Hyper Tension Revealed

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

Pregnancy induced hypertension is the condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy. About 6 percent of women are diagnosed with it. It typically occurs during the last three months, the third trimester of the pregnancy. Cases that occur in an earlier stage are rare. Some cases are mild, but other cases can be extremely serious.

The cause of pregnancy induced hypertension is unclear. Many women experience this condition during their first pregnancy, but normally if the become pregnant again, they do not have the same problem. It is very dangerous to have this condition because the blood flow could be hindered. Organs like the liver, kidneys and the brain, along with the placenta and uterus could be void of a healthy blood flow.

This condition is typically diagnosed at prenatal care visits. Blood pressure is always taken, and if there is a dramatic elevation in pressure they probably have pregnancy induced hypertension. Symptoms include severe headaches, blurry vision, seeing spots, a decrease in the amount of urine, and severe pain in the stomach under the ribs, the swelling of hands/feet/face, extremely rapid weight gain (4-5 lbs in one week). Fairly often, women may have this illness without realizing it. Symptoms are not always detectable by the expectant mother.

There are three different kinds of pregnancy induced hypertension. It can just be high blood pressure alone. It can be high blood pressure with protein leaving the body through urine. A third, more serious type of pregnancy induced hypertension is high blood pressure with protein in the urine and swelling and/or convulsions.

Treatment is normally bed rest. Pressure has to be taken more frequently, and other tests may be run. The baby’s heart rate has to be monitored. There may be additional blood and urine tests. Stress reduction exercises and changes in diet are also sometimes suggested as treatment for this condition. Extreme cases require the expectant mother to be hospitalized.

If a woman is over 34 weeks in the pregnancy the baby is delivered right away. Between 28 and 34 weeks if they are diagnosed, they may be delivered or monitored. There are various tests that she may have to undergo in that case.

Fetal growth and amniotic fluid volume is also checked in advanced cases. This is because the condition may restrict the growth of the fetus. This can lead to low birth weight, which is harmful to the baby’s overall health.

Pregnancy induced hypertension usually goes away with the birth of the baby, but it could possibly linger on for a few hours to a few weeks. If this condition is not caught early and treated properly, long term effects to the woman’s health or the baby could have health problems from the time of birth.

Women who become pregnant should keep up with their prenatal care visits. Eating a properly balanced diet and getting reasonable exercise should reduce the risks of developing hypertension during pregnancy. Under the guidance of a specialist, pregnancy induced hypertension can be kept under control, or cured.