The dangers of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Only a minority of women of childbearing age have hypertension. However, approximately 10% of pregnant women do develop high blood pressure during pregnancy.

In most cases, hypertension during pregnancy does not cause any major complications. Unfortunately, a few women develop serious problems like pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Therefore, high blood pressure during pregnancy must be monitored closely and controlled with medication where necessary.

Even in women who are not hypertensive, the chances of developing high blood pressure go up significantly during pregnancy. This is due to a number of factors, one of which is that pregnancy puts a lot of strain on the woman's body.

An estimated 5% of women have elevated blood pressure before getting pregnant. This condition is known as chronic hypertension. Many of them are not aware of the fact.

In addition to the above, about 8% of women develop hypertension during pregnancy, which is a condition called gestational hypertension. Fortunately, this problem usually resolves itself after childbirth. Women who develop gestational hypertension will need to have their blood pressure monitored regularly even after the baby is born, because they have an increased chance of developing the condition at a later stage.

One of the problems with hypertension is that it usually will not exhibit any symptoms (except in extreme cases). This is why it is referred to as a silent killer. Undetected hypertension is dangerous for anyone. It is more so for pregnancy women because of the complications that can result. However, with adequate monitoring and care, high blood pressure during pregnancy can usually be controlled and complications prevented.

This is why doctors insist that pregnant women should have their blood pressure monitored regularly. It is also important to ensure that the woman is calm and relaxed before taking a blood pressure reading. If she is tense or anxious, it can easily result in an inaccurate reading.

A pregnant woman is considered to have chronic hypertension if she had high blood pressure before twenty weeks of pregnancy or before getting pregnant. Chronic hypertension does not go away on its own after the baby is born. The woman will continue to need treatment and monitoring in most cases.

Researchers are unclear about why young women of childbearing age develop chronic hypertension. There are many factors involved including heredity, lifestyle and diet. Untreated hypertension can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Women who have chronic hypertension without being aware of it do not realize the risks they run when becoming pregnant. It is advisable to consult a doctor before attempting to conceive.

Having chronic hypertension does not mean that a woman should not become pregnant. It does mean that she must be closely monitored during pregnancy. Medication will be prescribed only with great care because certain kinds of drugs can cause harm to the baby. During the first trimester of pregnancy, blood pressure tends to fall in most women. The doctor may ask her to stop taking medication during this time.

The majority of women with chronic hypertension do not have any major complications during pregnancy because they are carefully monitored. Roughly a quarter of such women develop a condition called pre-eclampsia, which is can be highly risky.

Some of the symptoms of pre-eclampsia include rapid weight gain, dizziness, blurred vision, severe stomach pain, swollen face and hands and severe headaches.

Pre-eclampsia can even be fatal. The presence of any of the above symptoms is reason enough to see a doctor immediately.

While high blood pressure during pregnancy can have serious consequences, proper care and medication will usually prevent problems.

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