High Blood Pressure Symptoms
Motherhood is a cherished desire of every woman, and the onset of pregnancy brings joy to the entire family, but things can turn upside down if a few precautions are not taken during pregnancy. And close monitoring of high blood pressure symptoms is one of them.
What is blood pressure?
The pressure of blood exerted on the walls of the arteries is called blood pressure. When blood pressure is >140/90 mm/Hg it’s called high blood pressure or hypertension.
Threats of high blood pressure symptoms during pregnancy
It often happens that, during your pregnancy, everything is going on naturally, and smoothly and all of a sudden you get a set of complications which are high blood pressure symptoms puts you, and your entire family in dire panic situation. Then investigations reveal that the reason is your raised BP, which usually takes, a pregnant woman by surprise, especially when you are satisfied and off guard. Hypertension during pregnancy harms both the prospective mother and the unborn baby. It adversely affects kidneys, and other organs of the mother and the baby are born with low and sub-standard weight which means a complicated childhood, many illnesses and regular visits to your doctor. In serious cases, hypertension can turn out to be life threatening to the mother, premature delivery or a still born child.
Who are at risks of high blood pressure symptoms?
The women who should be extra vigilant against high blood pressure symptoms during pregnancy are-
- Obese women
- Women below 20 and above 40 years of age
- Women having more than one child
- Women with faulty life style
However, high-blood pressure can happen to any pregnant woman irrespective of her risk factors. Therefore, it is better take precautions and preventive measures instead of waiting for the high blood pressure symptoms to appear and overpower you.
When to get alarmed?
During prenatal lab tests, trace of sugar and protein in urine is normal in the majority of cases. But high levels of protein in urine indicate alarming blood pressure condition known as Pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a condition when BP suddenly shoots up after 20th week of pregnancy. Other high blood pressure symptoms that accompany are swelling, weight gain, changes in vision and frequent headache. These high blood pressure symptoms should not be ignored as one out of every ten pregnant women runs the risk of developing this condition.
Treatment for High BP in pregnant women
Treatment depends on the kind of high blood pressure symptoms patient is suffering from.
Chronic hypertension: If you are already taking medicines then your doctor might continue them or switch to another if it is not safe in pregnancy. Patient has to undergo ultrasound exams to check the condition of the baby.
Gestational hypertension: Though high blood pressure symptoms do not require any specific treatment but a close monitoring should be done to rule out the risk of preeclampsia.
PIH: Pregnancy Induced Hypertension is treated by visualizing the condition of mother and her baby. Bed rest is prescribed and often blood tests are done to check the other problems.
Right from the onset of pregnancy, the prospective mother should keep just one factor among others in her mind—keep the beast (high-blood pressure) away and for your angel, pave the way!








