High blood pressure during pregnancy: what to do?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Blood pressure (hypertension) is the pressure of blood on the walls of the arteries. It is measured using a special device - a tonometer. There are certain indications for certain categories of people: children, the elderly, pregnant women, etc. Expectant mothers need to use a blood pressure monitor daily. After all, high blood pressure during pregnancy is a threat both to her he alth and to her baby.

Common indicators

Indicators of the tonometer will help to establish what pressure a person has at a particular moment. There are generally accepted meanings for this:

• 110/70 -120/80 is the absolute norm.
• Below 110/70 - low blood pressure (hypotension).
• 120/80 - 140/85 - high blood pressure.
• From 140/85 - high blood pressure (hypertension).

Any deviation from the norm is a pathology. The patient needs specialist supervision andthe most relaxed way of life. Often pregnant women with high or low blood pressure are examined in a hospital and take medications.

Pressure readings

People who use a blood pressure monitor know that after a measurement, the device shows three digital values.

The first number is the systolic pressure. In the people, it is better known as "upper" It characterizes the blood pressure during heart contraction and when it is released into the vessels.

The second number is the diastolic or lower pressure. This indicator characterizes the pressure at the moment when the heart has already filled with blood and is in a relaxed state.

The third number is the pulse.

How to determine the pressure?

It is possible to determine high blood pressure during pregnancy only with a special device - a tonometer. There are two equipment options:

1. Electronic blood pressure monitor has an automatic mechanism. Allows you to determine the pressure with maximum accuracy. To measure, simply put the camera on your hand and press the button. After about a minute, the value will appear on the screen.
2. Mechanical device is widely used in government medical institutions. Measurement is required to be carried out independently, listening to heartbeats in the interval between the upper and lower values.

Hypertensive patients can determine the deviation from the norm on their own without taking measurements by characteristicsymptoms.

Symptoms

When such a pathology appears, the patient's he alth deteriorates noticeably. There are several symptoms that appear with high blood pressure during pregnancy:

1. Slight dizziness. Many patients feel like they are fainting.
2. Tinnitus. Often this symptom appears simultaneously with black dots before the eyes.
3. Severe pain in the occipital region.
4. Weakness, numbness or tingling in limbs.
5. High pressure can cause nosebleeds and nausea.

High blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to serious consequences for the mother and her baby. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, it is imperative to check your suspicions with a tonometer and consult a specialist.

Causes of hypertension in the 1st trimester

High blood pressure during early pregnancy occurs only in a few patients. Such a disease may be associated with severe stress, overexertion or insomnia. Many expectant mothers begin to worry about the upcoming birth.

In most cases, patients during the 1st trimester experience the opposite phenomenon - hypotension. The walls of blood vessels and muscle tone weaken due to the action of the hormone progesterone, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure.

Causes of hypertension in the 2nd trimester

High blood pressureduring pregnancy in the second trimester can also be associated with excessive worries and insomnia. The load on the body has increased slightly, so the disease can manifest itself in overweight people and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Poor nutrition can also lead to poor he alth. The more the patient consumes fats and complex carbohydrates during the period of bearing the baby, the higher the likelihood that she will develop hypertension.

Causes of hypertension in the 3rd trimester

High blood pressure during late pregnancy is not uncommon. During this period, the load on the body increases exactly twice. Accordingly, the vessels narrow, and the heart begins to work in an enhanced mode. All this can provoke hypertension.

Proved. In most cases, the pressure jumps in mothers with bad habits: smoking, alcohol.

What is dangerous?

Unfortunately, not all expectant mothers are sensitive to their he alth. It's in vain! High blood pressure during pregnancy at any time may not lead to the most favorable consequences.

1. High readings on the tonometer suggest that the vessels are noticeably narrowed, therefore, blood circulation in the body is hindered. The fetus receives less oxygen than it needs for full development. If hypertension is not treated for a long time, gross pathologies may form.
2. Uterine spasms may begin due to impaired circulation. In most cases, this provokes preterm labor.
3. High blood pressure canalso lead to placental abruption.
4. High blood pressure is very dangerous to give birth. Due to the jump, retinal detachment can occur. The patient may become instantly blind.

If the pressure is increased from the 38th week of pregnancy, then the specialist may decide on an artificial birth to alleviate the he alth of the mother and baby. If it is possible to delay labor, then until the baby is born, the mother will be under the constant supervision of medical specialists.

Hospital or home treatment

What to do with high blood pressure during pregnancy? Of course, hypertension must be treated. And the sooner medical procedures are carried out, the more chances the patient has to avoid adverse consequences. Treatment can be done at home or in a hospital.

Cases where a patient is treated at home:

• If the pressure is not much higher than the permissible norm, it ranges from 120/80 to 140/85.
• If the pressure surge occurred once (due to emotional or physical overstrain). After a while, the indicators returned to normal.

Instances where a patient is treated in a hospital:

• Increased lower pressure during pregnancy is more than 85, and the upper one is more than 140.
• Appearance of accompanying symptoms: numbness of the limbs, nausea, dizziness or bleeding from the nose.
• Re-pressurization.
• Hypertension in late pregnancy.

When high blood pressure is detected during pregnancy, in most cases, the patient is hospitalized to remove the risk of miscarriage.

Non-drug methods

With increased pressure, it is required to ensure complete peace of mind for the patient. Ideally, she should lie down and get some sleep.

Any stress and emotional outbursts can significantly aggravate the situation. It is necessary to think only about the good. To get a positive charge, it is recommended:

• Watch a good movie.
• Chat with positive people.
• Listen to classical tunes.
• Do light exercises (if there is no threat of miscarriage)
• Drink a glass of fresh orange juice.
• Eat your favorite meal or treat yourself to a piece of chocolate.

