Examining the Earlobe for Cancer: How & What to Look For
The challenge with new earlobe bumps is that they’re difficult to closely inspect when doing a monthly skin cancer exam.
The first thing you want to do is remove any hair from the ears, and this includes stray strands. (more…)
Survival Time if You Have a 20 Percent Ejection Fraction
An ejection fraction of 20 percent is pretty bad, and if you know someone whose EF is this low, you’ll wonder how much longer their survival time may be.
Three Year Survival Rate of 20% Ejection Fraction
A report in the International Journal of Cardiology took a look at the survival of congestive heart failure patients with very low left ventricular ejection fraction.
Low LV EF means that the left ventricle does not pump properly, resulting in an inadequate supply of blood for the rest of the body.
The general rule is that a very low EF is a predictor of mortality.
The study by Niebauer et al looked at 99 patients who all had ejection fractions of equal to or less than 20 percent.
• 74 had ejection fractions of 11 to 20 percent.
• 25 had EFs of 10 percent or less.
The patients were followed up after three years – at which point mortality came in at 74 percent.
However, it was determined that left ventricular ejection fraction was not a predictor of survival rate for these patients.
So what was? Peak VO2 – which was measured at the beginning of the study. Peak VO2 turned out to be a strong predictor of mortality.
What is peak VO2?
This is the maximal oxygen consumption or uptake, as it is measured during exercise in which intensity is incrementally increased.
A common way to measure this is a treadmill test, in which the tread surface starts out as flat (zero incline) while the patient walks at a slow speed.
And while the speed remains the same, the tread is gradually inclined higher and higher until the subject reports that the workload is difficult.
Ejection fraction is the percentage of blood, relative to how much the heart chamber is filled with, that gets pumped out with each beat.
Blood is pumped through the aorta, which branches out with vessels that further branch out so that the entire body receives oxygenated blood.
VO2 will be very negatively impacted when someone with a very low EF is engaged in exercise with increasing workload.
The conclusion of the Niebauer study is that when ejection fraction is “very low,” three year survival is also low.
“However, once the ejection fraction is < or =20%, ejection fraction is no longer a predictor of mortality,” says the paper.
“These results suggest that it is unlikely that small increases in ejection fraction will be associated with a survival benefit in this group,” continues the paper, “and treatments aimed at increasing peak VO2 may be more appropriate.”
A study in the American Heart Journal by Gula et al says, “Among patients with ejection fraction less than 20%, there was no detectable relationship between survival and ejection fraction.
“Among patients with an EF between 20 and 35%, a 5% increase in EF was associated with a lower mortality.”
So the question then becomes, What is the survival time if you have an ejection fraction of over 20 percent but under 35?
Shutterstock/ Africa Studio
And, as a general rule, without taking into consideration the very small Niebauer study, how long can a person with an ejection fraction of about 20 percent be expected to survive?
“It is difficult to predict survival in patients with very low ejection fractions because comorbid conditions play a major role,” begins Waqar Khan, MD, who’s been providing state-of-the-art cardiology services to the Houston area for over 20 years, and is author of “Be Heart Smart: Understand, Treat, and Prevent Coronary Heart Disease.”
“However, we can say that patients who have ejection fractions below 35% do not live as long as patients with normal ejection fraction.
“Broadly speaking, survival in such patients is less than 50% at about 10 years.
“And it’s much worse in patients who have ongoing coronary heart disease or other comorbid conditions that are not stable.
“Such conditions may include uncontrolled diabetes or kidney failure or other medical conditions.
“Such patients may also be placed on a waiting list for heart bypass.”
Dr. Khan discusses options for increasing the survival odds of people with ejection fractions as low as 20%.
If this article provided you with helpful information or reassurance, please consider supporting my work through Ko-fi. Donations help me continue writing detailed medical content that’s easy to understand.
