High blood pressure during pregnancy is an increase in pressure above 140/90 mmHg, which can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, abdominal pain, blurred vision or body swelling.
The causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy may be related to an unbalanced diet or poor placental formation. Furthermore, women are at greater risk of having high blood pressure during pregnancy when they are pregnant for the first time, are over 35 years old, obese and diabetic.
Normally, blood pressure is lower in the first half of pregnancy, returning to normal or may even rise slightly in the second half of pregnancy and closer to delivery. Therefore, if a pregnant woman has high blood pressure, especially after 20 weeks of pregnancy, she should immediately consult her obstetrician.
Symptoms of high blood pressure in pregnancy
The main symptoms of high blood pressure during pregnancy are:
- Constant headache, especially in the back of the neck;
- Stomach ache;
- Blurred vision or increased sensitivity to light;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Sudden weight gain;
- Swelling of parts of the body, such as legs or arms;
- Decrease in the amount of urine and the urge to urinate.
High blood pressure during pregnancy does not always cause symptoms, however, it can be detected by the obstetrician during prenatal care.
If a pregnant woman presents symptoms of high blood pressure, it is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible to start appropriate treatment and avoid serious complications.
Is high blood pressure during pregnancy dangerous?
High blood pressure during pregnancy can be dangerous, as it can lead to the development of pre-eclampsia, a serious complication that can lead to miscarriage if not treated properly with a balanced diet or medication. Understand what pre-eclampsia is and how to identify it.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of high blood pressure during pregnancy is made by the obstetrician by measuring blood pressure in the office.
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High blood pressure during pregnancy is considered mild when it measures between 140/90 and 149/99 mmHg, moderate when it is between 150/100 and 159/109 mmHg, and severe when it is equal to or greater than 160/110 mmHg.
Possible causes
The exact cause of high blood pressure during pregnancy is not fully known, but some conditions can increase the risk of developing it, such as:
- Pre-existing high blood pressure;
- Kidney disease;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Obesity;
- Obstructive apnea;
- Thrombophilia;
- Vascular insufficiency;
- Autoimmune diseases.
Additionally, women with a prior history of preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome, or a family history of high blood pressure during pregnancy, have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Other factors that may increase the risk are maternal age over 35 years, twin pregnancy or multiple pregnancies, for example.
Types of high blood pressure during pregnancy
The main types of high blood pressure during pregnancy are:
1. Chronic hypertension
Chronic hypertension is high blood pressure that appears before pregnancy or during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
This type of hypertension can increase the risk of pre-eclampsia in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.
2. Gestational hypertension
Gestational hypertension normally occurs after 20 weeks of gestation or close to birth, and is characterized by high blood pressure, without the presence of protein in the urine or kidney or heart disease.
Generally, this type of high blood pressure during pregnancy disappears after delivery, but in some cases the woman may develop chronic hypertension.
3. Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a type of high blood pressure in severe pregnancy characterized by a sudden increase in blood pressure and the presence of proteins in the urine, which can affect the placenta, brain, kidneys, liver or kidneys. Know how to identify the symptoms of pre-eclampsia.
This type can occur after 20 weeks of gestation in women who did not have high blood pressure before pregnancy or who already had chronic hypertension.
Pre-eclampsia can increase the risk of eclampsia, which is a serious complication of pregnancy that can put the life of the woman and her baby at risk.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of high blood pressure during pregnancy must be carried out with guidance from the obstetrician and it may be recommended to rest a lot during the day, drink 2 to 3 liters of water per day and eat a balanced diet with little salt or processed foods.
In addition, your doctor may recommend practicing light physical exercise, such as walking, yoga or water aerobics, 2 to 3 times a week, and avoiding drinking more than one coffee a day.
However, in cases where the pressure does not decrease with these precautions, the obstetrician may recommend treatment with high blood pressure medication.
In the most serious cases, the pregnant woman may have to stop working or be admitted to the hospital, avoiding the development of eclampsia. Find out which medications are available to control high blood pressure and which are recommended for pregnant women.
Diet to control blood pressure
The diet for high blood pressure during pregnancy should be low in salt, rich in folic acid, as it has a vasodilatory action, helping to lower blood pressure, and rich in water, to prevent the accumulation of fluids and relieve pressure within the vessels. See home remedies for high blood pressure during pregnancy.
To find out if weight gain during pregnancy is healthy, enter your data into the calculator below:
Risks of high blood pressure during pregnancy
The main risks of high blood pressure during pregnancy are:
- Problems with the liver, kidneys, placenta or brain;
- Decreased blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the baby;
- AVC;
- Blood clotting problems;
- Premature placental abruption;
- Fetal growth restriction;
- Part premature;
- Low birth weight of the baby.
Furthermore, high blood pressure during pregnancy increases the risk of pre-eclampsia, which can develop into eclampsia, causing seizures, coma and even death for mother and baby.
In cases where blood pressure cannot be lowered, even with the medications prescribed by the obstetrician, labor must be induced to avoid the risk of death.
