Heart palpitations are a symptom in which you notice irregular heartbeats.
Due to the pregnant person’s changing body, heart palpitations can increase during pregnancy.
Your heartbeat may flutter, race, skip, or pound at times.
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While mostheart palpitationsare not concerning, some are.
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Heart Palpitations and Pregnancy Link
Duringpregnancy, the cardiovascular system undergoes several changes.
Blood volume (the amount of blood circulated through the body) increases by almost 50%.
Heart rate increases by 10 to 20 beats per minute.
Hormonal changes also affect the cardiovascular system.
These changes create more work for the heart and can increase heart palpitations felt by pregnant people.
Worrisome Palpitation Symptoms
Frequently, heart palpitations are not concerning and do not need treatment.
However, some worrisome symptoms need to be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
How to Manage Heart Palpitations
Most heart palpitations do not need treatment.
The lifestyle changes that can manage heart palpitations are:
Some heart palpitations need treatment.
A healthcare provider will evaluate the heart palpitations through several diagnostic tests like anelectrocardiogram (EKG).
Once the pop in of heart palpitations is determined, the provider may prescribe appropriate treatment.
Pregnant people withsupraventricular tachycardia(SVT) will generally be treated with conservative measures like beta blockers.
If those treatments are not successful, intravenous adenosine will be given.
A small amount of electrical energy during cardioversion can reach the fetus.
However, if they continue after pregnancy, it’s time to contact a healthcare provider.
Heart palpitationsshould be evaluated by acardiologist(a specialist in heart conditions).
Summary
During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes.
One of those changes involves the heart and cardiovascular system.
With these changes and added stress to the heart, the person may experience heart palpitations.
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