During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through a tremendous amount of change, starting from hormonal shifts to odd food cravings to the way your heart works. Heart-related changes during pregnancy can be attributed to increased volume, which is completely normal. The heart works harder as it is circulating blood for two people instead of one.
It is not common for a cardiologist to be involved in the pregnancy process. However, for women with heart conditions, or simply a weak heart to begin with, problems can occur due to the natural increase in the workload of the ticker during pregnancy, which can lead to issues like high blood pressure or heart failure. Someone having high blood pressure from before (she is pregnant), can lead to preeclampsia or eclampsia, which can eventually lead to organ damage or seizures. Furthermore, women who have an underlying heart condition or congenital heart problems tend to face complications while pregnant. But in view of the advancements in medicine, women with these heart conditions are now living well into adulthood – and a growing number of them are becoming mothers.
Some of the changes that occur
during this time are completely normal, including a significant rise in blood
flow that places extra stress on the heart, often leading to temporary spikes in blood
pressure or blood sugar levels, and for many women, these issues (the natural
and healthy changes that take place in order to provide nourishment to the
growing fetus) resolve post-delivery. At the same time, there’s also no denying
that these issues can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and even
diabetes in some women. If left unchecked or there’s a delay in treatment,
there are good chances of the mother passing on these issues to the fetus. While facing
problems related to the ticker during pregnancy, mothers-to-be may experience symptoms
similar to a heart attack, including shortness of breath, chest pain, an
increased heart rate, fatigue, and dizziness.
The best way to avoid these
conditions is by following a healthier lifestyle, which include eating healthy
foods and carrying out regular exercise.
Foods pregnant mothers must include:
Zinc- Meat and shellfish are great
sources, while vegetarians and vegans can go for legumes like chickpeas,
lentils, and beans, along with seeds and nuts.
Folic Acid- Folic
acid can be found in eggs, nuts, beans, citrus fruits, leafy vegetables,
fortified breakfast cereals, and specific vitamin supplements, which can help
reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.
Iron- Make meats, poultry, fish,
legumes, and leafy green vegetables a part of your pre-pregnancy diet for your
fill of iron, which will help build iron stores in the body in order to
effectively cater to the needs of the fetus during the pregnancy.
B Vitamins- Include foods
like whole grains, green vegetables, chicken, egg yolks, milk and fish in your
diet, which are good sources of B Vitamins that plays a key role in the healthy
development of the fetus’s mind and body.
In order to keep your heart in
a good state of health during pregnancy, experts recommend moms-to-be to stock
foods like nuts and beans, green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, collard
greens, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, and other greens),
whole grains (whole wheat foods, quinoa and flax-based foods, opt for
multigrain bread instead of white bread), dairy (milk, cheese, ghee and yogurt),
and lean protein (chicken, oily fish and turkey breast) in their pantry.
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