Up to 10% of pregnancies are complicated by hypertension, making it the leading cause of medical intervention during this time. Preeclampsia, premature birth and placental abruption are all conditions that can result from the mother’s high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Some of the causes of high blood pressure in pregnant women are:
- Chronic hypertension. This refers to preexisting hypertension.
- Gestational hypertension. It’s hypertension, or high blood pressure, that develops during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
- Pre-eclampsia. Some of the symptoms of this issue are elevated blood pressure and other indicators of organ damage that occur during pregnancy. It can cause eclampsia in some pregnant women. Seizures are triggered by eclampsia.
Measuring high blood pressure
If your blood pressure is taken, you’ll see two numbers:
SBP, or systolic blood pressure. This is the largest (or initial) figure in your analysis. What you feel when your heart squeezes (gets tight). Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats and pumps blood.
Diastolic blood pressure. If you’re taking a reading, this is the second (lower) number. This is the force felt as the heart slows down. As your heart relaxes in between beats, your blood pressure naturally decreases.
One of the 5 categories describe your blood pressure reading:
- Normal. Your readings for blood pressure are below 120 over 80.
- Elevated. If your diastolic pressure is less than 80 and your systolic pressure is between 120 and 129, your blood pressure is considered normal.
- Pre-hypertension/hypertension-stage 1. If your systolic reading is between 130 and 139 and your diastolic reading is between 80 and 89, you have normal blood pressure.
- Chronic hypertension, stage 2. Having a systolic blood pressure of at least 140 or a diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 qualifies as a hypertensive crisis.
- Critical hypertension. If your blood pressure readings are over 180 over 120, you have hypertension. If your blood pressure is this high, you should consult a doctor through Marham immediately.
If your blood pressure is high, your doctor can recheck it to confirm the diagnosis. Your blood pressure may rise or fall at different times of the day.
Symptoms of hypertension in pregnancy
Please keep an eye out for these signs. Keep in mind that some of these symptoms are rather typical for pregnant women and may not indicate anything serious. Don’t be shy about telling your doctor about everything that’s bothering you.
- Persistent pain in the head.
- Variations to your eyesight.
- Stomach ache.
- symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
- Difficulty in breathing.
- Hand and face swelling.
- Elimination of or reduction to a trickle of urine.
What causes high blood pressure during pregnancy?
- Pregnancy-related hypertension can arise from a variety of factors.
- To name a few of them:
- having a weight problem
- not getting enough exercise not getting enough sleep not quitting smoking and drinking
- first-time pregnancy
- having more than one kid and a history of pregnancy-related hypertension (over 35)
- assistive reproductive technology (such as in vitro fertilization, or IVF)
- being diagnosed with diabetes or an autoimmune disorder
What exactly are the risks associated with high blood pressure during pregnancy?
High blood pressure can cause a number of problems for both the mother and the baby.
In the case of the mother, these complications include preeclampsia, eclampsia, stroke, the necessity for labor induction (the administration of medication to induce labor), and placental abruption (the placenta separating from the wall of the uterus).
Two adverse outcomes for the newborn include preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and low birth weight (when a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces).
Because the baby may have trouble getting enough oxygen and nutrients to grow, the mother may have to deliver the baby early due to her high blood pressure.
What can I do to reduce the chance of complications?
- The best way to take care of your baby is to take care of yourself. Consider the following as an instance:
- Make sure you keep all of your prenatal visits. Maintain regular checkups with your doctor.
- Be sure to take your recommended blood pressure medication and the low-dose aspirin daily. You can trust your doctor to provide you with the most effective and least risky medication possible.
- It’s important to keep moving. Listen to your doctor’s advice about how much exercise you should be getting.
- Maintain a balanced diet. Seek advice from a dietician if you feel lost when it comes to meal preparation.
- Identify the sensitive areas. Stay away from booze, cigarettes, and narcotics. Prior to using any over-the-counter drugs, it’s important to discuss their use with your doctor.
Conclusion
High blood pressure, often known as gestational hypertension, is dangerous for both you and the developing baby. There is good news, though: this form of hypertension typically disappears once your baby is delivered. Nonetheless, a pregnant woman should keep her blood pressure within normal limits. A patient should consult a gynecologist in Lahore about the best course of treatment for high or low blood pressure.
FAQs
1. What should I avoid if I have high blood pressure during my pregnancy?
Try not to partake in tobacco and alcohol. Both can increase the risk of hypertension and other pregnancy-related problems. There is no need for women with high blood pressure to decrease their salt consumption during pregnancy because salt is essential during pregnancy.
2. How far along in my pregnancy should I be concerned about my blood pressure?
After the 20th week of pregnancy, if your blood pressure is consistently high (140/90 or more), your doctor will likely want to check for other potential complications. Tests for protein in the urine and other symptoms may be performed in addition to general blood work.
3. Can stress cause high blood pressure during pregnancy?
Pregnancy-related hypertension has been linked to stress. This increases your chances of developing preeclampsia, a dangerous kind of hypertension, of giving birth prematurely, and of having a baby with a low birth weight. The way you react to particular events could also be influenced by stress.