Asthma and Pregnancy

Asthma is a defect of the air ways of the lungs. Asthma is a disease which is caused by the inflammation of the air cavities inside our body by which we breathe. This is also supplemented by the development of mucus inside those cavities and as a result of it the patient has difficulty in breathing which might range from mild to life threatening.

It is also one of the most common forms of diseases affecting pregnant woman. In fact almost 7 percent of all pregnant women show symptoms of asthma. Asthma has always been a major threat to all pregnant women and is said to result in several complications in pregnant women.

However how asthma affects the pregnant women is not exactly ascertained. While some women suffer from no predominant symptoms of asthma others show severe symptoms of asthma. In majority of women asthma episodes worsen with the advent of pregnancy. The disease can cause complications for both mother and child if not properly controlled during pregnancy. Some of the expected complications include high blood pressure and preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a disease which leads to fuel retention and protein leaking.

However asthma does not have much of an affect on the developing infant. However under extreme conditions asthma might result in severe decrease in oxygen content in the mother’s blood and as a result of that the new born baby tends to grow slowly and hence the new born baby tends to be small in size and weight. Also several other complications might arise as a result of an under grown baby.

However having asthma does not necessarily mean a complicated pregnancy for the mother. If the asthma is properly managed with appropriate medicines successful pregnancies can be undertaken. The main key to success is symptom management. Hence maternal asthma that is adequately controlled during pregnancy does not increase the risk of maternal or infant complications.