Navigating the Risks: Understanding Heart Diseases During Pregnancy

Having heart disease during pregnancy can be common or risky. Two types of heart related problems can occur during pregnancy –

These include those diseases which the woman suffered from before pregnancy. Heart diseases before pregnancy may not be serious, but these diseases can cause complications during pregnancy.

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Many times women do not have any heart related problems, but they develop heart diseases during pregnancy. Heart diseases that develop during pregnancy can be dangerous. Although women with heart disease can get pregnant safely and give birth to a healthy baby, heart disease during pregnancy can sometimes lead to serious complications.

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Many different problems related to the heart or blood vessels can arise during pregnancy. Heart disease can occur during pregnancy even in those women who have no previous history of it. The heart diseases that develop during pregnancy are as follows -

Women may have a higher risk of irregular heartbeat during pregnancy. In this situation, women may also have problems like difficulty in breathing. Types of irregular heartbeat -

• Ectopic Heartbeat : This may involve an excessive heartbeat, which is usually harmless.
• Supraventricular Tachycardia: In this condition, the heartbeat may become faster, which starts in the atria of the heart. This is the most common irregular heartbeat during pregnancy. It may last for more than 30 seconds. It usually affects women who have congenital heart disease.

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SCAD can be a serious disease, which mostly develops in pregnant women. Old age, diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking etc. can be its risk factors.

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Myocardial ischemia means the heart is not getting enough blood. This problem can develop in most pregnant women. Obesity, tobacco consumption, high cholesterol level etc. can be its risk factors.

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Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of heart failure that can develop in pregnancy. Many times this heart disease can occur in women even after delivery. It affects people who already have heart disease. In this condition the heart becomes unable to pump enough blood into the body. Pregnancy at an older age is considered to be its main risk factor.

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Symptoms of heart disease during pregnancy are almost the same as those seen in a normal pregnant woman

• Feeling More Tired
• Frequent Urination
• Difficulty Breathing
• Swelling In Feet And Ankles

Apart from these, many other symptoms can also be felt. These may be signs of heart disease, but are not very serious -

• Difficulty Performing Daily Tasks
• Shortness Of Breath Even While Resting
• Waking Up In The Middle Of The Night

The symptoms mentioned above can be normal during pregnancy. But some symptoms are not normal during pregnancy. This includes -

• Blurred Vision
• Chest Pain
• Heart Palpitations
• Unconsciousness
• High Blood Pressure
• Foaming Urine
• Swollen Veins In Neck

If you feel these symptoms during pregnancy, do not ignore them at all and consult a doctor immediately.

(Read more - Anemia in Pregnancy)

Although physical changes are common during pregnancy, some heart diseases can be risky during pregnancy.

• Aortic Valve Stenosis
• Eisenmenger Syndrome
• Fontan Physiology
• Marfan Syndrome
• Mitral Valve Stenosis
• Peripartum Cardiomyopathy In Previous Pregnancy

If a woman has any of these heart diseases during pregnancy, then it can be risky for her. Therefore, it is important to get checked from time to time.

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Heart disease is a major cause of pregnancy complications. If a woman already has any heart disease or if heart disease develops during pregnancy, then it is important to get it treated on time. Sometimes it can increase complications in pregnancy and delivery. Heart disease during pregnancy can cause more complications in people who have congenital heart disease or whose heart disease is left untreated.