High blood pressure or hypertension is not an age-related problem, which a lot of people assume it to be. This is highly common during pregnancy which is called gestational hypertension. Almost 8 percent of pregnant women suffer from high BP before, during or after pregnancy. This condition isn’t just about BP but it can also trigger other complications like preeclampsia, low birth weight of the newborn, kidney problems and heart issues in the future. Every pregnant woman must learn to control her blood pressure during the course to secure her and baby’s health. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure during pregnancy, here are some ways to lower your blood pressure.
5 Tips To Control Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
Here are five natural ways you can lower your blood pressure during pregnancy.
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1. Unfriend salt
Some amount of salt intake is necessary but try to keep it as minimum as you can as an increase in sodium is associated with hypertension risk. You can substitute salt with lemon juice, herbs, pepper, etc. Also, prevent consuming packaged foods as these have a high sodium value that is dangerous for you.
2. Eat potassium-rich fruits and whole grains
Potassium helps in regulating blood pressure. There are a lot of fruits & vegetables that have a good amount of potassium in them. Bananas as the best. You can also eat sweet potatoes, kidney beans or rajma, tomatoes, raisins, etc. to increase potassium and decrease blood pressure. Eat whole grains which are good sources of dietary fiber that are also found to aid gestational hypertension.
Also Read: Diet Recommendations To Prevent Gestational Hypertension
3. Stay physically active
A pregnant woman should stay active throughout her pregnancy for a smooth delivery and healthy baby. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to complications even during pregnancy. Therefore, get moving. Increased activeness would increase blood circulation and decrease high BP. Go for a walk or swim for an easy yet effective pregnancy workout.
4. Don’t Take Stress
Stress is our health’s biggest enemy. A woman should stay relaxed during pregnancy to avert health complications as this is highly likely to trigger anxiety, depression as well as postpartum depression. It is also bad for your gestational hypertension condition. Meditate, do breathing exercises like bhramari pranayam, yoga for pregnancy, etc. to relieve stress and enjoy a happy pregnancy.
5. Check your weight regularly
While you might be asked to eat for two(you and your baby), don’t go overboard with food. You don’t have to take this too seriously that you end up gaining a whopping weight which is highly dangerous for you. The weight would increase during pregnancy and therefore, you must control your eating habits to prevent extra weight gain.
Also Read: Eating Watermelon Can Aid Hypertension or High BP, Says Dietitian
Other Tips
Apart from the five above-stated tips, here are some other important things to consider:
- Quit alcohol and smoking as soon as you conceive to ensure health and safety. These are bad for the unborn baby.
- Take medication on time as prescribed by the doctor. You must follow all the medical guidelines to prevent health damage.
- Whenever stressed, talk to someone to lighten your load. This really helps.
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