High Blood Pressure Pregnancy

High blood pressure (medical term is hypertension) is a serious health problem for

both men and women, but unlike men, three out of four women actually know they have it - that's the good news. The bad news is less than one in three will take the necessary steps to control their blood pressure.Although many women who have blood pressure problems have healthy babies, high blood pressure pregnancy poses a serious risk. Pregnant women who have uncontrolled hypertension may have critical issues develop during the pregnancy that may affect the mother and fetus. These problems may be prevented or lessened by discussing them with the doctor before pregnancy. If the high blood pressure of the mother is chronic, steps can be taken to help lessen the complications that may develop during the pregnancy. Pregnant or not, the important first step is to get the blood pressure under control.Preeclampsia develops with the increase of the mother's blood pressure and with urine tests showing the presence of protein. When the kidneys are damaged by the high blood pressure, the result is finding protein in the urine. Preeclampsia usually develops after the 20th week and will affect the placenta along with the brain of the mother and her liver and kidneys. When diagnosed with toxemia of pregnancy the complications include premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth.The second leading cause of death in the United States for pregnant women are the seizures as a result of preeclampsia developing into eclampsia (seizures). The only known way to cure eclampsia is to deliver the baby. Hypertension is the problem and unless it is controlled, it may evolve into preeclampsia, then eclampsia or seizures which may prove to be fatal to the mother and fetus.There are risks factors associated with preeclampsia so it is extremely helpful to the physician to know beforehand if his or her patient falls into one of the categories. For instance has the patient been diagnosed with hypertension before? Have they had a previous pregnancy where they developed preeclampsia? Are they considered obese? Are they under 20 years old? Are they over 40 years old? Are they going to have more than one baby? Have they been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes, scleroderma, or kidney disease?Preeclampsia is not easy to detect, there are no precise tests that will pinpoint the problem. Instead, doctors must rely on signs and tests that seem to indicate the possibility of toxemia of pregnancy. Unfortunately, these same signs could be associated with other diseases or even with healthy pregnancies so working closely with a physician becomes extremely important. The physician will look for the important signs of increased blood pressure and "proteinuria" which basically is protein in the urine. They will also look at symptoms which may include persistent headaches, sensitivity to light and/or blurred vision, and complaints of abdominal pain.Women who have high blood pressure and want to become pregnant can reduce or lessen the complications associated with high risk pregnancy by making lifestyle changes such as:1. Lowering sodium/salt intake and eating healthier foods, adding physical activity to help lose weight and learning skills and techniques to help manage stress.2. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your doctor to find out how your hypertension may affect you and your baby and what you must do to protect yourself - then do it!3. There are some medicines that lower blood pressure that should not be taken while pregnant. It is extremely important that physician make the final decision on what drugs can be taken.4. NEVER take yourself off your medications without your doctor's consent. NEVER change the dosage without your doctor's consent.5. Even over-the-counter medicines can have serious consequences during a high risk pregnancy. Talk to the physician about any and all over-the-counter medicines beforehand.If the pregnancy is a high-risk, high blood pressure pregnancy, it is critical that there be regular prenatal care. This prenatal care may help eliminate or lessen the complications that exist because of the hypertension. There are some things that cannot be controlled during a pregnancy; however, the things that can be controlled should be such as: no smoking or drinking or drug use. Eating healthy foods, cutting back on salt/sodium, and with the doctor's permission, exercising. These changes have the capability of lowering the risk for mother and baby.If a health situation can be taken care of before or during a pregnancy, it should be since it may cause serious problems later.

High Blood Pressure Pregnancy

By: Therese

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