Chest pain from acid reflux can feel like your heart is burning. There is no connection between your heart and this very prevalent cause of chest pain during pregnancy. Heartburn pain typically happens near the middle of your chest. The pain might go up to your throat.
Increased progesterone levels during pregnancy may be to blame. The round sphincter muscles that typically close off the opening at the top of the stomach are relaxed by this hormone. Heartburn and chest pain during pregnancy are caused by this leaking in addition to the additional pressure placed on the stomach as the baby grows.
You already know that pregnancy causes your body to go through incredible changes, but did you know that the rib cage also expands during pregnancy? However, it can occur as early as the second trimester. This typically occurs in the third trimester.
A rare cause of chest pain is a pulmonary embolism (PE), also known as a blood clot in the lungs. But it’s serious.
This may cause pain and tenderness by causing the rubbery cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone to stretch out. During pregnancy, costochondritis or rib pain can cause stabbing chest pain. In the latter stages of pregnancy, it can also make deep breathing uncomfortable.
Can you have a heart attack while pregnant?
Data suggests that it is possible to have a myocardial infarction or heart attack while pregnant although it is rare. According to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause (26.5%) of death in pregnancy and the postpartum period.
The risk of myocardial infarction increases in pregnancy, more so in women older than 40 years as compared to women younger than 20 years.
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2. James A.H., Jamison M.G., M.S. Biswas, L.R. Brancazio, G.K. Swamy, and E.R. Myers Acute myocardial infarction in pregnancy: a United States population-based study. Circulation. 2006;113(12):1564-1571.
Successful coronary revascularization has been reported during pregnancy. Abdominal shielding, a radial approach, and shorter fluoroscopy times during coronary angiography minimize radiation exposure to the fetus. Because it is unknown whether drug-eluting stents are safe, bare-metal stents are preferred. Additionally, the risk of bleeding during the peripartum period is increased by dual antiplatelet therapy. Currently, data regarding coronary artery bypass grafting remain limited.
3. Roth A, Elkayam U. Acute myocardial infarction associated with pregnancy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52:171–180.
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