Why Pregnancy Cause High Blood Pressure

Why Pregnancy Cause High Blood PressureSeveral factors cause high blood pressure during pregnancy. Differentiating between high blood pressure that began before the pregnancy from high blood pressure that starts during the pregnancy is important because the consequences are completely different.

If you’re thinking of becoming pregnant in the near future, get a blood pressure measurement and record it. Then, if your blood pressure is high during your pregnancy, you and your doctor will know whether the reading is new or has been at that level for awhile.

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"The Silent Killer" is High Blood Pressure

     People who have high blood pressure typically don’t know it until their blood pressure is measured.High blood pressure usually causes no symptoms.Thus, high blood pressure often is labeled "the silent killer."Even if high blood pressure does cause symptoms, the symptoms are High-Blood-Pressureusually mild and nonspecific (vague, or suggesting many different disorders).

    Sometimes people with high blood pressure have thefollowing symptoms: Headache , Dizziness , Blurred vision , Nausea.

Chronic High Blood Pressure Symptoms:Heart attack , Heart failure , Stroke or "mini stroke" (transient ischemic attack, TIA) ,Kidney failure ,Eye damage with loss of vision , Peripheral arterial disease ,Outpouchings of the aorta, called aneurysms .

Malignant Hypertension Symptoms:

1.In malignant hypertension, the diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) often exceeds 140 mm Hg.

2.Malignant hypertension may be associated with headache, light-headedness, or nausea.

3.This degree of high blood pressure requires emergency hospitalization and lowering of blood pressure to prevent brain hemorrhage or stroke.

General tips for controlling blood pressure include the following:

1.Maintain a healthy weight.Lose weight and keep it off.

2.Quitting smoking (A Quit Smoking Tip) and moderating alcohol consumption will also help keep your blood pressure in the healthy range.

3.Reduce sodium (salt) intake.

4.Take medicines as directed.

5.Eat a nutritious, low-fat diet.

6.Exercise regularly.

7.Get your blood pressure checked periodically. Consider getting an accurate and easy-to-use home monitor.

8.Take your blood pressure medications as directed, even if you’re feeling fine.

9.Reduce stress and practice relaxation: Physical activity will help with this.