The causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

The most common health disorders during pregnancy are related to high blood pressure, which can be dangerous both to the mother and the foetus. This article discusses about those conditions and causes.

Physiology of pregnant body

What should my blood pressure be, this is the common question that pregnant women often ask. Rightly so, because maintaining the normal blood pressure range is very vital, for the well-being of both the mother and the foetus.

When pregnant, the physiology of body changes because of the dilation of blood vessels throughout the body, resulting in lower levels of blood pressures. Therefore, the elevation of blood pressure in pregnancy is significant.

Complications due to high blood pressure

However, very high blood pressure when pregnant, can lead to headache in pregnancy and several other complications, like hypertension pregnancy, pre-eclampsia pregnancy and eclampsia of pregnancy, which can be life threatening for both mother and the foetus.

Effects of high blood pressure

High blood pressure during pregnancy is the state of abnormal increase in stress of the blood vessels of the pregnant woman.

Pre-eclampsia pregnancy

Pre-eclampsia pregnancy is characterised by very high blood pressure and sometimes, hypertension pregnancy that damages the linings of the blood vessels of the brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. If not diagnosed and treated properly, it can lead to eclampsia of pregnancy, which causes multiple organ failure, convulsions, coma and even death.

Signs

Signs of pre-eclampsia include very high blood pressure, headache in pregnancy, nausea, vision impairment, abdominal pain and vomiting, followed by swelling of the feet and loss of protein through urine.

Cure

The only cure for pre-eclampsia pregnancy is the delivery of the child. After the birth, the blood pressure and the other disease symptoms in the mother settle soon.

Causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Possible causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:

• Pre-existing maternal conditions, like the mother has diagnosed high blood pressure or other hereditary problems, such as diabetes, sickle cell disorder, lupus, hyperthyroidism, kidney disorder etc.

• Excess stress, salt intake and/or lack of proper rest when pregnant, can strain your heart to produce more blood to cater the needs of your strained body.

• Uterine ischemia, which is decreased in the supply of blood to the uterus.

• Insufficient calcium and magnesium oxide with B6, because they help in maintaining vasodilation in pregnancy, that is widening and smoothening of blood vessels of the body.

• Lack of balanced and nutritional diet, with sufficient proteins and anti-oxidants.

• Overweight and obesity when pregnant, may develop insulin resistance, diabetes and thereby, very high blood pressure.