Why does the heart hurt or worry in early pregnancy?

Can pregnancy cause heart disease?

Pregnancy creates a serious burden on the circulatory system and the woman’s body; it is not capable of triggering the development of cardiac diseases if none were observed before the child’s conception. Any painful sensations not associated with cardiac pathologies are considered physiological and are caused by an enlarged uterus.

The period of bearing a baby provokes the development of chronic diseases. If a woman has serious heart disease, she should consult a cardiologist at the planning stage of conception and receive appropriate recommendations. In case of defects (at the stage of decompensation), rheumatic carditis, myocardial dystrophy, as well as malignant hypertension, severe arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy, conception is not recommended.

These diseases are accompanied by severe pain, shortness of breath, swelling, severe fatigue, heart rhythm disturbances, and pathologically high blood pressure. This condition threatens the health of the pregnant woman and the development of the fetus. The baby constantly does not receive enough oxygen from the mother’s blood, which is fraught with fetal hypoxia, the formation of severe developmental anomalies, and congenital heart pathologies.

Risky choice

Today, with many cardiac problems, women give birth safely. By the way, even during pregnancy, surgical operations can be successfully performed - for example, to restore the mitral valve. Although, in order to avoid miscarriage and premature birth, it is better to do this at the stage of pregnancy planning.

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However, there are pathologies in which doctors will object to motherhood. Of course, no one will force a woman to have an abortion - the decision is always up to the patient. But it is still very important to soberly assess the degree of risk, because in some pathologies the fatal outcome during pregnancy, and even more often during or immediately after childbirth, is very high. It is extremely dangerous if a pregnant woman has an active rheumatic process, which causes acquired heart defects. If in the early stages (up to 12 weeks), based on a comprehensive examination, an exacerbation of endomyocarditis or even the presence of a sluggish rheumatic process is detected, the doctor will recommend an abortion and subsequent anti-rheumatic treatment. Continuing such a pregnancy is too dangerous for both the baby and the mother. Even after complete recovery, the rheumatic process in the heart lasts another 7–8 months, so you will have to take protection for another whole year.

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Is pain in a mother's heart dangerous for her unborn child?

Violation of the normal well-being of the expectant mother is a potential source of threat to the baby. If a mother experiences an exacerbation of chronic cardiac pathology, she needs to be accompanied by a cardiologist and an obstetrician-gynecologist monitoring the pregnancy. He will monitor the development of pathology, as well as the condition of the growing baby. If maternal health problems are serious (preeclampsia, anemia, cardiomyopathy) and are not detected in time and not treated, the fetus may develop oxygen starvation (hypoxia).

A significant lack of oxygen in the blood flowing to the baby threatens to disrupt the functioning of his heart, as well as pathologies in the development of the brain and internal organs. Severe circulatory impairment of the fetus provokes premature birth.

Lack of oxygen during fetal development does not always cause serious congenital pathologies. Signs of hypoxia in a healthy child: nervous excitability, noted in the first years of the child’s life, inability to concentrate, frequent colds, weak immunity.

Physiological pain syndrome associated with fetal growth is not dangerous to its health. The only risk is unjustified self-medication undertaken by a woman to eliminate it.

Safe Heart Pains

If suddenly there is colitis on the left side of the heart, is everything normal or not.

Understand that the mother’s weight increases during pregnancy, which means that it is more difficult for the heart to work during and after physical activity. The uterus is subject to enlargement, the size of the placenta increases. In the fourth to fifth month, there is an increase in pressure on the diaphragm, and, accordingly, on the lungs and heart. Double load on the heart, increased heart rate - all this affects the condition of the main muscle and sometimes leads to discomfort in this area. And the appearance of any pain is a common case. It’s just that the heart is also a muscle, it can also get tired, especially under such constant loads. These pains are physiological in nature (from a scientific point of view).

Why does it sometimes hurt near or in the heart and what to do. Many people ask this question and there is an answer that is as simple as possible from any point of view. Such external reasons as uncomfortable postures during sleep or work, being in stuffy rooms, constant changes in climatic conditions. Yes, such simple reasons can make an expectant mother worry. But it is important to understand that it is best to visit a doctor.

