How to Tackle Pregnancy High Blood Pressure

Pregnancy high blood pressure is perhaps the most common cause of worry for women preparing for motherhood. However, if the mother-to-be is aware of the factors that cause high blood pressure, she could guard herself and the baby from the ill-effects of high blood pressure.

How Does Blood Pressure Affect Pregnancy?

Often women prone to hypertension realize they have high blood pressure only when they are pregnant. If the mother is diagnosed to have blood pressure before pregnancy, she is suffering from chronic hypertension. Pregnancy high blood pressure caused by hypertension can slow baby's growth and hamper his/her health. Besides, women with chronic hypertension are more prone to be affected by pre-eclampsia.

What is Pre-eclampsia?

High blood pressure is a major sign of pre-eclampsia which can affect the woman's brain, eyes, and liver. This may lead to swelling in the hands and face, and result in high protein content in urine which could pose dangerous health risks. This could also lead to blurred vision, and cause headache and seizures which may result in the death of the mother and the baby.

Pre-eclampsia may also force the placenta to be separated from the uterine wall before delivery. This may result in heavy bleeding, threatening the lives of both the mother and the baby. Pregnancy high blood pressure can also progress to eclampsia, a condition where the patient collapses in to a coma.

Who Is More Likely to Develop Pre-eclampsia?

Women with hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma are more prone to develop pre-eclampsia. Those who are obese prior to pregnancy and pregnant women under the age of 20 or over the age of 40 are also more likely to develop high blood pressure.

How is Pre-eclampsia Treated?

Delivery is the only cure for pre-eclampsia. However, the doctor could take the woman to the delivery stage after assessing the severity of the pregnancy high blood pressure and the age of the baby inside the mother's womb. But, women who regularly consult doctors during pregnancy are less likely to develop high blood pressure. Doctors measure women's blood pressure during every visit. This helps them detect high blood pressure and suggest remedial measures.

Be Cautious

Prevention is better than cure. Women who are preparing to get pregnant are advised to eat less salt, participate in regular physical activities, and avoid alcohol and tobacco, besides visiting doctors regularly. This will help them counter pregnancy high blood pressure.

Hints To Help Pregnancy Constipation

Exercise is perhaps the best prevention for constipation. Even light to moderate walks go a long way in helping reduce constipation symptoms and make the would-be mother feel less bloated.

One must drink lots of fluids during pregnancy. A well hydrated body will not suffer from bouts of constipation. Patients are advised to ensure that correct calcium and vitamin supplements especially formulated for pregnant women are taken during this period. Some women may need stool softeners to help resolve pregnancy constipation, but one must not make this into a habit. It is often best to opt for natural or home remedies, one of which is to alternate between hot and cold foods and drinks. This helps tone the bowel and also help pass gas.

Constipation and pregnancy constipation are normal and often curable conditions. In fact, in most cases constipation resolves by itself after the birth of the baby. So take it as a passing inconvenience rather than a disease and you will sail through your pregnancy.