Table of contents:
- The cause of the heart racing during pregnancy
- When to see a doctor
- Prevent heart racing during pregnancy
- 1. Know the cause
- 2. Avoid consuming caffeine
- 3. Drink enough water
- 4. Don't torture yourself
If you are pregnant and your heart is beating faster than usual, there is no need to panic. Your heart racing during pregnancy is caused by the blood supply you carry more than usual. This blood is used to carry sufficient oxygen to your baby. It is this extra blood in your body that can result in a heart rate increase of 25 percent faster than normal.
A faster heartbeat or also called heart palpitations in pregnant women is usually normal and harmless. However, you still need to be vigilant because there is still the possibility that this indicates a more serious health condition.
The cause of the heart racing during pregnancy
The main cause of heart racing during pregnancy is the increase in blood volume in the body. In the book What to Expect When You're Expecting,Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel stated that a pregnant woman's body contains almost 50 percent more blood than a woman who is not pregnant.
In the third trimester or the last months of pregnancy, about 20 percent of the blood in your body will be channeled to the uterus. This condition causes the heart to have to work harder. You have to increase the blood supply for the baby in the womb to help him grow and develop.
This extra volume of blood causes the heart to pump faster to move it. Your heart rate can increase by an extra 10 to 20 beats per minute.
Apart from the increased blood volume of pregnant women, here are other reasons why your heart is racing.
- Excessive stress.
- Consuming caffeine, for example from coffee, tea, energy drinks, soft drinks, or chocolate.
- Cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine.
- The presence of heart problems such as pulmonary hypertension or coronary arteries.
- Heart damage from a previous pregnancy.
- Health problems such as thyroid.
Sometimes, recognizing heart problems during pregnancy tends to be more difficult. This is because the symptoms of heart defects can be similar to pregnancy symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in several parts of the body.
When to see a doctor
Heart palpitations during pregnancy are generally harmless. However, if you experience other symptoms that accompany it, consult a doctor immediately to get a further medical explanation about your condition. There are also these symptoms including:
- Dizzy
- A dark look like you're about to pass out, or are really fainting
- Hard to breathe
- Pain and tightness in the chest, arms, or jaw
- Sweating more than usual
- The intensity of the pounding is more frequent and more pronounced
- Feel dizzy
- Irregular pulse
- Coughing up blood
Prevent heart racing during pregnancy
Since heart palpitations are caused by pregnancy itself, there is not much that can be done to prevent it. Relax, there are several ways you can control it so that it doesn't get worse, namely:
1. Know the cause
If you feel that your heart beats only a certain time after you eat or do something, then you definitely know what you have to do to prevent it from getting worse.
2. Avoid consuming caffeine
Caffeine is a compound that is not good for consumption by mothers and babies. So, the safest way is to avoid it. Make no mistake, caffeine is not only found in coffee. Tea and soda also contain these compounds. So, don't over-eat it.
3. Drink enough water
Dehydration is a common cause of heart palpitations. For that, try to drink enough water while pregnant. If pregnancy symptoms such as nausea are making it difficult for you to drink large amounts of it, try to consume it a little at a time. In addition, you can also eat fruits that contain lots of water such as melons and watermelons.
4. Don't torture yourself
Avoid the Valsalva maneuver while you breathe, which is a breathing technique in which you exhale strongly without letting the air escape, like you are trying to pass a bowel movement. This procedure is sometimes recommended for palpitations. However, doing this while pregnant puts you at risk for a spike in blood pressure, fainting or pelvic injury.
In essence, a racing heart during pregnancy is harmless. However, if this is accompanied by other symptoms, consult a doctor immediately for treatment. You need to be more sensitive to the signals your body gives you during pregnancy to avoid things that can harm you and your baby.
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