Pregnancy hypertension source of other chronic conditionsDuring pregnancy, most changes are noted in a pregnant woman. The obvious being, the growth of belly bumps and other things like craving for certain foods, which are normal and harmless. There are two other changes are high blood pressure and diabetes, which may have a long lasting effect on the heart health.

The development of high blood pressure during pregnancy is known as preeclampsia. This condition normally starts the 20th week of pregnancy it affects the placenta the mothers liver, kidney and brain. It causes the mother to have seizures a condition that is called eclampsia. It is the second leading cause of death among the pregnant women in USA. It causes fatal complications such as underweight birth, stillbirth, and premature birth.

Who are more likely to develop preeclampsia?

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  • Women with chronic hypertension before the pregnancy
  • Women who have developed preeclampsia in previous pregnancy, especially if the problems occurred early in the pregnancy.
  • Women who are obese prior to the pregnancy
  • Women who are pregnant with more than one baby

Unfortunately, there is no single known test that is known to cure preeclampsia key signs include the following increased blood pressure and proteinuria (protein in urine)

Pregnancy related diabetes is known as gestational diabetes. It also increases the chance of the woman having heart disease in the middle age. Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to deliver overweight babies.

Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are different from the normal high blood pressure and normal diabetes in that they are cured on the delivery. According to the Avon longitudinal study, it is important to take heart tests, especially during your pregnancy. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and other related pregnancy could be an indication of an underlying problem that will eventually lead to heart complications in the future. Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes also affect the women babies.

How can the women with preeclampsia and high blood pressure prevent problems during pregnancy?

Before pregnancy

  • Make sure that your blood pressure is absolutely under control. This can be done by limiting the amount of salt you take, participating in exercises, and making efforts to lose weight if you are overweight.
  • Discuss how the gestational diabetes can affect your pregnancy and the step you can take to lessen the effect
  • If you take medicine for high blood pressure or diabetes, then you should ask your doctor about the amount that you should take or if you should stop taking them.

During the pregnancy

  • Seek regular prenatal care
  • Avoid taking alcohol and tobacco
  • Talk to your doctor about any over the counter medicine that you are thinking of taking.

If developed preeclampsia or gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, then it’s good to talk with your doctor so that they can track your blood sugar and blood pressure over the years. You might need to pay more attention to them more than someone who went through her pregnancy without the complications. Also keeping your pressure, cholesterol, weight may be especially important.