A woman can develop high blood pressure or hypertension at any point during pregnancy.
If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications for the mother, her infant or both. In most cases, however, hypertension is preventable and treatable.
Experts say there are different types of high blood pressure that a woman can develop during pregnancy with their associated risks and complications.
According to the Centre for Disease Control , blood pressure measurements that are greater than or equal to 140/90 millimeters of mercury indicate high blood pressure.
Women can experience one of three types of high blood pressure during pregnancy: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia.
Experts say a person may have chronic hypertension before pregnancy, whereas gestational hypertension only occurs during pregnancy.
However, gestational hypertension may sometimes persist after the pregnancy to become chronic hypertension.
Women who have chronic hypertension either had high blood pressure before becoming pregnant or developed it within the first half or 20 weeks of their
pregnancy.
It is possible for a woman to develop a subtype called chronic hypertension with super-imposed pre-eclampsia.
Women with this condition have high blood pressure and can possibly develop an abnormal amount of protein in their urine or proteinuria. The presence of protein in the urine can indicate problems with the kidneys. Women may also have changes in liver function.
Gestational hypertension only occurs during pregnancy and without the presence of protein in the urine or changes in liver function. Women usually develop this condition in the second half or after the first 20 weeks of their pregnancy.
This form of high blood pressure is typically temporary and tends to go away after childbirth. However, it can increase a woman’s risk of developing high blood pressure later in life.
Pre-eclampsia is a high blood pressure condition that women can develop during pregnancy or after child birth. It is a serious condition that can have severe consequences. It usually occurs in the third trimester. It rarely occurs after delivery, but it is possible.
Doctors often diagnose pre-eclampsia after taking blood pressure measurements and testing blood and urine samples. Women who develop a mild form of pre-eclampsia may not experience any symptoms.
Signs and symptoms
The American Heart Association calls high blood pressure the “silent killer” because most people who have it do not develop symptoms. This means that a person may have high blood pressure without knowing it.
Monitoring blood pressure is an essential part of pre-natal care. It is important to remember that women can develop high blood pressure before, during and after their pregnancy.
It is important that women attend regular pre-natal checkups to ensure that their blood pressure and other vital signs are within normal ranges and receive treatment, if not.
Also, blood pressure fluctuates in response to small changes in a person’s life, such as stress, diet, exercise, and the quality of their sleep. This is why it is so important that people check their blood pressure regularly.
Treatment
Women with chronic hypertension should continue taking anti-hypertensive medication during their pregnancy. However, some common anti-hypertensive medications are not suitable for pregnant women to take, so healthcare providers may recommend a different medication.
If gestational hypertension is severe or a woman develops pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, a doctor may prescribe medications to lower her blood pressure and help the baby mature if the pregnancy is not full-term. Women may be hospitalised for monitoring.
Healthcare providers may recommend anti-convulsive medications such as magnesium sulphate, to prevent seizures in people with eclampsia or pre-eclampsia.
In some cases, a doctor may advise delivery of the baby for treatment. The timing of delivery depends on how severe the mother’s condition has become, as well as how far along the pregnancy is.
Women who are pregnant should speak with their healthcare provider about ways to control their blood pressure.
Prevention
Making simple lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise and eating a more balanced diet can help prevent high blood pressure.
It is important to note that some risk factors, such as family history, race, and past pregnancy history, are not within a person’s control. For this reason, not all cases of hypertension in pregnancy are preventable.
Some ways to lower the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy include: limiting salt intake, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet that is rich in plant-based foods and low in processed foods, getting regular exercise, getting regular pre-natal checkups, avoiding smoking cigarettes and drinking
alcohol.