Short-term discomfort occurs because the heart or brain transmits information that there is not enough oxygen in this way. Prick both nearby and in the very heart. Intercostal neuralgia can become a source of pain. The pain is sharp and sudden. In this case, the pressure is within normal limits, as is the pulse. The peculiarity is that it only hurts when I breathe. Everything goes away on its own; in this case, drugs are not used. Stress and physical activity are the main indications for neuralgia. And if they still go to the doctor with stabbing pain, in this case everything will go away on its own.

Causes of pain

Why do heart pains occur?

The main reason why the heart begins to hurt at the beginning of pregnancy is a significant increase in the load on this organ. In the early stages (1st trimester), hormonal changes begin, leading to an increase in the amount of blood. The child's need for nutrition is constantly increasing, which provides him with the placental circulation. As the baby develops, it requires more oxygen supplied to it by blood cells.

The cardiovascular system generates and pumps an increased amount of blood. The increased load is manifested by a decrease in vascular tone, their dilation, spastic contractions, changes in the coronary arteries, so heart pain appears in the early stages of pregnancy, accompanying some expectant mothers throughout the entire period of bearing the baby.

Other reasons:

• Mechanical compression causes pain in the heart during pregnancy. A growing child needs more space. Increasing in size, the uterus compresses the pulmonary artery and diaphragm. For this reason, many expectant mothers in later stages complain that they cannot sleep lying on their left side at night. This also leads to the fact that a woman in an “interesting position” has a numb left hand and an increased heart rate.
• The load on the spine arising from the growing size of the uterus causes discomfort on the left side of the heart, which manifests itself at 6-9 months. From the second trimester, the load on the thoracic and lumbar regions increases, and the roots of the spinal cord are compressed. Spinal pain radiates to the left side of the sternum, it hurts under the ribs, so they can easily be confused with cardiac pathology.
• Vitamin B deficiency. The fact that the expectant mother experiences discomfort in the left side of her chest (at the same time, it seems to her that her heart is starting to worry) is also to blame. It is associated with a lack of vitamin B, which provokes a disruption of metabolic processes in the nervous tissue.
• Preeclampsia. Swelling of the limbs and organs causes increased blood pressure and soreness in the heart muscle. This condition requires urgent contact with a supervising gynecologist.
• Anemia. Iron deficiency in the blood causes tingling, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

The occurrence of physiological pain syndrome is influenced by the mother’s age, her body weight, and blood pressure.

When is pain in the heart dangerous for a pregnant woman?

Heart pain during a planned pregnancy, which can be dangerous for the gestation of the fetus and the health of the expectant mother, occurs infrequently. This is explained by the fact that when planning to conceive, women undergo a comprehensive examination, the results of which allow them to decide on the advisability of pregnancy at the moment together with a cardiologist. In such cases, in order to prepare for bearing a child, the doctor, if cardiac pathology is detected, will recommend a course of treatment, which will be aimed at preventing complications.

In cases of unplanned pregnancy, pain in the heart most often occurs with the development of gestosis (late toxicosis). This complication is accompanied by edema and increased blood pressure, which provokes headaches and pain in the heart area. Such a load on the myocardium can be life-threatening for the expectant mother and fetus. In such situations, the following symptoms may be a signal to call an ambulance:

• pain behind the sternum of a squeezing or pressing nature;
• pain radiating to the left arm, shoulder, shoulder blade or chin;
• headache;
• swelling of the lower extremities.

Another complication of pregnancy, accompanied by heart pain, can be cardiomyopathy . This disease develops unexpectedly in the third trimester or immediately after the birth of the child. The reasons for its appearance have not yet been sufficiently studied, but doctors suggest that the impetus for its appearance is a violation of the adaptive capabilities of the woman’s body or the development of autoimmune reactions.

The main symptoms of cardiomyopathy in pregnant women may include the following:

• pain in the heart area of ​​a pressing, sharp or dull nature;
• increased heart rate;
• arrhythmia;
• swelling of the legs;
• severe weakness;
• dyspnea.