Waqar Khan, MD, has a private practice and serves as an affiliate faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Sources
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2644051/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10501338
heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/AboutHeartFailure/Types-of-Heart-Failure_UCM_306323_Article.jsp#.WbXXxbKGPxM
Causes of Jaw Pain Other than Heart Attack Include Cancer
Causes of jaw pain other than heart trouble include cancers affecting the jaw—of which there are quite a few types.
If you’ve been experiencing jaw pain lately, perhaps you’re scared out of your wits that this means an impending heart attack or very clogged arteries.
So in an attempt to reassure yourself, you’ve sought out what can cause jaw pain other than heart troubles.
Cancer may be the furthest thing from your mind when it comes to jaw pain.
But the reality is that different kinds of malignant tumors can affect the jaw and thus cause pain.
But does this mean that your jaw pain, if not from a heart attack or other heart problem, is most likely from cancer? Of course not.
Causes of Jaw Pain Not Related to the Heart or Cancer
• Temporomandibular joint (“TMJ”) disorder
• Gum disease
• Abscess
• Cavity
• Gaps between teeth (pain occurs when chewing)
• Hairline fracture from impact trauma
• Pregnancy (which softens joints body-wide)
• Bone infection
• Cyst
• Benign tumor
• Trigeminal neuralgia brought on by vascular pressure on the trigeminal nerve
Cancers Affecting the Jaw
• Ameloblastoma (usually benign but in rare cases is malignant)
• Osteosarcoma
• Ewing’s sarcoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Metastatic cancer
• Malignant tumor pressing on the trigeminal nerve
Overall, cancers that affect the jaw are rare. Heart problems are extremely common.
Most of the other potential causes for jaw pain are also pretty common.
Thus, there is no need to panic, but do see a doctor right away, if for no other reason than to seek pain relief.
Jaw pain that occurs when the mouth is at rest or that’s accompanied by other symptoms is particularly concerning.
This is worrisome especially if those other symptoms are chest/back/arm pain, sweating, nausea, fatigue (indicates heart trouble) or a sensation of a stuffed nose, nasal discharge not related to a cold, or lump near the nose or eye (suggestive of a tumor near the jaw affecting the sinus area).
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Damir Khabirov
Sources:
colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder/article/jaw-pain-causes-why-you-might-be-feeling-pain-0613
medicinenet.com/jaw_pain/symptoms.htm
webmd.com/pain-management/guide/trigeminal-neuralgia#2-4
rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/ameloblastoma/
Hard Pimple that Won’t Go Away After 2 Months May Be Cancer
The warning is real: A hard “pimple” that’s still there after a few months with no sign of going away may be a deadly cancer.
“The most concerning things that can present in this manner are skin cancers: melanoma, SCC and BCC,” says Erum Ilyas, MD, a board certified dermatologist who performs adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and skin cancer treatment with Schweiger Dermatology Group.
• Nodular melanoma — above image (very deadly if not caught early; fast growth). It’s hard.
• Nodular squamous cell carcinoma (growth not as fast as NM; but can still metastasize and kill)
• Basal cell carcinoma (very slow growing, usually never metastasizes; death is exceedingly rare)
“A harmless ‘pimple’ should last about two to three weeks,” says Dr. Erum.
A typical pimple — which contains oil, bacteria and harmless debris — will not stay on your face for two months when left alone.
Common harmless pimple
“It will go through natural stages of first ‘developing,’ then ‘coming to a head’ or to its peak size, then healing,” explains Dr. Erum.
“It may remain pink or discolored after this point for a few more weeks, but in general should be flat and no longer palpable.”
Two Months and You Still Have the Same Hard Pimple?
“Concerning ‘pimples’ are ones that do not naturally proceed through these stages,” says Dr. Erum. They develop and appear as though they will come to a head or to their peak size. Then, they do one of a few things.
“They either persist as they are without healing, they continue to enlarge, or they progress through stages where they appear to be attempting to heal only to recur again and not quite go away.
