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While you are pregnant, your body goes through various physiological and hormonal changes, which can be both internal and external. With so many changes going on, it is possible that you may incur some health problems, which could intensify the discomfort during pregnancy, and you may need medical care.
One of these problems is relative blood pressure. The physiological and hormonal changes can lead to either high or low pressure. However, it should not be too worried. Consult your doctor and follow all his instructions. In the meantime, read our post and get more information on blood pressure problems during pregnancy.
blood pressure while you are Changing Pregnant:
When is pregnant, it is normal for blood pressure levels to fluctuate than they normally are [1].
- During pregnancy, your body releases the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the walls of blood vessels. As a result, you will notice a decrease in the levels of blood pressure during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. If blood pressure tends to dip more than normal, you may feel dizzy when you stand up suddenly.
- While you are in the middle of pregnancy, the blood pressure is at its lowest. Do not worry, though, as you will slowly begin to increase, once you cross your 24th week of pregnancy. By the time you reach this stage, your body will already have produced about a liter of blood in there, that will help your heart pumps blood to all parts of the body. By the time you reach the last week of pregnancy, your blood pressure levels will begin to stabilize and reach their pre-pregnancy levels.
[Read: Tests To Take During Pregnancy]
What And 'high blood pressure during pregnancy?
High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure levels are higher than 140/0 mm Hg. Having high blood pressure during pregnancy can be a cause of concern, as it can lead to some health complications for you as well as the fetus than other women in pregnancy. If you have previously been a risk for high BP during pregnancy, be sure to tell your doctor about the same. The doctor can put you in a possible risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy. High blood pressure during pregnancy continues to be one of the major risk factors contributing to the death of the mother during pregnancy or at delivery.
[Read: Deal Fainting and Dizziness During Pregnancy]
The risks of high blood pressure during pregnancy:
Having high bp during pregnancy comes with a few risks health for both you and your child. Here are some conditions you should be aware of:
- If you have high blood pressure and crossed the 20th week of pregnancy, could turn into a condition known as preeclampsia [
- Preeclampsia is also known in the medical world as toxemia or hypertension that is induced due to a pregnancy.
- This is a serious condition that poses a significant risk of causing damage to many of your vital organs, including kidneys, and your brain.
- Sometimes, Preeclampsia is also accompanied by seizures, and the condition is known as eclampsia. This is a very serious condition that can also become life-threatening [2].
The doctor will be able to look for any warning signs of preeclampsia or eclampsia asking some questions as well as carrying out some tests. If you have any swelling in the hands and feet or suffer from frequent headaches, your doctor may suspect high blood pressure as the cause. You can also go for a urine test to check for traces and protein levels.
[ Read: Tips to maintain healthy weight during pregnancy ]
A word of Caution:
While It is pregnant, your doctor regularly measure and monitor your blood pressure to control levels. If, at any time, the blood pressure levels go higher than 140/0 mmHg, your doctor will immediately placed on alert for high blood pressure.
- It 'a bit' difficult to diagnose preeclampsia as compared to hypertension. Your doctor will ask you to verify and monitor the urine test results as well as read blood pressure levels. The combination of both results will help the doctor understand the possibilities or the risk of hypertension and preeclampsia.
- In some cases, your doctor may ask you to go for a non-stress test to check the health of your unborn child. It will help your doctor tell if your baby is moving as it should and if your unborn baby has a normal heart rate.
- Sometimes, the doctor may also suggest to go for. test that will help control the levels of your fluids and also determine the health of your unborn child
causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy:
There are various reasons that They may lead to high blood pressure during pregnancy. Here are a few reasons that you should look out for :.
- Having a healthy lifestyle, such as lack or very small amount of exercise and not being physically active at all
- being overweight or being obese.
- drinking or smoking before becoming pregnant or when you conceived.
- and 'important to follow a healthy lifestyle, both before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy, to avoid the risk of high blood pressure.
Preventing high blood pressure during pregnancy:
There are many health complications that are associated with having high levels of blood pressure during pregnancy. To keep your unborn child, as well as your health during these precious months, it is important that you take the appropriate steps to avoid the same. Here are some ways you can keep your blood pressure under control and prevent it from shooting up to dangerous levels:
1. Check your blood pressure levels before becoming pregnant:
- If you plan to start a family or if you are at an age when you can think of to get pregnant, be sure to make an appointment with your doctor and get your blood pressure levels tested.