The further prognosis of cardiomyopathy during pregnancy depends on many indicators. A woman’s weight, the number of fetuses, blood pressure readings: all these parameters can determine the course of the disease and its impact on the gestation and health of the fetus.

What are the pains during pregnancy?

Pain sensations in cardiology are divided into:

• Ischemic. They are provoked by physical and emotional stress, causing insufficient coronary blood flow. The painful sensations are burning, pressing, “squeezing” the left side of the sternum. They radiate to the shoulder, left arm, chin or shoulder blade.
• Cardialgia caused by defects, vegetative-vascular dystonia, inflammation. Characterized by diffuse, stabbing and aching sensations in the sternum. They get worse with coughing and deep breathing.

The nature of the sensations allows you to determine the cause of the condition and choose treatment tactics.

Heart pain that leads to serious complications

Yes, it was written above that heart pain is noticed by many, if not all, pregnant women, but serious heart problems that the expectant mother does not know about are rarely diagnosed. After all, during this period the girl undergoes many different examinations, thereby she knows about her cardiovascular problems. And if something is discovered during the diagnosis, the patient receives all kinds of recommendations and advice, a course and complex of treatment.

However, the disease can develop in a very short period of time. And there are special pains in the heart when it is important to consult a doctor as early as possible. Preeclampsia is the main cause of heart pain during this crucial period of time. It manifests itself as headache and heart pain at the time of high blood pressure. The pain is of a compressive nature, radiating to the area of ​​the left shoulder blade, the left side of the shoulder, the chin - everything that is written about in this sentence becomes the main reason for seeing a doctor. The sooner the better, because this is extremely serious. Complications not only for the mother, but also for the child.

Anemia in pregnant women is called the most popular extragenital pathology. And heart pain is one of the symptoms. Increased tachycardia occurs against the background of increased load on the myocardium. A nagging pain appears on the left side of the heart, and the entire left side of the body is in discomfort. Regular visits to the antenatal clinic and timely blood tests help to avoid this type of disease.

Why you should see a doctor

If before conception the girl had no cardiac pathologies, and unpleasant symptoms in the form of slight tingling, discomfort and heaviness are noted due to fatigue, staying in a stuffy room, an uncomfortable sleeping position and are not accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, then cardiac tingling and a feeling of slight constriction in the chest at night are considered not dangerous and do not require referral to a specialist.

Under no circumstances should pain and discomfort be ignored.

It is necessary to call a doctor if they are accompanied by:

• swelling;
• increased blood pressure;
• constriction behind the sternum;
• shortness of breath;
• feeling that the stomach hurts (uterine tone);
• increased sweating.

It is necessary to consult a specialist in any case due to pain. Even if they are not associated with serious health problems, it is important to make sure that the change in the mother’s condition does not harm the baby.

The reason for the appeal is the sick heart of the expectant mother. Knowing about the presence of cardiac pathology, she must see a specialist in order to avoid negative consequences for the child and so that the period of gestation of the baby is not overshadowed by complications.

Why does your heart hurt in early pregnancy?

In most cases, unpleasant symptoms in the expectant mother arise due to her delicate position and are not associated with any specific pathology. So, in the first weeks of pregnancy, a woman may feel unwell due to serious hormonal changes in the body. During this period, the blood is sharply enriched with progesterone, estrogens, human chorionic gonadotropin and other specific substances.

A woman’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems begin to systematically adapt to the needs of the growing fetus. The tone of the autonomic system also changes: neuralgic conditions develop, as a result of which the expectant mother may feel pain in the heart. The same reason is associated with the appearance of drowsiness, high irritability and dizziness. Typically, a pregnant woman’s mood and well-being level off with the onset of the second trimester.

Features of treatment for pain

Reviews on every women's forum about heart pain during pregnancy will tell an inexperienced mother that any self-medication at home without a doctor's recommendation can lead to unpredictable consequences. Even the most common medications, such as Corvalol, are not recommended until the pregnant woman has been examined by a cardiologist.

