High blood pressure is affecting more and more pregnant women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of pregnant women who developed high blood pressure in the United States almost doubled between 1993 and 2014.
High blood pressure affects an estimated 6–8 percent of pregnancies in women aged 20–44 in the U.S.
If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications for the mother, her infant, or both. In most cases, however, hypertension is preventable and treatable.
In this article, we will discuss the different types of high blood pressure that a woman can develop during pregnancy, the risk factors and complications of high blood pressure, and how to prevent and treat high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Types of hypertension in pregnancy
According to the CDC, blood pressure measurements that are greater than or equal to 140/90 millimeters of mercury indicate high blood pressure.
Women can experience one of three types of high blood pressure during pregnancy: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, or preeclampsia.
A person may have chronic hypertension before pregnancy, whereas gestational hypertension only occurs during pregnancy.
However, gestational hypertension may sometimes persist after the pregnancy to become chronic hypertension.
Chronic hypertension
Women who have chronic hypertension either had high blood pressure before becoming pregnant or developed it within the first half, or 20 weeks, of their pregnancy.
It is possible for a woman to develop a subtype called chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia.
Women with this condition have high blood pressure and can possibly develop an abnormal amount of protein in their urine, or proteinuria. The presence of protein in the urine can indicate problems with the kidneys. Women may also have changes in liver function.
Gestational hypertension
Gestational hypertension only occurs during pregnancy and without the presence of protein in the urine or changes in liver function. Women usually develop this condition in the second half, or after the first 20 weeks, of their pregnancy.
This form of high blood pressure is typically temporary and tends to go away after childbirth. However, it can increase a woman’s risk of developing high blood pressure later in life.
In some cases, the blood pressure will remain elevated after the pregnancy, resulting in chronic hypertension.
The American Heart Association (AHA) call high blood pressure the “silent killer” because most people who have it do not develop symptoms. This means that a person may have high blood pressure without knowing it.
Monitoring blood pressure is an essential part of prenatal care. It is important to remember that women can develop high blood pressure before, during, and after their pregnancy.
It is important that women attend regular prenatal checkups to ensure that their blood pressure and other vital signs are within normal ranges and receive treatment if not.
Also, blood pressure fluctuates in response to small changes in a person’s life, such as stress, diet, exercise, and the quality of their sleep. This is why it is so important that people check their blood pressure regularly.
Risk factors for hypertension
Risk factors for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia include:
- a history of preeclampsia
- preexisting hypertension
- pregestational diabetes
- having twins or triplets
- preexisting kidney disease
- some autoimmune diseases
The following are risk factors for a person to develop hypertension:
- having a family history of high blood pressure
- being overweight
- race
- age
- having high cholesterol
- stress
- smoking cigarettes
- drinking alcohol
- not exercising often
- becoming pregnant at an older age
- having had high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy
Making simple lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise and eating a more balanced diet, can help prevent high blood pressure.
It is important to note that some risk factors, such as family history, race, and past pregnancy history, are not within a person’s control. For this reason, not all cases of hypertension in pregnancy are preventable.
Some ways to lower the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:
- limiting salt intake
- staying hydrated
- eating a balanced diet that is rich in plant-based foods and low in processed foods
- getting regular exercise
- getting regular prenatal checkups
- avoiding smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol
Medical professionals tend to recommend that people have regular blood pressure screening, especially when they have risk factors, so that they can begin to treat it early.
Summary
High blood pressure, or hypertension, during pregnancy can be life-threatening to a woman in some cases. If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause harm to both the mother and her infant.
It does not always lead to serious health complication, and sometimes, it will go away following childbirth.
Hypertension during pregnancy is typically preventable and treatable.
A doctor must closely monitor hypertension in pregnancy to prevent potentially life-threatening health complications. It is important that women attend regular prenatal evaluations and report any abnormal symptoms to ensure their own health and that of their infant.
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