“The most common to present in this manner, the classic ‘blind pimple’ that doesn’t heal, would be a basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma. Shutterstock/Dermatology11
Basal cell carcinoma. Shutterstock/Dermatology11
“In their initial stages they can be difficult to distinguish from benign lesions. Many times patients tell me they tried to pop it, but just couldn’t seem to get anything out of it.
“Or, they say they thought it was going to heal but it kept growing back.
“Squamous cell carcinoma can present this way as well.” SCC’s can really look like pimples , as in the one below.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Since when does melanoma look like a pimple?
Few melanoma pamphlets warn of a growth that looks like a zit. Dr. Ilyas explains, “Nodular melanoma is a very aggressive form of melanoma that can develop rapidly.
“I have had patients tell me they watched what looked like a pencil dot develop into the size of a grape in less than three weeks.
“These do not always have a ‘core’ — they can often be smooth or dome shaped. The key that tells you it should not be there is just how quickly it develops.”
Nodular melanoma. Source: pcds.org.uk
Nodular melanoma
Features that Make a “Pimple” Highly Suspect for Skin Cancer
1 After a few months it hasn’t budged.
2 Especially, after two months it’s bigger.
3 Very firm and hard.
4 Upon close inspection you realize it doesn’t quite look like other pimples you’ve had.
If you’ve seen photos of basal cell carcinoma, they may have been of very invasive forms – in which patients ignored the progressing growth for many years.
When ignored, BCCs can invade neighboring tissues and cause a gruesome situation. But in their early form, a basal cell cancer can look like a pimple. It can even seem to heal, but it will come back if this happens.
So if you’ve had an untouched pimple for two months that finally “went away,” but then it returned…have a dermatologist inspect it.
No need to panic. BCC is the most common overall cancer in the world but extremely rarely fatal – and in fatal cases the patient ignored it for many years.
A BCC may initially appear as a little pimple with a blackhead that you could squeeze out, but then it doesn’t heal like a pimple should.
Should you panic over a hard pimple that you still have after two months? Don’t lose sleep tonight, but next day book an appointment with a dermatologist.
As far as incidence rates, it’s far more likely to be a basal cell carcinoma, as this is diagnosed in 750,000 Americans every year according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
If this article provided you with helpful information or reassurance, please consider supporting my work through Ko-fi. Donations help me continue writing detailed medical content that’s easy to understand.
Dr. Ilyas has practiced dermatology in the Philadelphia area and Boston for 15+ years and has served as Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Can You Get Angina Chest Pain Several Months After CABG?
Chest pain from angina can come back after a seemingly successful CABG procedure.
When angina returns or occurs a few months or so after CABG, it’s called late recurrent angina. (more…)
Can Burping Be the ONLY Symptom of a Serious Heart Problem ?
If you’re wondering why your new-onset burping might be caused by a heart problem, you’d be smart to see a cardiologist; it’s possible for angina to cause only one symptom: burping.
“Yes, gastrointestinal symptoms are often common in heart attack presentation,” says Dr. Lowell Steen, MD, Interventional Cardiologist at Loyola University Medical Center, Director of the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Training Program, and Medical Advisor to 120/Life, a functional beverage with a blend of six natural ingredients that promote normal blood pressure.
“The heart has no direct pain fibers, so the pain is referred. That is why patients can have arm, jaw or chest discomfort.
“Burping, nausea and vomiting may be presenting symptoms of a heart attack.”
“Typical angina” is chest pain caused by clogged coronary arteries.
Sometimes this condition is accompanied by other symptoms: shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea.
But it’s entirely possible for typical angina to present with only symptoms that seem related to the digestive tract, such as burping.
The Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal (Dec. 2007) reports the case of a man, 62, who’d apparently been healthy all his life.
However, for the two months prior to his presentation to a doctor he’d been suffering from unexplained burping. This was his only complaint.
One Symptom: Burping – Diagnosis?
He was diagnosed with angina pectoris, even though he did not report any chest pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms.
He had to undergo surgery to treat his severe heart disease. The SQUM Journal states:
“It is concluded that belching can be a presenting symptom of angina.”
