterial hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and other manifestations. Despite the fact that the reasons may be different, the mechanism is the same - cardiac output decreases, blood volume decreases, therefore, a smaller amount of plasma enters the fetus (the same goes for oxygen).
How important is O2?
The role of oxygen is difficult to underestimate - it is necessary to maintain the vital activity of every cell in the human body. And in relation to the developing life in the womb, its value increases hundreds of times, if not more!
Lack of oxygen leads to different consequences and sometimes very serious. It may be about intrauterine hypoxia or the formation of various developmental abnormalities. Even the death of the fetus is not excluded.
However, do not worry too much, because timely medical care, especially in modern conditions when the medicine has reached perfection, will help to avoid undesirable consequences. With adequate treatment, the child will be born healthy and unharmed.
Heartache during pregnancy - what to do?
Every woman should take pregnancy seriously, because this is the most crucial period in her life. And with the appearance of heart pain, it is highly not recommended to self-medicate in order to avoid more serious health problems.
What can be done? First of all, it is worthwhile to understand that it is strictly forbidden to take any drugs without the approval of a doctor! In this regard, it is preferable to do the following:
- To unfasten the upper buttons of outer clothing and a bra.
- Straighten your back, take a deep breath, then exhale. Repeat several times if necessary.
- Open a window.
- Lie down or take any comfortable position and relax.
If the pain is strong and paroxysmal, you should immediately call an ambulance, and before that, ensure yourself complete peace of mind, providing access to fresh air. Since many drugs are contraindicated for pregnant women, when the heart hurts during pregnancy, what can be drunk - only the doctor decides and only after a complete examination of the patient. Typically, such agents as Riboxin, ATP-Long, Kratal, Panangin, and valerian extract appear. In this case, increased caution is followed.
Diuretic drugs ("Hypothiazide") will help cope with puffiness. Cardiac glycosides, beta blockers ("Metoprolol") can be prescribed for tachycardia. In case of high blood pressure, the drug "Dopegit" (250 mg) will be useful.
Preventive measures
During pregnancy, every woman should adhere to simple rules in order to prevent problems with the heart and other internal organs. In this case, such a problem, when the heart hurts during pregnancy, will worry less often, or even not disturb at all. Actually, the recommendations themselves:
- If possible, spend most of the time in the fresh air, and it is recommended to walk.
- Ventilate the room with regularity.
- Alcohol and tobacco products are strictly prohibited!
- Wear a special bandage for pregnant women at a later date.
- Give yourself a good rest and sleep at least 8 hours.
- Accept only comfortable positions, and sit only with a straight back.
- Avoid stress, less experience nervous shocks.
- Consume water in an amount of 1.5-2 liters daily.
- Monitor your weight and avoid obesity.
- Keep a balanced diet, which includes raw vegetables, walnuts, apples, linseed or olive oil.
In addition, it does not hurt to perform simple physical exercises, you can even go swimming. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise, not only will the heart hurt during pregnancy, but other problems may also arise.
In addition, all the recommendations of the doctor should be followed, even if they seem insignificant to the woman. The specialist needs to know what will benefit the expectant mother and her baby.