By the time of delivery, some pregnant women may experience weakened heart muscle. This condition is better known as peripartum cardiomyopathy. However, this condition rarely occurs. To better understand it, consider the following explanation.
In general, cardiomyopathy can be divided into several types, namely hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, rectrictive cardiomyopathy, ischemic cardiomyopathy, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, non-compaction cardiomyopathy, and peripartum cardiomyopathy that occurs in pregnant women.
This condition occurs when the heart muscles experience stretching and thinning, causing the chambers in the heart to widen. As a result, the heart organ cannot drain blood optimally.
If not treated immediately, peripartum cardiomyopathy and other types of cardiomyopathy can cause dangerous complications, such as irregular heartbeat, abnormalities in the heart valves, heart failure, until sudden cardiac arrest.
Get acquainted with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare heart muscle disorder. This condition usually occurs at the end of pregnancy, up to five months after giving birth.
Until now, no definitive cause of peripartum cardiomyopathy heart muscle abnormalities has been found. Even so, this condition is believed to occur due to the performance of the heart muscle which becomes heavier during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the heart muscle will pump up to 50 percent more blood. This is because the body has an additional burden in the form of a fetus that must get a supply of oxygen and other important nutrients. Pregnant women who experience peripartum cardiomyopathy will usually experience symptoms similar to those of heart failure, including feeling overwhelmed by fatigue, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and swelling of the legs and ankles.
Reduce the Risk of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in This Way
When you are pregnant, you can still reduce your risk of developing peripartum cardiomyopathy by avoiding the risk factors. The following are things that can be done to prevent peripartum cardiomyopathy:
- Monitor weight gain during pregnancy. Gaining too much weight can put extra strain or pressure on the heart.
- Stop smoking, consume alcoholic beverages, and use certain drugs.
- Meet your nutritional intake needs during pregnancy by eating nutritious foods, including vegetables and fruits.
- Get plenty of rest and avoid strenuous physical activity.
- Manage stress well.
- Consult your obstetrician regularly during pregnancy, especially if you have a history of certain diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and a history of heart problems.
- Take the medication as prescribed by the doctor, if it is recommended.
- Limit consumption of foods or drinks that contain salt (sodium), to keep blood pressure high.
In fact, women who have had peripartum cardiomyopathy have the risk of experiencing it again in subsequent pregnancies. Therefore, doctors do not recommend women who have experienced peripartum cardiomyopathy to get pregnant again.
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