High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy
High blood pressure can complicate pregnancy. If left untreated, high blood pressure, or hypertension, may adversely affect the baby as well as the mother.
When not managed properly, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and the organs supplied by them.
Measuring Blood Pressure
Two numbers, such as 140/90 represent a person’s blood pressure. The top number (systolic pressure) represents pressure exerted when the heart pumps blood. The bottom number (diastolic pressure) represents the pressure present when the heart relaxes and fills with blood. OB/GYN physicians and other healthcare professionals consider blood pressure high when the systolic pressure measures over 140 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), or if the diastolic pressure measures more than 90 mm Hg. For example, doctors consider blood pressure of 150/85 (commonly stated as “150 over 85”) or 140/95 as high. When both numbers can measure high, such as 150/95, this constitutes high blood pressure as well.
People with hypertension may feel fine for years and unexpectedly have physical manifestations of the condition such as strokes, heart disease, heart attacks and kidney damage. Damage to the kidneys, from hypertension or other conditions, could encourage even higher numbers as kidneys play an important role in managing blood pressure.
When high blood pressure starts after 20 weeks of pregnancy, it could indicate a very serious problem called preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy-related health condition. Symptoms of preeclampsia include the advent of high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy along with other problems, such as protein in the urine. Preeclampsia usually goes away after giving birth. In rare cases, blood pressure can remain elevated for up to six weeks after the birth.
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