How to Avoid Heart Attack During Pregnancy?

Cardiac or coronary heart disease (CHD), causing heart attacks is a major cause of deaths in pregnant women. During pregnancy, the body of a woman goes through multiple changes and the heart needs to work harder than it does normally. This is because the volume of blood in the body increases in order to accommodate the growing baby. To ensure an efficient circulation of this additional blood, the heart rate of pregnant women normally increases. Heart attacks are also common during labour, during and post- delivery. In case of pre-existing heart concerns, pregnant women should consult a cardiologist in Kolkata to ensure a healthy heart and a smooth pregnancy.

Factors contributing to heart attack during pregnancy

Some of the common factors contributing to the risk of heart attack during pregnancy are:

• Obesity- If you have a body mass index (BMI) above the recommended BMI according to your height and age, risks of heart diseases, gestational diabetes, miscarriage etc become higher.
• Habitual smoking- This may lead to several complications during pregnancy, including CHD. This may also adversely affect your baby’s health, causing birth defects like cleft palate, cleft lip and congenital heart problems.
• History of drugs and substance abuse may increase the risks of heart problems during pregnancy.
• Family history- If someone in your close family has had a history of early CHD- before the age of 55 in males and 65 in females, there is a higher risk of developing CHD.
• Diabetes, if left untreated during pregnancy can cause increased risks of heart problems, stillbirth, premature birth and other birth defects in the baby.
• Age- Pregnant women in their late 30s and 40s are at an increased risk of heart attacks than pregnant women in their 20s. The risk factor is about 10 times as much in women in their 40s than those in their 20s.
• Hypertension causes high blood pressure which places excessive stress on organs like the heart and kidneys and increases the risk of other pregnancy complications like pre- term birth and placental abruption. Blood pressure normally fluctuates during the various trimesters of pregnancy, but it is important to keep it under control.
• High cholesterol levels are natural during certain points of pregnancy to provide the body with the nutrients needed for the baby, but excessively high levels of cholesterol during pregnancy must be controlled. Otherwise risks such as pre- term delivery and gestational diabetes may occur, in addition to posing various kinds of threats to the baby’s future health.
• In case of pre-existing heart conditions, it is not advisable to discontinue any medication you are taking, without consulting a cardiologist in Kolkata.

Opt for heart treatment in Kolkata in case you have a history with one or more of the above-mentioned factors.

Heart attack during pregnancy: signs to look out for

The early warning signs to look out for that may be indicators of CHD during pregnancy may be:

• Pain in the chest area
• Difficulty in breathing, especially when lying down
• Swelling of the legs 
• Missing heartbeats or irregular pulse
• Palpitations
• Excessive fatigue
• Swelling of veins in the neck area

Do seek immediate heart treatment in Kolkata in case you experience the following:

• Unexpected ache in the chest 
• Pain spreading to your arms, neck, jaws and back
• Chest feeling weighty and constricted 
• Difficulty breathing 
• Profuse sweating 

These may be signs of a heart attack, and it is advisable to immediately consult a cardiologist in Kolkata and hospitalise the pregnant woman at the earliest. 

How to avoid heart attack during pregnancy

• In many cases, heart problems first appear during pregnancy. However, if you have pre-existing heart conditions, take medications for chronic heart problems and/ or have stents inserted, it is advisable to consult a cardiologist in Kolkata before having a baby.
• Pre- pregnancy make sure you get a heart treatment in Kolkata to discuss the possible effects of the condition of your heart and the medication you take on the pregnancy, and if the pregnancy can complicate your heart problems in any way.
• In case your weight is over the range of the recommended BMI, lose weight to reduce heart complications during pregnancy.
• Quit smoking and consumption of alcohol.
• Get enough rest and sleep.
• Do exercises recommended to you by your doctor or a fitness professional.
• Regularly be in touch with a consultant cardiologist during the pregnancy and after you have given birth, especially if you shudder from above average blood pressure and diabetes.
• Make it a habit to eat a nutritious and balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Consult your cardiologist in Kolkata about what foods to avoid during the course of your pregnancy.

Heart treatment in Kolkata

Book an online doctor appointment for heart treatment in Kolkata with the best and most experienced cardiologists in Kolkata:

Although heart attacks have been reportedly on the rise in pregnant women, especially in older mothers, a combination of healthy lifestyle changes and heart treatment in Kolkata, including regular consultations with the best cardiologists in Kolkata can help manage the risks of heart attack during pregnancy, while giving birth, and post- delivery as well as ensure long- tea heart health.