And of course, angina is a heart problem – sometimes requiring coronary bypass surgery, depending on the extent of arterial blockage.
Shutterstock/Designua
“Belching or painful swallowing are suggestive of esophageal disease,” says the Journal, “although belching and indigestion may be seen with myocardial ischaemia.”
Myocardial ischaemia (or ischemia) is a fancy way of saying shortage of oxygen to the heart muscle.
How Rare Is Burping As an Only Symptom of a Heart Problem?
There is no quantitative data. “Belching as an isolated symptom of angina without chest pain, have not been reported before,” states the Journal, “and was not included as a common presenting symptom of angina pectoris in the standard textbooks of medicine and cardiology.”
Bear in mind that this study comes out of the nation of Oman, which has a significantly smaller population than the United States.
We can only imagine how many people in the U.S. or another heavily populated and industrialized nation have suffered from burping as their only symptom of heart disease – and were never properly diagnosed – and eventually died of a heart attack.
This is why new-onset, unexplained belching needs medical attention: See a cardiologist before you see a gastroenterologist.
A digestive issue such as acid reflux can wait.A heart problem can’t.
A Closer Look at the Man Whose Only Symptom of Dangerously Clogged Heart Arteries Was Burping
• Patient reported burping episodes after feeling gassy in his stomach for two months.
• The gas and belching occurred only during physical activity such as using a staircase and even walking, plus also emotional stress.
Interjection: That second bullet point makes a heart problem highly suspect in the case of burping as an only symptom!
PAY ATTENTION to events preceding worrisome symptoms – and document them!
• Needless to say, the patient reported no connection between his symptoms and eating, and they did not occur at rest, either.
• He was not on medications; never had surgery.
• Pulse, blood pressure and blood tests were normal.
• A resting ECG was normal.
• An echocardiogram stress test—during which he belched – showed angina pectoris.
Belching Caused by Blocked Heart Arteries
• An angiogram revealed 50 percent narrowing of two major coronary arteries.
• A third major artery and its branch had 98 percent blockage.
• Treatment was bypass surgery, statins and aspirin.
• The burping disappeared after this treatment.
“The only explanation for the cause of belching in this patient was angina pectoris,” notes the Journal.
The paper points out that the symptoms of belching and gas were related only to physical activity and emotional stress – a strong suggestion of a heart problem.
Though it’s not difficult to locate medical literature describing the symptom pairing of burping AND chest pain originating from a cardiac disease, the literature on burping as the ONLY symptom of heart disease is very scant.
Why would heart disease cause burping at all?
The paper’s author speculates involvement of the vagus nerve, which passes through the chest.
A marked vagal stimulation, that is associated with a shortage of oxygen to the heart, can cause gastric upset – leading to formation of gas – making one burp.
Dr. Steen’s clinical expertise includes angioplasty, chest pain, coronary artery disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, valve disease, and vascular disease and intervention. 120life.com
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/9nong
Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074882/
Can a Heart Problem Cause the Legs to Feel Cold?
If you’re wondering whether a heart problem can cause a cold sensation in the legs, your hunch is dead-on.
That cold feeling in your legs can be caused by congestive heart failure. (more…)
Why Frequent Urination Overnight Can Be Caused by Menopause
If you’re menopausal and find that you keep getting up overnight to use the bathroom, you may want to blame the menopause for this intrusion upon your sleep.
Yes, urinary function can be altered by menopause via the route of vaginal and urinary tract shrinkage – thanks to diminished production of estrogen.
It’s been commonly called urogenital or vaginal atrophy.
“Vaginal atrophy (now officially called genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM) is a common contributing factor to overactive bladder,” says Michael Ingber, MD, board certified in urology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and founder of The Center for Specialized Women’s Health, division of Garden State Urology.
Furthermore, less estrogen means the bladder and urethra will become weaker which can lead to incontinence.
