Carrying a baby? This is a difficult, but quite pleasant process of waiting for the birth of your beloved baby. When you are in an interesting position, your body undergoes enormous changes that can affect the health of the expectant mother. It happens that doctors or you yourself detect high blood pressure during pregnancy. Dangerous? Or, perhaps, there is no need to panic, because this is a completely normal process? We will look into this issue in our article.
Hypertension during pregnancy: norms and deviations
Every woman should know her usual blood pressure (BP). For some it may be lower than 120/80, for others it may be slightly higher.
When visiting your leading gynecologist, your blood pressure is measured every time. Of course, such manipulations are not carried out without reason - excessively high blood pressure can signal an unfavorable condition for the patient and the fetus.
Normal blood pressure during pregnancy varies between 100/60-140/90. An increase in this indicator by 15% shows the following picture:
- blood vessels constrict
- there is excessive strain on the heart muscle
- the fetus stops growing due to lack of oxygen
- placental insufficiency may develop
- Cases of placental abruption in the early stages have been recorded.
Consequences
Arterial hypotension can manifest itself as a symptom of another disease, for example, a heart attack, disorders of the adrenal glands, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
If the heart does not cope with its function fully and does not push blood with the required force, this negatively affects the functioning of all organs and systems of the body . If you do not seek help, irreversible pathological processes may develop, even leading to death.
Hypotension can lead to the following complications:
- blurred vision;
- memory impairment;
- cardiac dysfunction;
- change in coordination of movements;
- decreased physical endurance;
- loss of consciousness.
The most dangerous consequence of a sharp decrease in blood pressure is cardiogenic shock. It manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- the skin becomes very pale and cold;
- a marble pattern appears on the skin;
- cyanosis of the lips is noted;
- concerned about tachycardia, shortness of breath, weakness;
- increased anxiety, fear of death;
- loss of consciousness.
Cardiogenic shock can be fatal, so it is necessary to call an ambulance as quickly as possible.
Causes of high blood pressure in expectant mothers
Hypertension during pregnancy can occur due to the influence of various factors. Among the most common causes, doctors identify:
- genetic predisposition
- nervous shock
- alcohol and smoking abuse during pregnancy
- dysfunction of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland, as well as diabetes mellitus
- poor nutrition
- obesity.
Of course, to record the increase in pressure, you can use a tonometer, which will accurately determine your blood pressure. If this is not at hand, hypertension can be identified by the appearance of tinnitus, poor health, and the appearance of “energy floaters.” before the eyes and covering the face with red spots.
Prevention
If there are a sufficient number of medications for the treatment of hypertension, then in the case of hypotension the choice is more modest. The main preventive measures are aimed at normalizing lifestyle, regimen and nutrition. Follow these guidelines:
- Proper nutrition. The diet should contain enough fresh fruits and vegetables, protein products. It is recommended to give up fatty, fried, fast food, and soda.
- Active lifestyle. Find time for light exercises even during your workday.
- Adequate rest - you need to sleep at least eight hours a day.
- It is important to give up bad habits.
And also read on our website what to do if your blood pressure is: 90 over 50 , 90 over 60 , 90 over 70 and 100 over 50 ?
What does high blood pressure indicate in the 1st and 3rd trimester?
If in the early stages the pressure reaches 140/90, and such an increase is observed regularly, then we can talk about the presence of hypertension associated with the course of pregnancy itself and disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system.
Frequent high blood pressure in the 3rd trimester may indicate gestosis, which impairs blood flow and the functioning of individual organs. In the risk group, gynecologists include women who have infections, intoxication of the body, and nervous disorders.
Negative manifestations of high blood pressure:
- cardiac arrhythmia
- constant swelling
- vision problems
- constant weakness
- placental abruption
- rejection of the fetus by the female body (in addition to high blood pressure, increased protein in the urine and excessive weight gain are added).
Features of pressure fixation during pregnancy
It is better to take a manual device, since automatic ones tend to slightly distort the results. It is recommended to take measurements at the same time of day - this is due to the body’s biologically active clock and hormonal fluctuations. There are a number of rules that must be followed during daily blood pressure measurements.
You should not start the measurement procedure immediately after physical activity or exercise that leaves you feeling tired. Adrenaline is still produced in the blood, increasing blood pressure by 5–10 units. Even if a woman feels tense after a walk or washing the dishes, she needs to wait a quarter of an hour and only then take the blood pressure monitor.
Do not measure blood pressure after a hearty meal - the digestive system is activated and blood volume is redistributed. As a result, the numbers on the device will be incorrect. The measurement is carried out 30–40 minutes after eating food. Take measurements an hour after drinking coffee or strong tea.