- you can go to a regular general physician or even have an appointment with your gynecologist, both of which will be able to give a correct reading of your blood pressure levels.
- ask them if you have a tendency to have high blood pressure and also ask if the current blood pressure levels in a normal range or healthy.
- and 'can make use of self-monitoring kits that are available at most drug stores and help you to measure the blood pressure levels at home. However, it is always better to have it tested by your doctor to be sure that the result is accurate.
2. Reduce the level of salt intake:
- sodium can cause a significant increase in the pressure levels of the blood and is a potential danger to health, especially when you are already pregnant or trying to get pregnant [
- have a lot of salt or having foods that are high in sodium content make their pressure levels blood shoot faster and can be potentially dangerous.
- If you are used to sprinkle extra salt on your food, and even while you are cooking, resist it now. Keeping the levels of salt at a low level, instead of adding too. It may seem hard at first, and you can enjoy what you eat, but slowly your taste buds will adapt to the change and get used to having less amount of salt on a daily basis.
- To keep you healthy, it is possible to measure the consumption of salt every day and make sure that you have no more than the same. In case you end up having a little 'more than you should, you can always make up for it by cutting down on your salt intake while having your next meal. To make it easier, you can measure a teaspoon of salt at the beginning of your day and use only that much for the whole day for consumption.
3. Start exercising and getting physically active.
- exercising and being physically active is very important and you should make sure that you start following an active lifestyle even before you get pregnant
- Every time you start planning to have a baby, put a good deal of emphasis on your daily exercise and workouts. Talk to your doctor to figure out how much you should exercise before becoming pregnant, and what will be the best exercises for you to follow.
- If you are already pregnant, contact your doctor about the safe operation and ask how you can exercise. The doctor will also be able to advise you on the types of exercises that you can safely perform and which ones you should stay away from during pregnancy.
- While you may not want to exercise during pregnancy and may feel very tired or sleepy, it is still important to get up and exercise. It may seem a bit 'difficult at first, but once you get into the habit of exercising, you will soon realize that this is something you begin to look forward to.
- do not exercise can also make you overweight and obese, a condition that can significantly increase the chances of getting high blood pressure or hypertension.
4. Understanding about the drugs you are taking:
- during pregnancy or while you are trying to conceive, there are some medications that must be taken to keep health under control. Be sure to inform your doctor about any medication you take or have taken in the past by and also inform them about the dosage and duration that you have taken, or if you are still continuing with the same.
- There are some drugs that may increase the risk of high blood pressure or can interact with other medications and make you prone to getting high blood pressure. While some medications, even over the counter ones, may seem harmless, especially while you are still just trying to conceive, they can increase the chances of being affected by high levels of blood pressure.
- When you know that you are planning to get pregnant, avoid taking any medication without first asking your doctor about it. Although it is an over the counter medications, make sure you first check about the same with your doctor and ask if it is safe.
- If you are already suffering from high blood pressure or if you know that there is a history of high blood pressure in your family, you should also mention the same with your doctor and check about the safety of any medications you take. If your doctor has set up a high risk of high blood pressure, you should follow the same rules regarding the medications you are taking.
- It 's always best to first get your blood pressure levels under control and then start trying to conceive or get pregnant. However, if you are already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the medications you can safely take during pregnancy that will help keep your blood pressure levels under control.
[Read: Is It Safe To Take Labetalol During Pregnancy]
5. Do not miss any prenatal checkup Appointments:
- When you are pregnant, it is very important to make sure you go to each prenatal appointment that your doctor has estimated [
- you may feel that your doctor is simply the same thing over and over again in all these events, but it is still very important to be there, as it will help your doctor keep track of your levels, including blood pressure levels.
- If you are prone to having high blood pressure or time when you show the first signs of having high levels of blood pressure, your doctor will be able to find it in these appointments prenatal checkup. Be sure to be there for all appointments. In case you know in advance that you will not be able to do so on a particular date, ask your doctor to schedule a few days before or after. In case you miss an appointment for any reason, call your doctor and make an appointment as soon as possible.
