Symptoms of Heart Disease during Pregnancy (Peripartum Cardiomyopathy)

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Medical Video: Mother Delivers Baby, Develops Heart Failure

When you are pregnant, your body will experience many changes. One of them is a faster heartbeat than usual. A faster heartbeat during pregnancy is actually normal and not harmful. However, you should not underestimate it, especially if this rapid heartbeat makes your condition or pregnancy worse. This could be a symptom of heart disease during pregnancy.

Cardiomyopathy or weakened heart muscle can be experienced by pregnant women

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. In this condition, the heart muscle weakens so that it cannot work optimally in pumping blood throughout the body. Around the time of labor, pregnant women can experience this. A condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy or heart disease during pregnancy is rare and until now there is no known exact cause.

Various types of cardiomyopathy. One of them is a type of dilated cardiomyopathy. That is, the heart muscles experience stretching and thinning. This results in the chambers of the heart widening (dilating) and the whole heart becoming enlarged. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is included in this type.

Cardiomyopathy during pregnancy (peripartum) and other types of cardiomyopathy can cause dangerous complications, among others irregular heartbeat, heart valve abnormalities, up toheart failure.

Get to know peripartum cardiomyopathy, heart disease during pregnancy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare heart muscle disorder. The condition of heart disease during pregnancy usually occurs at the end of pregnancy or it can also occur in five months after giving birth.

Until now, no definite cause of abnormal heart muscle peripartum cardiomyopathy has been found. However, the condition of heart disease during pregnancy is believed to occur because of the more severe performance of the heart muscle. For pregnancy periodheart muscle will pump blood up to 50 percent more than the heart's work in general when not pregnant.

This is caused by the body experiencing an additional burden (the fetus you conceive) which must get an important supply of oxygen and nutrients. The risk of heart muscle abnormalities during pregnancy also increases due to various factors. As reported by Healthline, Symptoms of peripartum cardiomyopathy are similar to those of heart failure. What are the symptoms of heart disease during pregnancy?

  • Fast heartbeat
  • Chest pain
  • Extraordinary fatigue
  • Easily tired during physical activity
  • Hard to breathe
  • Swelling of the feet and ankles
  • Urination increases at night

What should you do when you experience a fast heartbeat or pounding?

Don't panic if you have a heart pounding during pregnancy, here are a few steps you can take:

  • Routine to the obstetrician during pregnancy to do an antenatal examination.
  • Get plenty of rest and avoid heavy physical activity.
  • Monitor weight gain during pregnancy. Too much weight gain during pregnancy puts extra strain or pressure on the heart.
  • Manage stress well.
  • Don't smoke and consume alcohol, caffeine, especially illegal drugs.
  • Take medication according to a doctor's prescription, if recommended.
Symptoms of Heart Disease during Pregnancy (Peripartum Cardiomyopathy)
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