Tachycardia during pregnancy: why it appears, and what to do

During pregnancy, all kinds of changes occur in a woman's body, including an increase in blood volume to meet the developmental and nutritional needs of the fetus.

It is due to this increase that certain typical pregnancy discomforts can occur, such as fainting, hemorrhoids, headache, general fatigue and also palpitations and tachycardia.

Next we are going to talk about tachycardia during pregnancy, what causes it, when it usually appears and what causes it.

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Why does tachycardia appear during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through several changes. In addition to weight gain and a change in body shape, blood volume increases to efficiently nourish the fetus, which is in full formation and development.

There can be an increase of up to 50% more blood, with which the heart must pump with more force to be able to work with this extra amount of blood. As a consequence, it is common for palpitations to occur.

Pregnancy-associated tachycardia usually occurs early in pregnancy, in the first trimester, being more accentuated in the second and there may be peaks of great discomfort between the weeks 28 and 32. The heart has to work more and more because the fetus is constantly developing. As the fetus is more developed and larger, the more effort the maternal heart has to exert, thus increasing the heart rate.

Added to all this, as the uterus grows, the mother's organs such as the lungs and the heart itself have less space. In fact, while pregnant, the mother's heart moves a little to the left. This displacement is important, since it can slightly alter the functioning of the cardiac organ, a factor that can aggravate tachycardia.

Factors that predispose to tachycardia

As factors that can predispose to the appearance of palpitations during pregnancy we have stress, anxiety, efforts and leading an inappropriate lifestyle. All of this can cause a woman to suffer from tachycardia during pregnancy.Although, of course, they are factors that can also trigger palpitations in people who are not pregnant. However, taking into account the physical changes that the woman presents while in a state, the appearance of these factors triggers the tachycardia even more.

Although palpitations and tachycardia are normal physiologic symptoms during pregnancy, they should not be underestimated. They may be indicative that the heart has problems, which could well be associated with cardiovascular disease. If they occur very frequently or appear very intensely, it can be an alarm signal. Although most pregnancy arrhythmias are benign, you should see a doctor to rule out any problem that endangers the lives of both.

It is common for pregnant women, when lying on their backs, to present tachycardia. This tachycardia is due to supine hypotension, a situation that occurs when, when lying down, the uterus compresses the vena cava, which is responsible for carrying blood to the heart. Thus, the heart has less blood to pump, which lowers blood pressure, increases heart rate and generates a feeling of discomfort, usually tachycardia, dizziness and palpitations.

Other factors that can trigger tachycardia during pregnancy are actually factors that can also trigger tachycardia in non-pregnant people. Among them we find having done a high-intensity sport (not recommended in pregnancy), having taken medications whose side effect is palpitations, consuming food and drinks with methylxanthines (coffee, tea, mate, chocolate...) and some endocrinological alterations such as hyperthyroidism.

• You may be interested in: "Types of tachycardia: symptoms and possible causes"

What can be done?

As we said, the tachycardia associated with pregnancy can appear in any of the three trimesters into which it is divided. Each woman and each pregnancy is different, so they do not have to present this symptom, neither all of them nor constantly. Palpitations can appear when you make a little effort or even while lying on your back. Sometimes the best thing to do is try to relax and breathe deeply until they pass.

As preventive measures, the main one is to avoid gaining too much weight.. It is clear that saying this is easier than doing it, but the effort must be made. Whether it's binge eating or stress eating, it's common for pregnant women to gain a few extra pounds. As we said, since the fetus is in full development, it should not be deprived of anything, however, food should not be abused either. When you gain weight, you acquire visceral fat, which oppresses the organs and makes it difficult for the heart to work.

This is why it is essential to listen to the doctor's advice and go to a nutritionist specialized in pregnancy. This professional will propose a diet that does not lack nutrients necessary for the development of the fetus but that will try to prevent the woman from gaining weight. Besides, moderate exercise is recommended. To avoid the effect of stress, it is ideal to practice relaxation techniques, get enough rest, sleep on your side and try to lead a calm life as best as possible.

Treatment

as we said, Going to a professional during pregnancy is essential to prevent any medical problem that appears from getting worse. Tachycardia, although it may be mild, if not evaluated and controlled could be indicative of a serious problem that requires intervention. Some cardiac or hormonal pathologies, such as hyperthyroidism, could explain the appearance of tachycardia in pregnant women, and it would be necessary to prescribe drugs that reduce the frequency cardiac.

If the tachycardia is associated with a drug that has been prescribed to the pregnant woman, an attempt is made to find a substitute drug and see if this side effect does not occur with its administration or its side effects are less serious. Whatever may explain it, be it postural, pharmacological, hormonal or cardiac, it is very important to visit the GP obstetrician and any other professional who can improve the quality of life of the pregnant woman during the process.

Bibliographic references:

• Blott, M. (2015), Your pregnancy day by day, Barcelona, ​​Ed. Planeta.
• Adamson, D. L., & Nelson-Piercy, C. (2007). Managing palpitations and arrhythmias during pregnancy. Heart (British Cardiac Society), 93(12), 1630–1636. https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.2006.098822
• Belham M, Patient C, Pickett J Inappropriate sinus tachycardia in pregnancy: a benign phenomenon? Case Reports 2017;2017:bcr2016217026.
• Trappe, H.-J. (2008). Cardiac Arrhythmias In The Pregnant Woman And The Fetus. European Cardiology; 4(2):67–71