Pregnant woman with dizziness and shortness of breath

With the development of modern society, people's pace of life has accelerated, various pressures have made people breathless, and various physical health problems have also followed. Various diseases such as high blood pressure, high blood lipids, hyperemia, heart disease, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular sclerosis are emerging in an endless stream, and some pregnant women find that they often have symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc. What is going on?

The various changes in the mother's body and the growth and development of the fetus during pregnancy increase the workload of tissues and organs throughout the body. Due to the faster metabolism, more oxygen is needed, so pregnant women increase lung ventilation by deepening their breathing to obtain enough oxygen and expel carbon dioxide waste gas. Oxygen exchanged in the alveoli is transported to tissues, organs and the placenta through the blood circulation. Because the maternal blood volume during pregnancy increases by an average of 1500 ml compared to the non-pregnant period, the increase in plasma far exceeds the increase in red blood cells, resulting in the so-called physiological anemia of pregnancy, which causes the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity to decrease. In addition, the enlarged uterus causes the heart to shift upward and to the left, and the heart works under unfavorable conditions. All of the above factors increase the burden on the heart. The body completes the excess work by increasing heart rate and stroke volume, and under normal circumstances, no symptoms occur. However, if the amount of activity is a little more, the oxygen demand increases, which further increases the burden on the heart and lungs, making it easy to experience palpitations and shortness of breath. If there is no organic disease in the heart, there will be no major hindrance. In the late stage, palpitations and shortness of breath occur as the amount of blood entering the uterus increases, and the enlarged uterus presses upward on the heart and lungs. This is the stage when the uterine fundus is at its maximum height. The uterine fundus is approximately below the sternum, so it presses on the heart and lungs, causing palpitations and shortness of breath. If you experience palpitations and shortness of breath, don't force yourself and rest more. Palpitations and shortness of breath occur from the late stages of pregnancy to a period of time before delivery because the enlarged uterus presses the diaphragm upward, putting pressure on the heart and lungs, so you will feel palpitations and shortness of breath. Increased circulating blood volume, increased heart burden, and accelerated pulse are also one of the causes of palpitations. The hormonal balance in the body is disrupted during pregnancy, causing changes in the mother's blood circulation and blood pressure, which can also cause panic. If you feel chest tightness or palpitations, try taking a deep breath and consciously slow down. If you still feel uncomfortable, stop and take a rest. If the palpitations do not subside, it may indicate anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease or other related diseases, and you should see a doctor. Anemia, a decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood, can sometimes cause palpitations. It is easily detected through a routine blood test. If you develop anemia, you should eat more iron-rich foods and sometimes you may need to take iron supplements orally. Symptoms of hypotension may also occur during pregnancy. This is mainly caused by the enlarged uterus compressing the large veins, making it difficult for blood to return to the heart, resulting in a drop in blood pressure. When I sleep on my back, I feel bad and sometimes even break out in cold sweats. At this time, you can change to lying on your side, preferably on your left side. If you feel pain lying on your back during a health checkup, tell your doctor or nurse to lie on your side.

Although it is normal for pregnant women to feel anxious, short of breath, and dizzy, they should also pay attention to their health. This is still a threatening warning. The mother's health is also related to the health of the baby in the belly, so she should eat more nourishing foods and get enough nutrition. If you experience severe palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness, you may want to get other examinations done to prevent other diseases.