From this article you will learn: what is a high pulse in pregnancy, how dangerous is a frequent pulse, and how to cope with it.
Future mothers are a completely separate category of patients. Pulse and the rate of heart contractions in a pregnant woman is more likely than that of a woman outside the period of pregnancy. On average, in pregnant women a normal increase in the pulse is considered to be its increase in the range of 15% of the usual pulse in women( that is, up to 80-90 beats per minute).The pulse rate during pregnancy in the norm is progressively increasing, reaching a maximum in childbirth.
On average, a healthy high-pulse pregnant woman means a frequency of 100 or more beats per minute.
Periodic heart rate rises of up to 100 beats per minute do not pose a hazard to the mother and fetus, but can cause discomfort in the patient. As a rule, such an easy course of the disease does not require serious treatment and completely passes after the birth of the baby.
Constantly accelerated pulse during pregnancy, as well as its jumps above 110-120 beats per minute are dangerous not only for the future mother's heart, but also provoke a similar condition in the fetus, which negatively affects its growth and development.
Treatment of abnormally high heart rate and other heart diseases in expectant mothers is provided by a female consultation therapist in conjunction with a cardiologist. All the appointments of these doctors are consistent with the obstetrician-gynecologist who observes this pregnant woman.
With adequate control of heart rate and blood pressure, the chances of maintaining a pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy child tend to be 100%.
Why during pregnancy a woman's pulse is higher in norm
- Increased volume of circulating blood or BCC.The amount of the liquid part of the blood in the future mother for childbirth increases about 1.5-2 times. Thus, the total increase in blood volume is approximately 2 liters. This "extra" volume of blood is a reserve in case of postpartum hemorrhage and provides adequate blood supply to the growing fetus. Of course, the heart to cope with the increased load, should be more and more often reduced.
- Changes in the structure of the vascular wall and its tone. During pregnancy, the placenta and the fetus in the mother's blood are released special substances and hormones that have a relaxing effect on the vascular wall. As a result, the vessels become less elastic, less responsive to vasoconstrictor substances and nerve impulses. This phenomenon is also necessary for the normal nutrition of the placenta and growing fetus in the event of an unforeseen spasm of blood vessels - hypertensive crisis or severe stress. The more relaxed the wall of blood vessels, the lower the blood pressure. Such hypotension is characteristic of pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. The lower the blood pressure, the faster the heart beats and the pulse quickens.
- The progressively increasing weight of a woman increases the burden on the heart, forcing it to beat harder and faster. The higher the weight gain, the more pronounced changes in the work of the heart. That's why 10-12 kilograms is considered a normal weight gain.
All these changes are normal, aimed at normal fetal bearing and should not disturb the pregnant woman in any way. Therefore, a pulse of up to 100 beats per minute is not considered a pathology in future mothers, provided they are in good health.
Pathological causes of high heart rate in pregnant women
We list the main diseases and conditions that provoke a rapid pulse during pregnancy:
- Stress, nervous overexertion, poor sleep and insufficient amount of fresh air - hypoxia.
- Excessive consumption of coffee, strong tea, energy drinks and smoking stimulate the heart, forcing it to work at the limit of its capabilities.
- Lowered blood pressure - hypotension. In addition to physiological reduction of vascular tone and lowering blood pressure, expectant mothers may experience severe hypotension, accompanied by increased heart rate, dizziness and loss of consciousness. Such an unpleasant condition is observed against the background of first trimester toxicosis, poor nutrition, excessive intake of magnesium preparations, antispasmodics and progesterone.
- Elevated blood pressure can also provoke increased heart function and increased heart rate. High blood pressure in expectant mothers is a very serious condition, since it can be a manifestation of a dangerous state of pregnancy - gestosis. Gestosis is a disease that occurs only in pregnant women, characterized by an increase in blood pressure, swelling and the appearance of protein in the urine.
- Anemia or anemia is a condition that accompanies every third pregnancy. The increased consumption of iron by the growing fetus and its inadequate intake with food provokes anemia and the subsequent oxygen starvation of tissues. To compensate for hemoglobin deficiency, the heart is forced to fight faster, maximally feeding tissues.
- Heart diseases - congenital and acquired defects, heart rhythm disturbances( arrhythmias), myocardial dystrophy and other serious conditions.
- Dysfunction in the thyroid gland - hyperthyroidism or increased function of the gland.
- Incorrect or uncontrolled use of medicines. Many drugs - both cardiac and gynecological with the wrong dosing regimen can cause tachycardia and high heart rate. Drugs from blood pressure, thyroid hormones, magnesium, as well as a known substance for suppressing the onset of premature births - tocolitis ginipral - very often cause a rapid pulse.
Symptoms of a pathological pulse increase
Every future mother needs to know the signs that distinguish a pathologically increased pulse in pregnancy:
- Heart palpitations. Normally a person does not feel the work of his heart. With the pathological increase in his work, there is a feeling that "the heart is jumping out of his chest."
- Low blood pressure( below 100/70 mm Hg) or elevated( above 140/90 mm Hg).
- Feeling of fear and cold sticky sweat.
- Shortness of breath - quickening of breathing, feeling of lack of air.
- Pain in the heart and behind the sternum. Dysfunction in the heart of the fetus - a variety of rhythm abnormalities on CTG( or cardiotocogram - a kind of electrocardiogram still unborn baby): fetal tachycardia, symptoms of oxygen starvation of the fetus and disorders of uteroplacental blood flow by ultrasound and dopplerometry.
If any of these symptoms appear in combination with a rapid pulse, you should immediately consult a female consultation therapist or directly to a referral hospital assigned to a woman's consultation.
Treatment of high heart rate in pregnant women
The first step is to find out the reasons for this condition in a pregnant woman: exclude anemia, thyroid and heart pathologies, bad habits, improper intake of drugs. If such conditions are found, it is necessary to deal with their elimination.
With mild tachycardia, low pulse figures and rare attacks,
- Breathing exercises, yoga, walking in the fresh air, swimming. These exercises normalize the tone of the vessels and stabilize the work of the nervous system.
- Massage of carotid sinuses in heart attacks and heart rate increase. To do this, gently rub the sides of the neck - where there is a pulsation of the carotid artery. Massage is done on both sides simultaneously for 10-15 minutes.
- Herbal preparations: extract of valerian, motherwort, mint, lemon balm, hawthorn, passionflowers. These medicinal plants can be used both separately and as part of the finished combination preparations.
- Vitamin complexes with mandatory content of potassium, magnesium and B vitamins. These substances have a protective effect on the heart muscle and normalize the work of the nervous system.
Click on photo to enlarge For serious cardiovascular diseases, heart rhythm disorders and ineffectiveness of the listed activities, the expectant mother needs to be hospitalized in the cardiology department for thorough examination and selection of specialized treatment. There are special cardiological drugs that are approved for use in pregnant women.
It is very important to find out the cause of pulse disorders and to prescribe adequate therapy, because the heart of the mother literally beats for two, providing oxygen and nutrients to the future child.