Since normal blood pressure during pregnancy is individual, the expectant mother, starting from 13–14 weeks, should record tonometer readings daily
Take a sitting position during the procedure, do not talk, laugh or eat. The blood flow in the artery of the shoulder must be full; for this, the hand is placed on the table top. If the pressure is measured lying on your side, this will significantly distort the result. Take measurements on both arms in the first few days. Once it is determined on which hand the pressure is recorded higher, measure only on it.
If a woman does not have a history, she does not suffer from cardiovascular diseases and feels well, her blood pressure can be measured once a week. If there are problems, measurements must be taken daily and the resulting numbers recorded in a notebook - this will help the attending physician decide on the need for hospitalization and the prescription of antihypertensive drugs.
How to treat?
There are the following ways to lower blood pressure:
- taking pills (read the instructions carefully or consult a leading gynecologist - Papazol, Egilok, Dopegit and others)
- avoiding stress (for example, you can do yoga for pregnant women)
- traditional medicine (decoctions based on rose hips, dill seeds, taking pumpkin with honey)
- preparation and consumption of vitamin cocktails (beetroot, pomegranate, carrot, pumpkin and cranberry juice)
- exclusion from food of spicy, salty and sweet foods, as well as coffee and chocolate
- place some support under your feet when you are lying down and resting
Thus, eliminating high blood pressure will not be difficult. You just need to undergo an examination and consult with your doctor.
What to do if blood pressure is 90/40?
At the first manifestations of hypotension, it is recommended to take appropriate measures , since in the early stages it is easier to prevent the negative impact of reduced pressure on the body. It is important to contact a specialist as soon as possible who will prescribe adequate treatment.
For low blood pressure, therapy rarely begins with medication. First, it is necessary to adjust the patient’s lifestyle. If this does not produce results, then traditional medicines and traditional medicine are used. Sanatorium-resort treatment has a beneficial effect on the patient’s health.
When low blood pressure provokes dizziness, nausea, general weakness, severe headaches, then drugs based on caffeine or other substances that have a stimulating effect are used.
If your blood pressure begins to drop sharply at home, you need to provide first aid before the ambulance arrives. It is as follows:
- The patient must be laid down by placing a pillow or cushion under his feet.
- Unfasten the collar and straps.
- Provide enough air - open a window or turn on a fan.
- When it is hot, the patient should be moved to the shade.
In this case, you should not pour cold water on the person or let them sniff ammonia - this will worsen the condition.
If the patient is admitted to the hospital department, then in addition to medications, oxygen baths, electrophoresis, and hydrotherapy are prescribed.
And also read on our website: What do pressure readings of 140 over 60 mean, is this normal, why is it dangerous and what should the elderly and pregnant women do?
The following medications are indicated:
- Drugs that increase cardiac output, such as caffeine, arteriol, askofen.
- Remedies with a calming effect - tincture of valerian, motherwort, peony.
- Multivitamin complexes.
There are a number of folk recipes that help in the fight against hypotension. The simplest thing is a piece of refined sugar with the addition of a few drops of cognac. Sugar must be absorbed slowly. Salt works the same way. A pinch is poured onto a small cracker and gradually dissolved.
To improve blood circulation, use the following traditional medicine tips:
- Drink 100 ml of fresh red grape or pomegranate juice every day. They help raise hemoglobin.
- In the morning on an empty stomach, take 30 drops of lemongrass leaf ether - this will help normalize blood circulation.
- On an empty stomach in the morning, drink 5 ml of tincture of Eleutherococcus or ginseng.
- A combination of honey and cinnamon helps. Honey is spread on a slice of bread, sprinkled with a pinch of spice on top.
- St. John's wort works well for hypotension. 10 g of crushed herb should be brewed with 0.5 liters of boiling water, let it brew for an hour, then strain. Drink 50 ml twice a day.
If you lead a hypodynamic and predominantly sedentary lifestyle, then you need to periodically go for walks and do light exercises. Take care of proper nutrition, give up unhealthy foods and eat food rich in vitamins and beneficial microelements.
Contrast showers have a positive effect on the treatment of hypotension. You need to start with temperatures that are comfortable for the body, gradually increasing the difference between hot and cold water by one degree. The procedure is completed with cold water, then you need to thoroughly dry and rub the skin with a hard towel.
Symptoms
Among the manifestations of hypotension in pregnant women are:
- insomnia
- increased sensitivity to heat or cold
- cardiopalmus
- nausea
- feeling of lack of air
Also, pregnant women with low blood pressure complain of ringing in the ears, headaches, causeless fatigue, drowsiness, physical and mental fatigue, hunger, and stress. Low blood pressure is also indicated by the vagaries of a pregnant woman, depression, and mood swings. But the last listed signs do not necessarily indicate low blood pressure. They are, in principle, typical for many pregnant women due to changes in the hormonal levels of the body.
