Tachycardia is the condition wherein the heartbeat of the person is more than normal. There can be many reasons as to why a person would suffer from this condition…, one of them being pregnancy! This article discusses the causes of tachycardia in pregnancy and more. Read on…
If you are a woman who is soon to blessed with the gift of giving birth to a healthy baby, then you would definitely understand how pregnancy has led to various changes in your body, both internally and externally, and one of the changes being, experiencing an abnormal heartbeat at a faster rate. When a person’s heartbeat is more than 100 beats per minute (BPM), it is considered to be the case of tachycardia.
During pregnancy, the increase of heartbeat by 10-20 beats per minute is considered to be normal because the heart would have to pump more to supply the blood to the placenta for the proper growth and development of the fetus. So if you are experiencing tachycardia to a certain extent during pregnancy, you really don’t have to worry too much. On the other hand, if the rapid heartbeat is becoming too much of a problem and is accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, pain and fatigue, then you must get in touch with your healthcare specialist.
What Causes Tachycardia in Pregnancy?
What could be the possible causes of tachycardia in pregnancy? Are all the causes normal, or could it be due to some health issues and complications? Can it be harmful for you and your baby as well? Well, the answer to all these questions is Yes, and No! What I am trying to convey is that there could be various causes, both threatening and non-threatening that can cause tachycardia. These are discussed as follows.
Exertion
Though exercises of mild nature are recommended during pregnancy, taking too much of exertion can actually lead to tachycardia as the heart would have to work harder to fulfill the blood supply needs of the body, which includes supplying blood to your baby as well. So stick to the advised amount of exercises and make sure that you don’t exert yourself, both physically and emotionally in this condition.
Breathing Problems
If you are suffering from certain breathing problems like asthma or experience shortness of breath along with tachycardia, then you must get yourself checked by a doctor. We need adequate amount of oxygen to breathe properly, which is supplied by the blood that is pumped from the heart. If you are experiencing high heart rate, it means that your heart is working really hard to pump out the blood. Another reason for this could also be too much of weight gain, so make sure that you monitor your weight constantly.
Certain Health Conditions
Another vital cause of tachycardia in pregnancy could be certain health conditions that one may be suffering from. These include health issues like anemia, thyroid issues, lung problem, blood loss due to injury, fever, sepsis, heart diseases, uterine rupture, amniotic fluid embolism, to name a few! Pregnancy makes a woman’s body prone to many changes, so make sure that you get yourself checked constantly to avoid any complications.
Dehydration
You know that you have to be extra careful in everything you do while you are pregnant, right? Are you eating right and keeping yourself well hydrated? The body needs to be extremely hydrated and rich in fluids and water all the time, and when you are pregnant, the need to be well hydrated increases all the more. Water helps in carrying the essential nutrients to the baby, preventing infections in the urinary tract, and certain health issues like piles and constipation. So make sure you carry a bottle of water with you all the time and keep sipping.
Alcohol, Caffeine, and Drugs
It’s needless to say that you definitely have to AVOID all of these while you are preparing to nurture your baby within you! Not only do these things cause tachycardia, they also lead to complications in the pregnancy like ectopic pregnancy, still birth and premature delivery. So if you drink alcohol, smoke cigarette, are addicted to caffeine, or take other drugs, then it is high time for you to STOP if you don’t want to lose your baby.
Stress and Anxiety
Taking too much of stress is the reason behind half of the physical and mental complications that humans are suffering from today… and pregnancy is no exception to that! So make sure that you don’t give yourself a chance to suffer from anxiety or take too much of stress. A woman tends to get very emotional and sensitive during pregnancy. In this case, going for meditation and yoga exercises would actually prove to be of help and also reduce the symptoms of tachycardia that you are experiencing.
Well, as I already mentioned, tachycardia to a certain degree is considered to be normal during pregnancy. However, it is a must to keep your doctor in the loop in order to be sure that whatever the symptoms are, they are within the normal and acceptable level. If there is a treatment required for your individual case of tachycardia during pregnancy, your doctor may use beta blockers, calcium blockers and antiarrhythmic drugs to control tachycardia. Nevertheless, taking care of your health, eating habits, drinking habits and performing relaxing exercises is a must. Take care.
