Questions and Answers
During pregnancy, what happens to the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter?
It decreases
What causes the gums to become hyperemic, swollen, and friable during pregnancy?
Increased estrogen levels
What change occurs in the saliva produced in the mouth during pregnancy?
It becomes more acidic
What is the term for the excessive salivation that some women experience during pregnancy?
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How is the motility of the gastrointestinal system affected during pregnancy?
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What is the term for displacement of the intra-abdominal portion of the esophagus into the thorax during pregnancy?
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What causes some women to get temporary relief from excessive salivation by gum chewing or sucking on hard candies?
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What leads to the condition of gastroesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy?
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What is the primary role of prostaglandins during pregnancy?
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Which hormone acts as an antagonist against insulin after the first trimester of pregnancy?
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What is the function of the placenta during pregnancy?
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Which hormone is believed to be involved in softening the cervix and initiating/maintaining labor?
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What hormone is theorized to increase myometrial sensitivity to oxytocin during pregnancy?
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Which hormones are thought to oppose insulin during pregnancy?
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What is the primary role of cortisol during the last half of pregnancy?
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Which hormone is capable of synthesizing enzymes and proteins during pregnancy?
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What is the reason for the increase in dental plaque, calculus, and debris deposits during pregnancy?
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What contributes to constipation during pregnancy?
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What is a common problem for pregnant women caused by the slowed gastric emptying combined with relaxation of the cardiac sphincter?
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What contributes to the formation of hemorrhoids during pregnancy?
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What contributes to acid indigestion or heartburn (pyrosis) in pregnant women?
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What is the reason for the decline in blood pressure during pregnancy?
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What causes the increase in cardiac output during pregnancy?
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What is the clinical definition of gestational hypertension?
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What causes the physiologic anemia of pregnancy?
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What contributes to the hypercoagulable state during pregnancy?
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What happens to the respiratory system during pregnancy?
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What influences the vascularity of the respiratory tract during pregnancy?
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What structural alterations take place in the respiratory system during pregnancy?
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What causes the predominant structural change in the renal system during pregnancy?
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Why do the kidneys work harder throughout pregnancy?
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What is responsible for the increase in urine flow and volume during pregnancy?
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What contributes to the characteristic 'waddle' gait that pregnant women demonstrate as they near term?
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What is responsible for the development of the 'mask of pregnancy' or facial melasma in pregnant women?
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What contributes to the postural changes of pregnancy such as an increased swayback and an upper spine extension?
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Which factor is responsible for most skin changes in pregnancy?
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What contributes to the development of striae gravidarum or stretch marks in pregnant women?
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What is responsible for the enlargement of the kidneys during pregnancy?
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