Consequences of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Aug 20
11:08

2012

Adelisa Neumark

Adelisa Neumark

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Some women can develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, which is dangerous both for the mother and baby. Read this article to learn about the various complications that can develop as a result of high blood pressure.

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Blood pressure is the measure of force of blood that it exerts against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure,Consequences of high blood pressure during pregnancy Articles better known as hypertension, occurs when the pressure in your arteries becomes very high. As a result, too much of stress is placed on heart and the possibility of developing fatal cardiovascular problems increases. Some women already have high blood pressure before pregnancy, while some women can develop high blood pressure during pregnancy. This condition is also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension. This can prove to be extremely harmful both for the baby and the mother. It is advisable to seek prescription medications for treating high blood pressure.

 Complications as a result of hypertension during pregnancy

Women having high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely to experience these complications:

  • Premature birth
  • : Hypertension can cause an early birth of child i.e. before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy. 
  • Low birth weight
  • : The condition of hypertension can cause a baby to weigh less than 5 pounds because it can narrow blood vessels in the womb. This might keep your baby away from getting enough oxygen and nutrients for required to grow. 
  • Placental abruption
  • : This condition can cause the separation of placenta from the uterine wall before birth. This might prevent your baby from getting enough oxygen and nutrients. The most common symptom of this condition is vaginal bleeding. If you experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, notify your doctor immediately. 

Most of the women do not experience any symptoms of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Hence, it is important to monitor your cholesterol and blood pressure at every visit. If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy, you can manage it with regular physical activity, healthy diet and prescription medications. You should also quit smoking as smoking is considered harmful for people with hypertension. Amlodipine, an effective treatment for hypertension, helps in lowering blood pressure by acting as a calcium channel blocker. It is also a suitable treatment for patients who suffer from angina or chest pain. Amlodipine can be purchased in dosage strength of 5mg or 10mg. However, you need to consult a doctor to determine the most suitable dosage strength for you and whether it’s safe for you to use during pregnancy.

The smooth muscles of the artery walls contract with the help of calcium.  This calcium is transferred to the muscles though particular calcium channels. People who suffer from hypertension have narrow blood vessels due to which extra pressure is put on heart. Amlodipine tablets helps in inhibiting these calcium channels due to which the calcium can move freely within these smooth muscles. This results in less contraction of arterial smooth muscles and the heart does not have to work harder. This medication does not cause many serious side effects. The common side effects are very mild and include headaches, nausea, tiredness, abdominal pain, fluid retention heart palpitations and exhaustion. For a quick and convenient way to get your treatment you can go through any of the licensed online clinics so that you can have a quick online consultation with a doctor or medical professional.