Pregnancy is normal and natural, but it’s also a medical condition that affects health. A woman’s blood volume doubles and her heart and blood vessels work harder to provide oxygen and nutrients to both mother and baby.
These changes are stressful on the heart and may affect heart function during pregnancy or indicate potential problems in the future.
February is national American Heart Month and our team at Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska, is taking the opportunity to explain how pregnancy can help clue us in to potential heart-health problems.
How pregnancy affects heart health
Morning sickness, back pain, and indigestion are some of the noticeable symptoms you may experience during pregnancy, but you may not feel all of the things that are going on in your body.
Pregnancy is called nature’s stress test because of how it affects heart function. It makes the heart work harder — in a similar manner as an exercise stress test, where you walk on a treadmill to increase heart rate. The additional stress on the heart often reveals health issues that doctors may not see under normal circumstances.
The extra work the heart does is due in part to the increase in blood volume. The body produces more blood in order to supply oxygen and nutrients to mother and baby. The heart must pump harder in order to move the blood around, producing the extra stress.
Your pregnancy may expose heart conditions like an irregular heart rate or rhythm (arrhythmia) or heart valve disease.
Pregnancy complications and heart health
The extra stress on the heart may affect pregnancy-related complications like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, putting you at risk of future health problems.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and elevated protein levels in urine during pregnancy. It’s a serious pregnancy-related complication that affects the health of the baby and mother. Researchers aren’t sure what causes preeclampsia, but they theorize it may occur due to blood flow problems to the placenta.
Though preeclampsia resolves after delivery, it may increase the risk of heart disease later in life.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is elevated blood sugar during pregnancy that also resolves after the birth of the baby. However, having gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease that doubles the risk of developing heart disease.
Protecting heart health during pregnancy
We want nothing more than for all of our patients to have a healthy and happy pregnancy. The best way to protect your health during pregnancy is to come in for your regularly scheduled prenatal appointments. These checkups help find issues right away so we can reduce the risk of complications.
Following the recommended health plan also protects your heart during pregnancy. This means eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, and gaining the recommended amount of weight. These lifestyle changes benefit you, your baby, and your heart.
Pregnancy is a test on the body, and it may reveal health issues you never knew you had. Let us help you stay well during your pregnancy. Call Obstetricians & Gynecologists today or request an appointment online.