First aid for pain is to take a comfortable position and stop thinking about what to do. It is better to try to distract yourself, calm down, make sure that the room is not stuffy, and that your clothes do not interfere with free breathing. After a few minutes, relief will come. If the condition does not improve, there is severe pain, there is a suspicion of acute ischemia, you can take a Validol tablet before the ambulance arrives.

After examining the patient and also performing a cardiogram, the doctor decides what the pregnant woman should and should not take.

The nature of heart pain during pregnancy

Pain in the heart area during pregnancy serves as the basis for a comprehensive examination of the woman and consultation with a cardiologist.
Heart pain during pregnancy can have different origins and, therefore, vary in nature.

Anginal pain

Such pain is caused by an increased load on the heart, which is provoked by physiological changes in the body of a pregnant woman, mental or physical stress. They are caused by myocardial ischemia (insufficient blood supply to all structures of the heart).

Angious pains are of the following nature:

• pressing;
• burning;
• contracting;
• radiating to the left shoulder blade, shoulder or chin.

If all these signs of pain are intense, then its appearance may indicate myocardial infarction. This serious condition is extremely rarely observed in pregnant women.

Cardialgia

Such pain is caused by vegetative-vascular dystonia, defects and inflammatory diseases of the heart. They can occur at any time, but are more often triggered by increased workload on the heart.

Cardialgia is of the following nature:

• long-term;
• piercing;
• aching;
• spilled;
• localized to the left of the sternum;
• worse when breathing, sneezing or coughing.

If such pain occurs, a pregnant woman should consult a cardiologist as soon as possible and be sure to notify the obstetrician-gynecologist observing her about their occurrence.

Prevention measures

Prevention of problems with the cardiovascular system consists of maintaining a balanced diet. Be sure to consume foods containing potassium, magnesium, iron, and fatty acids. Eating fish, bananas, dried apricots, nuts, raisins, broccoli, and dairy products is beneficial.

It is important to maintain a daily routine, normalize rest and physical activity. Walking in the fresh air, doing gymnastic exercises, swimming, and contrast showers maintain vascular tone, improve well-being and emotional background.

It is advisable to avoid negative emotions, strong physical activity, and stress.

Expert opinion in this video:

Prevention for pregnant women

If, nevertheless, your heart hurts slightly during pregnancy and this does not aggravate your health and future motherhood as a whole, then you should know what needs to be done to somehow reduce the disturbing pain in the heart.

First, try to completely relax and calm down, making sure to eliminate all negative thoughts. You can brew some soothing herbal tea and get some sleep.

Secondly, during pregnancy you need proper and balanced nutrition. Consuming all the necessary vitamins and microelements, which will also “feed” your heart.

Thirdly, try to walk in the fresh air as often as possible so that “oxygen starvation” does not occur. The norm for an expectant mother is to walk at least twice a day for about two to three hours. A little exercise will also benefit you and your heart.

We wish your heart to always be healthy!

During pregnancy, a woman’s internal organs and their systems work a little differently, as the expectant mother’s body undergoes all sorts of changes. Naturally, the heart is no exception. Often, while expecting a baby, a woman’s heart can “make itself felt”: heart pain or tingling appears. Pregnant women quite often complain about their heart: sometimes it “tugs,” sometimes it “aches,” sometimes it “stabs.” But most often, expectant mothers describe their condition as follows: “somehow it’s not good, it’s not clear.”

Cardiomyopathy

We will include this disease in a separate section, since it is rare, but at the same time dangerous. If a woman has not had heart disease before, then she has a chance of developing such a pathology. Development immediately after the first child is born. The symptoms are serious and it is quite difficult not to notice them: frequent attacks of pain in the heart, tachycardia, arrhythmia, shortness of breath, swelling of the legs.

All sorts of symptoms develop each time. The condition is deteriorating sharply. Seeing a doctor is as necessary as possible and as early as possible. It is impossible to diagnose the development of the disease earlier. Risk groups include women over thirty, overweight, problems with a previous pregnancy. Examinations such as ultrasound and ECG are prescribed.

In this case, timely contact with a doctor can save the life of mother and baby.

