The increasing intensity of extreme heat waves, exacerbated by climate change, poses serious health concerns for pregnant women. Exposure to very high temperatures increases the burden on essential organs such as the heart and kidneys.

During pregnancy, the body undergoes a number of changes that make it harder to dissipate heat.

As pregnancy progresses, weight gain and increased internal heat production force the heart to work harder. Pregnant women require more fluids to maintain adequate hydration, making them more susceptible to dehydration. Complications of Heat Exposure: Research indicates that exposure to extreme heat can result in serious complications, including hypertension and preeclampsia, which threaten the lives of both the mother and the baby. Increased temperatures can affect blood flow to the placenta, negatively impacting fetal development and increasing the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Cara Schulte, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, and the nonprofit organization Climate Rights International, who studies maternal health and heat, explained to the Associated Press (AP) that studies are beginning to show that exposure to extreme heat, even in the months before becoming pregnant, can affect a future pregnancy.

Signs of Dehydration in Pregnant Women

Signs of dehydration that pregnant women should be aware of include:

These signs are important because during pregnancy the body requires more water for the healthy development of the baby, including the formation of the placenta and amniotic sac. Dehydration can affect both the mother and the baby, so it is essential to stay well hydrated and seek medical attention if severe symptoms occur.

How Heat Stress Affects Pregnant Women

Heat stress can significantly affect pregnant women, particularly those with pre-existing health conditions, increasing the risk of complications for both mother and fetus.

When a pregnant woman is exposed to extreme heat, her body experiences an increase in internal temperature, which can lead to problems such as fetal distress, increased fetal heart rate,reduced fetal blood flow, and dehydration, which in turn decreases the effectiveness of the body's natural sweating mechanism to cool it down. These effects increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and fetal death.

In addition, heat stress adds strain to a woman's cardiovascular system, which is already altered by physiological changes inherent to pregnancy, such as increased blood volume and heart rate.

These complications are exacerbated in women with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, immune problems, or previous pregnancy complications, increasing the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy-related disorders. Heat stress can also dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, affecting the mother's immune system and increasing susceptibility to immunological complications. Elevated stress during pregnancy can also contribute to psychological problems and affect the birthing process. Need for more research: The field of study on women's health and extreme heat has been neglected. There is an urgent need for further research into the effects of heat stress on pregnant women, as much of the current information is based on studies conducted with young, athletic populations. See also:which is already altered by physiological changes inherent to pregnancy, such as increased blood volume and heart rate. These complications are exacerbated in women with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, immune problems, or previous pregnancy complications, increasing the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy-related disorders.

Heat stress can also dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, affecting the mother's immune system and increasing susceptibility to immunological complications. High stress during pregnancy can also contribute to psychological problems and affect the birthing process.

Need for more research

The field of study on women's health and extreme heat has been neglected. There is an urgent need for further research into the effects of heat stress on pregnant women, as much of the current information is based on studies conducted with young, athletic populations.

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