Stress testing and exercise guidelines during pregnancy

摘要

Obstetric literature is replete with information about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy. However, for the woman with heart disease for whom pregnancy is high risk, this could be problematic. In woman without underlying heart disease, continuing vigorous exercise during pregnancy may be possible and has been found to be beneficial.1'2 When formulating exercise recommendations for a woman with underlying heart disease, several issues must be considered including the underlying cardiac problem, the type and hemodynamic changes with the exercise in which she wishes to engage, the gestational age, how much exercise is safe and beneficial and the conditions under which the exercise will occur. Stress testing may be necessary to establish safe guidelines or limitations.