Heart Palpitations During Pregnancy: What You Need To Know
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Pregnancy is a life-changing process for every woman, both physically and emotionally,
It not only brings life into the world but also brings multiple changes to your body that can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time.
To all the pregnant ladies out there, have you ever felt like your heart might be racing at the speed of light or skipping a beat?
These are known as heart palpitations. You might be wondering, why am I going through these heart palpitations during pregnancy? Is it normal? What is the reason behind this? Should I see a doctor? Is my baby alright? Reading this blog will clear all your doubts and help you understand why heart palpitations during pregnancy happen.
What Are Heart Palpitations?
During pregnancy, your heart works harder than ever before. Heart palpitations are the feeling of your heart beating fast; it may feel like the heart is skipping beats, fluttering, or your heart is pounding in your chest, neck, or throat. It can be quite scary when it happens for the first time or all of a sudden; heart palpitations during pregnancy are usually harmless because as your pregnancy progresses, your heart will need to pump blood for two: you and your growing baby.
How Common Are Heart Palpitations?
Heart palpitations during pregnancy might sound concerning, but they are surprisingly common; they can be more common as the pregnancy progresses to the third trimester, which is natural because the fetus is growing, and they might also happen due to hormonal changes, stress, and an increase in blood volume.
Symptoms Of Heart Palpitations
When heart palpitations occur, you may experience a different type of sensation in your chest. Some common symptoms are as follows:
- Having a racing or fluttering heartbeat
- Feeling that your heart is skipping a beat or pounding
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Sweating
Most symptoms are mild and subside naturally, but if you experience these symptoms with severe chest pain or shortness of breath, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Causes Of Heart Palpitations During Pregnancy
There are several reasons why heart palpitations during pregnancy occur. Several causes are listed below:
- Hormonal Changes: Changes in hormone levels, like the hormone estrogen, can be a reason for heart palpitations during pregnancy, as pregnancy causes your body to produce these hormones.
- Increased Blood Volume: Your heart has to pump blood for two; as the pregnancy progresses, there is an increase in blood volume, which causes the heart to work harder.
- Stress or Anxiety: It is common to feel stress or anxiety during pregnancy, as it is very emotional for women to go through these physical and mental changes, which can cause heart palpitations.
- Dehydration: If you are not drinking the required amount of water, it can cause an electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to an increase in heartbeat.
- Caffeine: Consuming more than the required amount of caffeine, like in coffee, can make the heart rhythm rise.
- Anemia: Heart palpitations can occur due to anemia; it is when your body has low amounts of red blood cells that are not enough to carry oxygen, which makes the heart pump harder, and due to this, the heart rate increases.
- Obesity: Being overweight or obese can put extra strain on your heart, which increases the likelihood of heart palpitations.
- Underlying Heart Conditions: One of the reasons behind frequent and severe heart palpitations during pregnancy can be undetected heart conditions.
Diagnostic Tests For Heart Palpitations
If these heart palpitations are frequent, don’t doubt yourself; get a check-up with your doctor for your peace of mind. The doctor might run a few tests to make sure everything is okay. A few common tests are:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): ECG is a non-invasive procedure that measures the electrical activity of your heart.
- Blood Tests: Your doctor might run some blood tests to check for anemia, electrolyte imbalance, or any other cause.
- Portable Heart Rate Monitor: With a portable heart rate monitor, you can regularly monitor your heart rate and detect if heart palpitations are happening due to any underlying heart condition.
Management Of Heart Palpitations During Pregnancy
- Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water is very important for your heart; it keeps your electrolytes balanced.
- Limit caffeine: Limit the amount of caffeine you are consuming; take it in moderation so that it doesn’t trigger heart palpitations.
- Practice relaxation techniques: Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can help you lower your stress and anxiety levels, which further prevents heart palpitations.
- Eat a balanced diet: A balanced diet is very crucial during the pregnancy period, as you know you are eating for two. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and getting enough nutrients from it to avoid any deficiencies.
- Rest when needed: Don’t overexert yourself. Taking breaks and resting when you can will help you stay relaxed.
- Talk to your doctor: If your heart palpitations are serious, your doctor may run some tests and may prescribe you medication to treat them.
When Should I Consult A Doctor?
In most cases, heart palpitations are not a cause for alarm. However, there are times when you should consult a doctor, including if:
- The palpitations are accompanied by severe chest pain or shortness of breath.
- You experience dizziness or fainting episodes.
- The palpitations are happening frequently or for long periods.
- You have a history of heart disease or any underlying health conditions.
