What could cause chest pain during pregnancy?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 21 weeks pregnant and experiencing chest and lung pain on the right side, along with difficulty taking a deep breath. I am struggling to catch my breath.

I went to the ER, where they performed a blood test called D-dimer. The results came back positive for a lung blood clot on the left side; however, the doctor mentioned that it could be a false positive due to my pregnancy.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Pregnancy involves many transformations in the body, and the workload on the heart increases significantly. Mild breathlessness and chest discomfort are common during pregnancy. Due to the potential risks to the baby, many tests cannot be performed.

However, if there is a high suspicion of pulmonary embolism, an echocardiogram and a lung nuclear scan can be considered. After examination, the doctor may determine that the risk of pulmonary embolism is low and, therefore, may not recommend extensive testing.

Your doctor can monitor your condition, and if necessary, further testing can be conducted.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.