Risk categories

Some pathologies of the cardiovascular system, diagnosed in women, often become unconditional reasons for the ban on having children or require significant health preparation for conception. Some heart defects, chronic arrhythmias, myocardiostrophy, cardiomyopathy pose a danger to the life of a pregnant woman and lead to the development of the fetus with pathological changes.

With caution, after a complete examination, motherhood is planned for:

• over 32-35 years of age, especially if this is the woman’s first pregnancy, or there have been unsuccessful attempts at conception, cases of miscarriage;
• stable heart pain, severe tachycardia;
• severely elevated blood pressure;
• swelling of the limbs.

The risk group for pain in the heart area includes women who are overweight, have multiple pregnancies, or have a complicated health condition during the previous pregnancy.

Pulmonary embolism

Caused by blockage of the trunk or branches of the pulmonary artery due to a blood clot that occurs in the area of ​​the atrium or right ventricle. The disease develops very intensively. If it is not diagnosed in time and the necessary measures are not taken, the patient will die. The main reasons for the development of pathology:

• the occurrence of blood clots;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• cancer;
• sepsis.

Signs of pathology depend on the general condition of the patient, the intensity of the disease, the number and size of blood clots. Clinical manifestations may be mild, but can also cause sudden death.

Among the common symptoms are acute vascular and coronary insufficiency (a feeling as if the heart is stabbing, short-term sharp pain). With cerebrovascular insufficiency, the patient experiences deterioration in visual functions (begins to see double), tinnitus, fainting, and vomiting. Caused by focal or general cerebral disorders.

With pulmonary-pleural syndrome, it becomes impossible for the patient to breathe deeply, pressure begins in the chest area, and the skin acquires a grayish tint. High body temperature, intense cough, difficulty controlling your body, discharge of blood along with sputum (with infarction pneumonia).

Time to collect stones

It is in vain to think that the time of an interesting position allows you to relax and give up on healthy eating and physical activity, which stimulate the heart and maintain weight. You need to do everything possible for your health and that of your baby. We are talking about walks in the park and including fatty fish, fruits (with vitamin A - apricots, carrots), and cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, rice) in the diet. You need to remember about magnesium (bananas, potatoes) and calcium (fermented milk products, sesame seeds).

Prevention is necessary for all 9 months. But if the pain takes you by surprise, you need to do this:

• Provide air access to the victim. Remove or unbutton tight clothes, ventilate the room (move to the shade).
• Take a comfortable horizontal position, but let your head be slightly raised.
• Dry yourself with a damp towel and drink water.
• Important! Remove Corvalol and Valocardine from your medicine cabinet until the woman stops breastfeeding. The plant components of the above sedatives can lead to pathologies of fetal development! Validol is considered the only available remedy (it is placed under the tongue, from there the substance reflexively binds to the heart muscle, therefore it is considered relatively harmless).

In case of severe pain, it is advised to place the tablet under the tongue and immediately call an ambulance. If attacks occur frequently, it is necessary to talk about this at an appointment with a gynecologist. In order not to forget, all complaints are written down in a notebook in advance.

Prevention and treatment

If a patient, due to nervousness, has a pressing, stabbing, aching heart, or even a sharp acute pain in the chest, while the signs described above in the article exclude serious pathologies, then to alleviate the condition it will be enough to take the following actions:

1. Get away from the stressor (if possible).
2. Lie down and try to calm down, breathe evenly, and stop worrying.
3. Ask a person nearby to help: open the window for ventilation and drop Barboval or Corvalol in accordance with the dosage in the instructions.
4. Drink warm chamomile or mint tea (or just cold water).

In the long term, in order to reduce the impact of stress or neurosis on the functioning of the cardiovascular system and on the entire body, you should:

• harden yourself, starting in the summer (not just once - it should become a way of life);
• take yoga courses, engage in meditative practices to support your psycho-emotional state (you can make an appointment with a psychologist);
• adhere to healthy eating rules, reduce the total amount of food consumed every day;
• spend more time in the fresh air, ventilate your work and living space, run in the morning;
• When choosing “walk or travel by transport,” preference should be given to the first option.