The most important rule is to try to relax and completely clear your head of unnecessary thoughts.

Medication methods

If non-drug methods have not helped to improve the state of he alth, then the specialist is already selecting an effective therapy for a patient with hypertension. There are several safest pills for high blood pressure during pregnancy:

1. "Dopegit" - the drug is prescribed for deviations from the norm up to 28 weeks. It can be used further, but it will be less effective.
2. If the state of he alth worsened after the second trimester, then it is allowed to take emergency medicines that contribute tonormalization of well-being in a short period of time. These include: "Normodipine", "Nifedipine" or "Verapamil".
3. In rare cases, "Atenolol" is prescribed. This drug is not safe, as it negatively affects the baby's heart. You can take it strictly under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist.

High blood pressure during early pregnancy is dangerous to treat. Any drug can adversely affect the formation of important human organs. Therefore, many experts first recommend improving well-being in a non-drug way. But in the absence of a positive effect for several days, nevertheless, sparing therapy is selected.

Nutrition Correction

In most cases, hypertension is formed due to increased stress on the body. An excellent preventive and therapeutic measure is a competent nutrition correction:

• Rule 1. You shouldn't overeat. Normally, a pregnant woman should gain 300-400 grams in 1 week. The larger the increase, the more negatively it will affect her he alth.
• Rule 2. Food should be lightly s alted. S alt retains fluid in the body, which leads to vasoconstriction, numbness of the extremities and swelling.
• Rule 3. It should ease the work of the heart. The body should receive only vegetable fats and light carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates and saturated fats are the most dangerous enemy for any organism. Man eating high caloriefood is prone to diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
• Rule 4. Potassium and magnesium have a beneficial effect on the joints. It is required to consume foods containing these substances.

Folk recipes

High blood pressure during pregnancy appears not only in the modern generation. Our grandmothers, great-grandmothers and further ancestors also experienced similar ailments. Of course, several decades ago there were no safe drugs suitable for women expecting a baby. Expectant mothers restored their he alth with folk remedies. The most popular among them have survived to this day.

Herbal decoction

1. Prepare a deep storage container.
2. Crush and pour the following components into it in equal proportions: rose hips, red viburnum, hawthorn; flowers of viburnum, calendula; blueberry shoots, heather; motherwort.
3. Take 2 tbsp. tablespoons prepared mixture.
4. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over them.
5. Steal the infusion in a water bath for 15 minutes.
6. Let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
7. Strain through a sieve or cheesecloth.

Useful herbal infusion can be taken daily at 100 ml 4 times a day. It is best to do this after meals. If desired, you can add honey to it. The general course of treatment can last up to 1.5 months.

Cranberry honey mix

1. Cook cranberry juice without adding sugar.
2. Measure half a glass of the total amount and pour into a freecapacity.
3. Mix with the same amount of honey.

During the day, you should consume 3 teaspoons of this remedy. It is recommended to drink it with plenty of water. The total duration of treatment is 14 days.

Dill decoction

1. Chop fresh or dry dill.
2. Place two tablespoons of scented herbs in the bottom of the thermos.
3. Pour the contents of 500 ml of boiling water.
4. Close the thermos with a lid. Let the infusion brew for 3 hours.
5. Strain the decoction.

This dill water should be drunk 6 times a day for ½ cup. The total course of treatment lasts 14 days.

He althy tea

1. Pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dry leaves of chamomile, sage, mint or lemon balm.
2. Pour boiling water over the container.
3. Infuse for 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Gently strain.

Ready-made herbal tea can be bought at the pharmacy. You can combine the main components. A he althy drink should be consumed 2-3 hours before bedtime. The general course of treatment is 1-2 months.

Folk methods are not always safe. It is mandatory to inform the doctor about the intention to be treated in this way.

Preventive measures

Hypertension is an unfavorable disease that many pregnant women have to face. Is it possible to insure yourself against its appearance? There are several preventive measures that prevent vasoconstriction.

1. Waitinga child is not a state in which a woman must constantly be in a lying or sitting position. If there is no threat of miscarriage, then you need to move more: walk in the fresh air, swim, do morning exercises, do yoga.
2. Be sure to get enough sleep. For normal well-being, you need to sleep from 7 to 8 hours a day.
3. It is worth protecting yourself from eating high-calorie foods.
4. It is not recommended to drink strong drinks: black tea, coffee.
5. Before going to sleep, you need to ventilate the room.
6. It is necessary that the food be fractional. It is required to divide the entire amount of food into 6 parts.
7. Give up bad habits. Forget drinking and smoking for 9 months.

On the forums of young and expectant mothers, you can often find reviews about high blood pressure during pregnancy. Many women claim that they followed the recommendations of specialists and, thus, were able to protect themselves from the onset of hypertension.

As for the treatment of the disease, almost all representatives of the beautiful half of humanity trust modern medicine (pills) more than folk remedies. There are mixed opinions about the second method. A few forum visitors believe that it is possible to take a healing tincture with increased pressure during pregnancy and the disease will recede. The majority of social media users claim that this is a safe method of treatment, but it is not effective.

Pregnancy is the most wonderful moment in every woman's life. Unfortunately, the happy expectation of the birth of a babyoften accompanied by the appearance of ailments. One of the most common and dangerous is high blood pressure. Take care of yourself and your little one. When the first symptoms of hypertension appear, immediately seek help from a specialist and take a course of treatment selected by him.