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Exposure to extreme heat can lead to miscarriage

A similar diagnosis is also made when the mother has very high fever as her body temperature rises.

Hyderabad: Extreme heat conditions increases the chances of a foetus developing heart defects in the first three to eight weeks after conception, according to a study published by the American Heart Association.

The extreme weather conditions in terms of heat waves, exposure of the mother for a longer time to the heat can lead to the development stated the study. Dr Laxmi Kiran, a senior gynaecologist at Rainbow Hospitals said, “The extreme heat conditions affect the development of the heart. There have been cases where the blood cells break and the heart is pumping hard. In most of these cases there is a miscarriage. If the baby develops completely often during the labour period we find that the baby is not able to take the pressure of the pain and it results in still birth.”

A similar diagnosis is also made when the mother has very high fever as her body temperature rises. In the conditions of fever, if the body temperature is not controlled early, the foetus is found to have malformations and often it proves to be fatal, experts said.

The structural malformations are due to the external factors which are found to affect the growth of the foetus.

Dr K.S. Latha at Government Maternity Hospitals explained, “The women who work in factories, closed enclosures and in industrial zones where the heat is very high are found to have problems in conception and multiple miscarriages. In these women, the surrounding environment was found to be one of the causes. When removed from the environment their pregnancy completed full term with a healthy baby. Heat does play a role hence for women who are working in these environments they have to be moved out during the pre-conception stage if they have experienced a miscarriage.”

The early intervention for women and precautions during extreme weather conditions are important for pregnant women as they are susceptible to these changes in the climate.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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