What causes hypertension during pregnancy?
Hypertension In Pregnancy
Hypertension is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure is elevated. Hypertension during pregnancy has potentially serious side effect which must be addressed immediately. Hypertension occurs when the systolic pressure rises by 30 or more points and diastolic pressure rises by 15 or more points above the normal readings. Certain mothers are more at risk than others for high blood pressure problems during pregnancy. Hypertension during pregnancy remains a common and potentially devastating complication.
Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Three types of blood pressure can be found in pregnant woman. They are:
1. Chronic hypertension: Chronic Hypertension is the high blood pressure that develops before the 20th week of pregnancy or is already present before the woman is pregnant. Sometimes a woman has hypertension before the pregnancy but she doesn’t realize it until her first prenatal check-up.
High blood pressure can cause major problems to the mother and child. It can make your baby grow slowly as it is deprived of enough nutrients and oxygen. Woman who have chronic hypertension are likely to develop PIH (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension) which can be very dangerous.
2. Gestational pregnancy: Some women get hypertension near the end of pregnancy. They don’t experience any other associated symptoms.
This does not cause any problem to the mother and baby, but it increases the risk that you might develop high blood pressure late in your life. It can also turn into pregnancy induced hypertension.
3. Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) : It usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can cause serious problems to the mother and child if left untreated. Along with high blood pressure, it causes the accumulation of protein in the urine and blood.
Hypertension is one of the main parameters of your health during pregnancy. PIH can cause blurred vision, headache, vision loss, abdominal pain, and dizziness. It can also cause slow growth of your baby, low birth weight, and increased risk of premature delivery.
High blood pressure decreases the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby which are carried by blood and delivered through the placenta. However, due to hypertension, it can cause the placenta to pull away from the uterus. When this happens, the baby might need to be delivered early to prevent further complications.
If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure during pregnancy, your condition will be closely monitored. In some cases you may be advised complete bed rest until delivery. The effects of hypertension during pregnancy vary depending upon many factors. So obtaining regular and early prenatal care is the most important thing you can do for yourself and the baby.
If you develop hypertension during pregnancy, limit your salt intake, maintain a healthy weight, and follow a proper diet as advised by your doctor.
Submitted by P T on June 4, 2010 at 05:57