In addition to repeated overnight trips to the loo to relieve oneself, plus the daytime urge incontinence, menopause can also lead to the following problems:
• Stress-related incontinence—triggered by coughing, laughing or sudden movement.
• Increased daytime frequency
“Having the urgency to urinate and urinating frequently is a common problem women develop around and after menopause,” continues Dr. Ingber.
“Rarely, this can be due to how the kidneys function and produce urine. Also, dietary habits (e.g., excess caffeine, fluid intake) can play a role in urinary frequency and urgency.
“More commonly, however, this problem has to do with local problems with the bladder and vagina itself.”
Overactive Bladder and Menopause
Dr. Ingber says that 20% of the population has the so-called overactive bladder, in which the bladder – which is a muscle – spasms, signaling to the brain that it needs to be emptied.
“GSM occurs around menopause, when estrogen levels drop in the blood due to decreased production by the ovaries,” explains Dr. Ingber.
“When this occurs, the vulvar and vaginal mucosa (lining) get thinner, dryer, the pH increases (becomes more alkaline), and women are prone to dryness, discomfort with intercourse, urinary tract infections and overactive bladder.”
Is pre-existing “overactive bladder” necessary for increased peeing from “vaginal atrophy”?
“Overactive bladder is simply our term that describes women who urinate more frequently than what is considered normal,” says Dr. Ingber.
“Two-thirds of women are dry and just have to urinate frequently both day and night, and one-third of women are wet.
“This means they often have to wear a pad or change their underwear because they have an accident before reaching the toilet.
“We no longer think of them as separate conditions. They are interrelated and that is why whenever someone presents with a lack of vaginal estrogen, when they have urinary symptoms, we offer them treatment for the actual vaginal problem including vaginal hormone therapy or our novel MonaLisa Touch CO2 laser.
“This is also why we no longer use the term ‘vulvar and vaginal atrophy,’ but rather, ‘genitourinary syndrome of menopause.’”
Treatment for Frequent Overnight Urination from Menopause
“There are lots of treatments for this condition including exercise [Kegel], medical therapies and procedures that we do,” says Dr. Ingber.
“Because of this, vaginal hormone replacement can be an essential component of a woman’s pelvic health and quality of life.
“There are currently vaginal creams, tablets and even a ring which can be inserted. The goal of these therapies is really only to increase the vaginal health, not to increase blood levels of estrogens and affect the rest of the body.
“In general, these therapies are safe for most people, although, there may be a slight risk in women with a history of breast or endometrial cancer in taking these therapies.”
Fat loss and biofeedback can also help.
“There is now a SERM (non-hormonal oral therapy) called Osphena, which is a daily pill for women complaining of dryness during relations. This works very well.”
MonaLisa Touch – Just Five Minutes
“Lastly, there is a new non-hormonal option called the MonaLisa laser for atrophy,” says Dr. Ingber.
“This is an in-office therapy which takes five minutes, without pain, no anesthesia, which stimulates the vaginal tissue to produce collagen, thicken and restores the vagina to the premenopausal state.
“Several studies have shown benefit to the use of vaginal estrogen therapy for overactive bladder symptoms.
“There are a few studies which appear to show that the MonaLisa laser may also improve these symptoms.”
Dr. Ingber is board-certified in Urology and Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery; is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. The Center for Specialized Women’s Health, division of Garden State Urology & Atlantic Medical Group.
specializedwomenshealth.com
(973) 537-5557
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik.com, jcomp
What Kind of Brain Damage Can Anemia Cause?
If anemia is severe enough, it can damage the brain.
It’s easy to see why anemia could lead to brain damage. The brain depends upon oxygen for proper functioning.
Blood delivers oxygen to the brain, as it does to all organs.
When the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, and this situation is not resolved in a timely manner, there then is a risk for permanent damage — though this wouldn’t be severe in degree.
“Little is known about the relationship between anemia and brain damage, but some limited studies suggest that anemia can mildly impair memory as well as the thinking abilities involved in everyday activities such as shopping, paying bills, etc.,” says says Morton Tavel, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, and author of “Health Tips, Myths and Tricks: A Physician’s Advice.”
