Seven Ways to Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
(NewsUSA)
– Are you pregnant or planning a pregnancy? It's time to think about your blood pressure, even if you've never had high blood pressure. About half of pregnancy complications, such as having a premature baby, are related to high blood pressure. Complications in pregnancy also increase the risk of developing heart disease years later. But many pregnancy complications can be prevented. You can start your pregnancy with a healthy blood pressure of less than 120/80 mm Hg, but still develop a type of high blood pressure that occurs during or just after pregnancy. One is gestational hypertension, defined as blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. It usually occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy or around delivery. Preeclampsia is a combination of high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy with other signs that your organs are not working well, such as high levels of protein in the urine. Severe cases can lead to life-threatening seizures or coma, a condition known as eclampsia. Here are seven ways to help keep you and your baby safe from problems related to high blood pressure. 1. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even if you're not pregnant yet, knowing if you have high blood pressure can help determine if you're at increased risk for pregnancy-related complications. Work with your healthcare provider to make a plan for a healthy pregnancy. This includes talking about the following:
- What is your healthy blood pressure range.
- How to control or reduce high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as being physically active, choosing heart-healthy foods that are low in salt and sodium, and not smoking.
- Medications you are taking. If you're already taking blood pressure medicine, ask if the type you take can be used when you're pregnant.
- Your family's medical history. If other people in your family have had preeclampsia, your healthcare provider may recommend taking extra precautions.
- How other individual factors, such as your age, where you live, your race, or access to health care, might affect your risk of developing pregnancy-related complications.
2. Monitor your blood pressure. You usually can't feel high blood pressure. As part of your regular prenatal care, your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure at each visit. If it's high, you may suggest getting a home monitor. If you need one, ask someone in your healthcare provider's office to help make sure it works properly and that you are using it correctly. Then keep track of your numbers. Also, ask your healthcare provider when you should call if your numbers increase.3. Know the signs of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia may not cause symptoms at first. However, you may notice some mild symptoms, such as:
Swelling in the hands or face
Sudden weight gain over one to two days
Gain more than two pounds a week
urinating less often than normal
Preeclampsia usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can also develop after childbirth, most often within 48 hours. If you have any symptoms or feel like something is wrong, it's always best to call your healthcare provider. Go to the emergency department or call 9-1-1 if you experience any of these symptoms of severe preeclampsia:
- Headache that does not go away or gets worse
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain on the right side, below the ribs, or in the right shoulder
- nausea and vomiting
- vision changes
4. Get support from friends and family. Report the signs of pregnancy complications to your family and friends. Ask them to help you monitor how you are feeling and help you get medical care. When you talk with your healthcare provider, these friends can make sure you describe all of your symptoms and ask all of your questions, and they can advocate for you to get the care you need. 5. Try to control stress. Stress is not good for your blood pressure. Practice activating your body's innate relaxation response (the opposite of the stress response). Guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing exercises are techniques that can help you relax. Moving more can help calm your mind and body, and is important for your overall heart health. Try yoga or meet up with friends for a brisk walk. Being in nature can also be very relaxing for some people.6. Stay healthy after pregnancy. After your pregnancy, try to maintain your self-care routines, especially for your heart health. If you had pre-eclampsia, you will need to take special care of your heart. One of the best things you can do is share the details about pregnancy complications with your medical professionals. Tell them what happened and what treatment you received. You may need a cardiovascular exam three months after pregnancy and then yearly. The exam will measure your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar level, and weight. Remember… you know your body. Identifying and modifying cardiovascular disease risks early can significantly reduce the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke years later. Tell your healthcare provider if your blood pressure rises or if something seems wrong. 7. Learn more. Learn more about heart health and pregnancy and find resources for managing your blood pressure numbers at nhlbi.nih.gov/hypertension.