All these activities are aimed at increasing the body’s resistance to nervous situations and restoring mental harmony. The cardiovascular system will not react so sharply to the release of stress hormones into the blood, which will eliminate and prevent pain.

You should visit a cardiologist at least once a year, even if nothing bothers you. It is especially dangerous to skip routine examinations for people at risk: those suffering from alcoholism, tobacco addiction, those with concomitant chronic diseases, and those aged 40 years or more.

Moreover, you should consult a doctor if heart problems and discomfort in this area occur frequently - literally every time a person becomes nervous, and also if the previously usual methods of calming have ceased to work.

Psychohygiene

Psychohygiene is a whole science that is aimed at achieving and maintaining human mental health.

Scientists identify several of the most important basic needs for a person, which ensure his harmonious psychological state:

• Love;
• experience of positive memories;
• feeling of security;
• self-respect and recognition of his personality from others;
• creative activity.

If the balance is disturbed in any of these areas, this will certainly affect a person’s mental health. This can be either a short-term phenomenon (stress, strong feelings) or a prolonged one, turning into depression and other disorders. The stronger the excitement, the greater the likelihood of pain in the chest area. Therefore, it is necessary to take preventive measures as soon as possible so that the body stops reacting so strongly to what is happening around.

General advice can be supplemented by reviewing life values, playing sports and creativity.

Medicines

Among the medications for neurological pain in the heart, sedatives “Persen” and “Novopassit” will help. At the time of an attack, menthol-based drops “Corvaltab”, “Corvalment” or “Validol” will help. Trying to relieve pain by taking antispasmodics or some kind of heart medications is pointless in this case.

For long-term use, use motherwort tincture, valerian extract, and hawthorn extract. Antidepressants are taken only when absolutely necessary to support the patient's psychological state and can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Traditional medicine

In the fight against stress-related heart pain, some folk remedies have also proven themselves to be effective. The most accessible and common method of treatment is to drink herbal teas.

You can use either a ready-made sedative mixture, sold in a pharmacy, or individual herbs.

According to numerous reviews, the following are best suited for this:

• chamomile;
• mint;
• blooming Sally;
• Melissa;
• motherwort.

You shouldn't get carried away with them. 2 cups a day of a fragrant, weak drink will be enough. You can prepare tea in the morning and pour it into a thermos. Reception is carried out preferably in the afternoon.

You can buy a special lamp at home and arrange aromatherapy sessions. Essential oils of Leuzea, ylang-ylang, and Peru balsam are used for soothing purposes. You need to light a lamp not only when you are nervous, but also on calm days.

Causes (diseases)

Chest pain is caused by a number of primary factors, but only in rare cases is it a symptom of a serious condition. Its severity is exaggerated by the anxiety and hyperprotectiveness of parents.

Respiratory diseases

One of the diseases is damage to the tracheal mucosa. When the trachea is inflamed, the patient experiences a burning or sharp sensation behind the sternum, aggravated by coughing.

Similar manifestations are common with pneumonia, when combined with fever, dry cough or coughing up sputum.

Vertebrogenic algic syndrome

This is a common reason why a 15-year-old teenager has heart pain. Stitching sensations penetrate from the thoracic spine into the chest. This condition is not dangerous, but quite unpleasant, because the symptoms depend on the movements and position of the torso and can intensify with deep breathing.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Common factors that provoke discomfort are gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis. More rarely, they are caused by achalasia or esophageal hernia, gastric ulcer, cholecystitis, pancreatitis.

Shingles

In teenagers with weakened immune systems, unpleasant heart symptoms may accompany shingles, an infection caused by the herpes virus. In addition to watery blisters, it also causes itching and pain. In the first stages, chest discomfort often occurs.

Psychogenic factors

In diagnosis, it is important to take into account psychogenic causes. Cardiac manifestations are more common in neurovegetatively labile individuals

Heart disorder

Cardiac pain factors are less common, but they are potentially the most serious. Based on etiology, they are divided into several categories:

• structural heart disorders;
• acquired diseases of the myocardium or pericardium, coronary artery disease;
• arrhythmias.