Dr. Tavel adds, “Even less is known whether correction of anemia will correct any impairment of brain function or damage, but in all likelihood, brain function should return to normal.”
Anemia’s Three Main Causes
• Loss of blood (e.g., internal bleeding, traumatic injury)
• Insufficient red blood cell production
• High rates of red blood cell destruction
A type of anemia called “pernicious” can damage the brain if not treated.
As Dr. Tavel says, the negative effect on the brain can affect concentration and memory. Other cognitive symptoms: confusion, depression.
The body needs vitamin B12 to manufacture red blood cells. Inadequate supply of B12 – often either via diet or due to a lack of a special protein that’s made in the stomach – will lead to pernicious anemia.
If pernicious anemia is severe or goes a long time without treatment, damage to the brain, as well as to other organs including the heart, will result.
As terrible as this sounds, the condition is actually simple to treat with B12 supplementation.
Prior to the development of supplements, the condition was deadly, hence the name “pernicious.”
Classic Signs of Anemia from Any Cause
• Fatigue that can’t be explained by benign causes such as lack of sleep, excessive physical activity or not eating enough.
• Feeling like you can’t get enough breath, as though you’ve been exercising – only you haven’t.
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Pale skin
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
These symptoms can have many other causes, some more serious, some less serious.
In addition to the pernicious type, there are many other causes of anemia.
Dr. Tavel’s medical research includes over 125 publications, editorials and book reviews in peer-reviewed national medical journals. He was formerly director of the cardiac rehabilitation program at St. Vincent Hospital in Indiana. mortontavel.com
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Sources
nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/anemia/causes
nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/prnanmia/
nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/anemia/signs brain damage
Doing the Deadlift, Squat and Lunge While Pregnant: Guidelines
The very exercises that are associated with power, muscle & competition are actually among the safest for a pregnant woman: squat, deadlift and lunge.
The back squat, deadlift and lunge (stationary or walking) are quite safe for the healthy pregnant woman.
However, some pregnant women who are strength training enthusiasts hesitate to do any of these compound moves.
Maybe this is because the back squat and deadlift are the very exercises that the strongest people in the world do for competition in powerlifting, strongman and CrossFit events.
But don’t let that trick you into thinking that the squat and deadlift, along with lunges, are not safe during your pregnancy.
It’s just that these three multi-joint movements are so versatile that they fit very nicely into any kind of strength training regimen.
Shutterstock/Paul Aiken
Another reason a pregnant woman might think the back squat, deadlift and lunges are not safe is because these exercises are done at very intense or mechanically heavy levels by serious fitness enthusiasts.
And though five sets of 5 RM deadlifts with only 90 seconds in between each set will leave a trainee feeling pummeled, remember … a deadlift routine can be adjusted to suit a woman who’s even nine months pregnant.
But there is one consideration you need to be aware of…
“In a normal healthy pregnancy, you likely can continue these exercises if you were doing them prior to your pregnancy,” says Danielle DonDiego, DO, a family physician and obesity specialist with SteadyMD, an online program where patients can call, text or video chat with their doctor anytime.
Dr. DonDiego is also a certified personal trainer and explains, “If these are a normal part of your routine, you can continue — as long as you haven’t been told otherwise by your personal physician.
“However, pregnancy is not a good time to start these types of exercises (or any other new and extreme training regimen). Continue what you were doing previously as long as your doctor says it’s okay.”
Why the Squat, Deadlift and Lunge Are Safe for Healthy Pregnant Women
The guidelines that are set forth by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourage resistance training and do not prohibit the specific movements of the back squat (or any version), deadlift or lunge.
Shutterstock/Serghei Starus
But remember, it’s not wise to begin barbell squats and deadlifts for the first time while you’re expecting.
Already been doing these exercises?
The ACOG discourages anything that brings on symptoms or puts a pregnant woman at risk for falling or collisions.
