Asthma causes swelling of the trachea or its surrounding areas. Due to which there are problems in breathing. Not only this, air cannot get into the lungs properly. Due to this, breathing problems and cough start. This is the beginning of asthma. If someone has asthma during pregnancy or before pregnancy, it can be dangerous. About eight to 10 percent of pregnant women in India are affected by asthma. Let us tell you what are the risks of asthma in pregnancy and what are the precautions needed during this period.
Pregnancy and asthma
If a woman has asthma before pregnancy, sometimes the problem may increase during pregnancy and sometimes it can be normal. Asthma symptoms usually begin to become more severe during the second and third trimesters. Asthma problems begin to increase after the sixth month of pregnancy in most women. One reason for this is the increase of progesterone hormones in the woman’s body after the second trimester of pregnancy. Many times between 24th and 36th week of pregnancy, respiratory problems also affect women who do not have asthma already.
What are the symptoms of asthma in pregnancy
The symptoms of asthma in pregnancy are not very different from normal asthma. Like normal symptoms of asthma during this period, women also have chest tightness as well as difficulty in breathing. Due to this, a pregnant woman starts feeling tired sooner than normal days. Many times when asthma is in severe state, women start coughing loudly due to inability to breathe and they have difficulty breathing. If you already have asthma, get the necessary opinion from your doctor at the beginning of pregnancy and ask about the use of inhalers or medicines.
Does Asthma Affect Infancy During Pregnancy?
Small changes in the mother’s body during pregnancy have a direct effect on her baby. In such a situation, it is natural for the child to suffer from asthma. Actually, asthma has a direct effect on the blood pressure of a woman, so during this time the risk of preeclampsia also increases. It is dangerous for both mother and baby. In women with preeclampsia, the baby does not get the right amount of blood and oxygen. It also affects the liver, kidney and brain of pregnant women. In addition, asthma makes morning sickness more difficult for the pregnant woman in the first trimester, due to which the fear of preterm labor remains. There is also a possibility of the child losing weight.
Are asthma medicines safe during pregnancy?
Although asthma medicines are considered safe during pregnancy, but do ask your doctor about this once. Breathing steroids, which are taken daily, are considered safe in pregnancy, but before use, ask a doctor. Do not take any medicine without doctor’s advice. Many women also use albuterol nebulizers. Although there is nothing wrong in this, but still it can be harmful for the child at times because it can cause the baby’s heart rate to rise.
Take these precautions
- Avoidance is very important for the asthmatic patient, so stay away from dusty soil. Avoid cleaning and stay away from old dust-soiled clothes.
- Do not get too close to pets and give them a bath every week.
- Contact the doctor and use the inhaler as per their guidelines.
- Stay away from smoking when you have asthma and also keep distance from people who smoke.
- Contact the doctor immediately if you have an asthma attack, otherwise use an inhaler.
- Get your check-up done from time to time.