Most of the women start experiencing hypertension during pregnancy. This increases the risk for the mother and the fetus in the womb. Due to today’s unhealthy lifestyle, the problem of high blood pressure is widespread in women. Hypertension in Pregnancy decreases blood flow to the placenta. If the blood does not reach the placenta properly, the baby growing in the womb gets less oxygen. This can cause a lack of nutrients in his body, also resulting in slow development of the baby. “Hypertension means the blood pressure is consistently more than 140/90mm/Hg. Considered a ‘silent killer’, it doesn’t manifest any specific symptoms but can lead to various health concerns, including damage to the eyes, heart stroke and failure, etc. For management, one should taking proactive steps, such as a decrease in consumption of junk food, managing stress and regular exercise are essential not just in the management of hypertension but also its prevention,” said Dr P Venkata Krishnan, Internal Medicine, Paras Hospital Gurugram.
Also Read: Diet Recommendations To Prevent Gestational Hypertension
Hypertension Problems In Pregnancy
High BP in Pregnancy increases the chances of getting heart diseases to expecting mothers. In such a situation, it is not right to ignore hypertension during pregnancy. Women need to take more care of their health, food and drink. “Chronic hypertension during pregnancy has been associated with several factors, which include premature delivery, fetal death and even cesareans. It is common for ladies with normal blood sugar levels to get preeclampsia later. Since you have the chances of high-risk pregnancy, we recommend inducing labour before the patients’ due date to prevent further pregnancy complications. In some cases, we also recommend a cesarean birth,” said Dr Manisha Ranjan, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Noida. Following are some of the causes of hypotension in pregnancy:
- Obesity
- Alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- First conception
- Age above 40
Types of Hypertension In Pregnancy
- Chronic Hypertension: If women already have high BP before pregnancy, it may also remain while being pregnant. This is called chronic hypertension.
- Gestational Hypertension: Many women experience gestational hypertension after the 20th week of pregnancy is over. However, this problem goes away after delivery.
How To Understand Hypertension
Most people usually have no symptoms of high blood pressure. However, if the blood pressure is too high, some people may have a severe headache, blurred vision, breathlessness, extreme anxiety and discomfort and haemorrhage. There is only one way to know that you have high blood pressure, and that is to be measured. During every prenatal examination, the doctor will measure the blood pressure. This measurement would consist of two figures, for example, 110/70, which are numerical digits. The first or top digit (110) records your blood pressure when your heart beats and transmits blood from the heart to different parts of the body. This is your systolic blood pressure. The second or lower digit (70) is your blood pressure when the heart relaxes or relaxes between beats. This is your diastolic blood pressure.
If the doctor sees high blood pressure readings during the examination, she will double-check to confirm this. Since blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, taking multiple readings at different times makes it easier for a doctor to decide that your blood pressure is elevated. If your highest score (systolic) is 140 or more, or the lowest digit (diastolic) is 90, your doctor will confirm that you have high blood pressure. Most doctors make the final decision based on two different readings taken at a difference of four hours.
Dr Parul Katiyar, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, explains, “High blood pressure occurs when the pressure is higher than normal. If left untreated, it can create havoc in your body. It also adversely affects fertility in men. But one should not be worried as hypertension can be managed by making certain changes in the lifestyle and taking the right medications, which can result in improvement in impaired semen and erectile dysfunction.”
Also Read: Tackle White Coat Hypertension With These Simple Tips
Measures To Avoid Hypertension In Pregnancy
- To avoid hypertension in pregnancy, try to stay away from stress, anxiety.
- It is essential to have a repeated check during pregnancy.
- It is mandatory to check blood pressure. High blood pressure can prove to be dangerous for you.
- Always eat healthy foods. Reduce intake of oily, spicy, junk foods.
- Stay away from smoking and alcohol.
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