By these guidelines, it would actually be much safer for a healthy pregnant woman to perform her usual sets of deadlifts or a squat variation than to participate in some kind of cardio activity – even light – in which she might stumble and fall — such as a hike or step class.
Shutterstock/Serghei Starus
Premature Labor
“There are only anecdotal reports that strenuous training may cause preterm labour,” states a report in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
However, the training that’s referred to is aerobic, not strength.
“Nonetheless, until there is unequivocal evidence that strenuous exercise has no impact, a physically active woman with a history of, or who is at risk of, preterm labour should be advised to reduce her activity in the second and third trimesters,” continues the report.
If you’re at risk for preterm labor, definitely discuss strength training with your OBGYN, but again, the issue would involve intensity, not type of joint movement.
As long as there are no contraindications, a pregnant woman should embrace consistent, medium-intensity exercise for the same health benefits during pregnancy as prior to pregnancy.
When it comes to pregnancy and exercise, the big issues are intensity and risk of falls or collisions.
You can clearly see that three sets of 8-12 RM barbell squats are a lot safer than playing volleyball or participating in karate classes – the latter two which put a pregnant woman at risk for collisions or contact with other participants.
The paper in the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that, just to play safe, it would be smart to avoid heavy resistance or any movements “that result in a large pressor effect during pregnancy.”
So just because you’ve been doing squats, deadlifts and heavy-weighted lunges long before you became expectant doesn’t mean that you should continue killing it during your pregnancy.
You can continue doing these exercises, but your heaviest squats and deadlifts are out, as these involve a large pressor effect.
A pressor effect refers to a rise in blood pressure. BP will rise during weightlifting, but the report refers to a “large” pressor effect.
You should discuss this with your doctor.
You should run your desired strength training program by your OBGYN.
Don’t just name specific exercises to your doctor, but ask about intensity and see what your doctor says.
Do not speak in terms of amount of weight lifted.
This is because, for example, a 135 pound deadlift, to your female physician who doesn’t strength train, might seem like an ultra-heavy lift – while it’s only your warmup!
Instead, speak in terms of protocols that make you strain and grit your teeth to get in the last few reps, that leave you heaving heavily at the end of the set.
Straining with heavy weights spikes blood pressure, but again, “heavy” is relative.
The 135 pound deadlift would spike the blood pressure of your non-trained doctor, but to a strong, experienced lifter it has less effect on her blood pressure because 135 is way below her working weight load.
Your OBGYN may not even know what a back squat and deadlift are.
Explain these and again, speak in terms of effort level (“I’m straining my guts out,” “I must grunt for the last few reps,” “When I’m done I’m only moderately out of breath,” etc.), rather than amount of weight lifted.
As for the walking lunge, the issue here may be balance for some women.
Pregnancy may throw off sense of balance. If you’ve never lunged before, there’s no reason to begin these during a pregnancy.
Shutterstock/Paul Aiken
A great alternative to lunges is the dumbbell squat — especially for those women who don’t feel comfortable with the barbell squat.
Dumbbells can be held at shoulder level, at the sides with straight arms or at chest level with bent arms.
Allie Edwards, a CPT specializing in prenatal and postpartum fitness, endorses the squat and other strength training exercises such as the kettlebell swing for expectant women.
Warning for Expectant Strength Trainers
Regardless of intensity level as well as type of weightlifting movement, the ACOG says to immediately cease activity if any of the following occur:
• Vaginal bleeding or leakage of amniotic fluid
• Difficulty catching breath – before the exercise starts
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Unexplained muscle weakness
• One calf with unexplained pain
• One calf that’s swollen, tender or unusually warm
The deadlift, squat and stationary lunge, from a mechanical standpoint, are very safe for pregnant women.
• Performed in one spot with both feet planted on the floor.
• Risk of losing balance is minimal.
• No impact to joints, no jarring motions.
Dr. DonDiego
Allie Edwards runs two blogs: 
