In case of pregnancy, women need to have routine assessment of their blood pressure. Despite the fact that women usually don’t build up any blood pressure problems during pregnancy, yet hypertension is likely to be a tight spot in some females, in whom it is frequently easygoing and not something which is grim and dismal. Nevertheless, not only can hypertension become relentless but also can be hurtful to the mum as well as the fetus. Various women (afflicted with hypertension during pregnancy) develop pre-eclampsia–a state during pregnancy typified by hypertension along with preservation of fluid as well as the presence of abnormal quantities of protein in the urine which may point towards damage to the kidneys.
What Are the Types of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy?
1. Already Existing Hypertension
In case hypertension is detected prior to 20 weeks of pregnancy, it indicates an already present hypertension (ahead of pregnancy) which puts a female at threat of an emergent pre-eclampsia. In case a female is on anti-hypertensive medications, she should have them evaluated ahead of becoming pregnant. This is because that not only are the drugs such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics liable to harm the fetus, but also your health practitioner might substitute them with those risk-free for both yourself and your fetus.
2. Hypertension Induced by Pregnancy
Hypertension, which happens primarily after the 20th week pregnancy and goes away after pregnancy, is referred to as gestational hypertension.
3. Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia
- Pre-eclampsia
The already existing hypertension as well as pregnancy-induced hypertension can advance to pre-eclampsia after 20th week of pregnancy. The symptoms of pre-eclampsia are presence of hypertension and protein in the urine as a result of already-existing kidney troubles. Pre-eclampsia, however, improves during a period of one and a half months of childbirth.
- Eclampsia
This serious condition can be a complexity of preeclampsia; and in this state, fits and seizures take place in a pregnant female. If pre-eclampsia is discovered and effectively taken care of, then eclampsia could be expelled by all means.
What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy?
The fact that your health practitioner or midwife repeatedly assesses your BP and urine for protein is because they are trying to discover for probabilities of pre-eclampsia. Although many pregnant hypertensive females have no indicators regarding it, yet in spite of this, you need to be watchful about the following symptoms:
- Continual forceful headaches
- Unclear eye-sight or the presence of blinking lights or specks in the field of vision
- Pain abdomen, usually on the right side right below the ribs
- Queasiness (nausea, vomiting)
- Edema of face, feet, hands
- Inability to feel kicking and rolling movements of the fetus
What Causes High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy?
1. Medicines and Add-ons
- Contraceptive pills
- Pain killers
- Hormone substitution treatment
- Anti-depressive drugs
- Medicines for respite of cold
- Anti-asthma drugs
- Drugs used for replacement of diseased organs
- Several herbal add-ons
- Cocaine and related drugs
2. Excess Weight Gain
Excess weight entails propelling more blood through the body and puts supplementary pressure on the arterial walls.
3. Other Factors
a) Smoking
b) Liquor intake
c) Dangerous factors for pre-eclampsia:
- Primary pregnancy
- Age of the pregnant female more than 40 or less than 20
- Carrying more than one fetus
- History of hypertension
- Diabetes Mellitus
Treatment for High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
1. In Case of Mild Hypertension Without Pre-eclampsia
In such a case, there is minimal threat, hence all that is to be done is:
- Frequent scrutiny of the pressure of blood
- Analysis of the status of pregnancy
- Necessary blood tests
- Sonographic inspection of growth of the fetus as well as the blood flow from the placenta to the fetus
- Follow-up visits to an obstetrician
- Requirement of medications for BP management
2. In Case of Intense Hypertension or Advancement of Pre-eclampsia
The pregnant female as well as the fetus is at equal intimidation in case the pregnant female is plagued with tremendous hypertension or advancement of pre-eclampsia. Without delay, such patients need to be hospitalized and require the expert opinion of a specialist. A sonographic scan of the fetus including its heart rate is accomplished. If hypertension is secondary to the pregnancy and if it is the full term then the only treatment is to deliver the baby usually by Caesarian section. Conversely, if the hypertension or pre-eclampsia becomes excessive during the former days of pregnancy, anti-hypertensive medication will have to be given so that the pregnancy could proceed successfully. In case of intense pre-eclampsia, Magnesium Sulfate may be administered IV in the form of a drip at the time of childbirth so that any menace of eclampsia is lessened. The consultant might prescribe low- dose aspirin along with calcium add-ons to the patient.
Want to know more about treatment for high blood pressure in pregnancy? Check out the video below:
How to Prevent Complications of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- Be regular in your antenatal checkups
- Don’t forget to take the most harmless anti-hypertensive medication approved for you by your doctor.
- Though staying active is the best practice for you, yet bed rest might be suggested in case the warning indicators of pre-eclampsia build up.
- Consumption of a wholesome diet as well as the antenatal vitamins and minerals is mandatory for the pregnant patient and so is the restriction of table salt.
- Keep a check on your body weight and don’t let it exceed.
- Keep away from smoking, liquor intake as well as consumption of illegal drugs.
In case, the physician finds you to be afflicted with any of the danger factors for pre-eclampsia, such as primary pregnancy, age greater than 40 or minus 20 years, hauling more than one fetuses, history of ailments such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus, he might consider it feasible to prescribe low-dose aspirin for you.