- To keep a constant track of your blood pressure levels, especially if you have high levels of blood pressure, you can also buy a home kit that will help you monitor the levels in comfort of your home. Ask your doctor to teach you how to do it correctly and how to check the readings.
[Read: Is It Safe To Take Propranolol During Pregnancy]
6. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol:
- tobacco smoking and drinking alcohol can cause a spike in blood pressure levels
- If you are already planning to get pregnant. , Completely on reducing smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Also, avoid second-hand or passive smoking, as it is just as bad for your unborn child, and can have a negative impact on your blood pressure levels.
what is low blood pressure during pregnancy?
as well as some women have high levels of blood pressure while they are pregnant, it is also natural to have low levels of blood pressure during pregnancy. Low blood pressure is also known in medical terms as hypotension. Even though the levels may vary from person to person, the levels at which the blood pressure will be considered low is 0 mmHg or less at the top of the blood pressure reading or 60 mmHg or less in the lower part of the blood pressure reading. There are various reasons that may lead to low blood pressure during pregnancy. Although it is easily treatable, it is important to understand the reason for your low blood pressure, so that you can be given the right kind of treatment.
What could cause low blood pressure in pregnancy?
The level of blood pressure is the direct result of how much pressure you have in the arteries while the heart rate is active and is in its resting phase. Here's a look at why the blood pressure levels can vary:
- The blood pressure levels may have a low and even lower reading, even as a short duration of the gap between two heartbeats.
- the way you are lying down or sitting, and the general way in which you placed your body.
- your general breathing pattern
- , or if you are not stressed and overall levels of stress
- All the medicines you are taking or have taken in the recent past
- what you eat and drink throughout the day and what you had before you do the test
- in most cases, you will have a lower blood pressure reading at night, while it will be higher when you just woke up in the morning.
- for conditions related to the heart, may also cause a significant dip in blood pressure levels.
- Various thyroid problems, such as diabetes, low levels of blood sugar (also known as hypoglycemia), adrenal insufficiency (also known as Addison's disease).
- If you are dehydrated, your body starts to lose water faster than it can replenish the same. In some cases, even if it is very slightly dehydrated, it can cause a significant dip in the blood pressure levels. Some triggers, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever or even too much exercise or being exhausted can lead to dehydration [3].
What are the risks of low blood pressure while you are pregnant?
While low blood pressure is not as dangerous as having high blood pressure, there are still some health risks that come with it, especially when you are pregnant. Here are some things you should look out for:
- When you have low blood pressure, you have a greater chance of feeling weak and dizzy, which can make you prone to fall and hurt themselves. This is an extremely dangerous situation during pregnancy, as it can damage the unborn child and you and cause internal damage.
- A severe drop in blood pressure can also reduce the oxygen supply to the body, as a result of which the body may not be able to perform several important functions. It 'also a very dangerous situation for his unborn child, as there will be less or no oxygen supply to the baby and can cause considerable damage to the baby's brain and heart.
[ Read: Diet Chart For Pregnant Women ]
How To prevent low blood pressure while you are pregnant?
And 'normal for blood pressure levels to dip during pregnancy, but there are some preventive measures you can take to avoid the same. Here are some things that you can follow that will reduce the chances of low blood pressure during pregnancy:
- Make sure that you lie on your left side as much as possible, as it will help increase the level of blood flow to the heart
- Avoid making sudden movements, like suddenly getting up from a sitting or lying position. Instead, hold onto something and stand up very slowly.
- Break up your meal plan in a lot of small meals that will keep you eat throughout the day. Avoid having three large meals and instead have six or seven small meals, depending on how hungry you are. Also, make sure you have some healthy snacks in between so that you do not feel the pangs of hunger.
- consume lots of water and fluids.
Your blood pressure can go through a lot of fluctuating levels during pregnancy, but make sure you take the right steps to keep it under control. Talk to your doctor and always discuss the same prenatal appointments.
Moms, you had high blood pressure or low, while you were pregnant and that everyone did the doctor advise you to do? Do not share your tips to help fellow moms. Leave a comment below
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