Hypertension and the Hidden Risk Beyond Your Blood Pressure Checks
Description
Many changes during pregnancy affect your cardiovascular system, which includes your heart and blood vessels. Some fluctuations in blood pressure are expected, but hypertensive disorders are still one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy include chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, HELLP, and eclampsia. High blood pressure during pregnancy can place significant stress on your heart and kidneys. This can contribute to heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. It also increases the risk of preterm birth, placental abruption, and cesarean birth. When blood pressure is too high, it can reduce blood flow to the placenta and limit the oxygen and nutrients available to your baby. This is why your care provider monitors your blood pressure so closely throughout pregnancy.
Most pregnancy-related conditions resolve after birth, but the risk from hypertensive disorders does not end when your baby arrives. Mothers can develop dangerous symptoms in the days and weeks after birth, even if their blood pressure was normal throughout pregnancy. Recognizing warning signs and seeking medical attention right away can be life-saving.
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Article and Resources
Hypertension
Hypertension is high blood pressure. The issue with high blood pressure is that the force of blood flowing through your veins is too high. That requires your heart to work harder. According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. Usually, there are no obvious symptoms. Over time, this can damage the circulatory system and is a significant contributing factor to heart attack, stroke, and other health threats. Hypertensive disorders affect as many as 10% of all pregnancies worldwide. They are responsible for approximately 10% of all maternal deaths in the United States.
The majority of pregnancy-related conditions disappear after you have your baby. Mothers remain at risk for hypertensive disorders after they have their baby, even if they have no symptoms during pregnancy. Your ability to recognize warning signs and promptly seek medical attention can potentially be life-saving.
Testing Your Blood Pressure
You can expect your care provider to test your blood pressure with a blood pressure cuff at each prenatal appointment. This goes around your arm, and they pump it up with air to cut off the blood flow. The air is slowly released, and your blood starts flowing again. Two measurements are taken of your blood flow, measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The systolic reading is how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when the heart beats. The diastolic reading is how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls while the heart rests between beats. These two numbers are combined to give you a number like 120/80 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic). Ideally, your blood pressure is below 140/90 mm Hg.
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</figure>How Your Cardiovascular System Changes in Pregnancy
Many changes during pregnancy affect your cardiovascular system, which includes your heart and blood vessels. Some cardiovascular changes can be noticeable as spider veins or varicose veins. Spider veins are tiny red or bluish veins that most often appear on your legs. Other than changing the appearance of your skin when they are visible, they are painless. Varicose veins are more prominent, protruding veins. Varicose veins have the potential to be uncomfortable for some women who experience them. See this episode for more information on the prevention and treatment of spider and varicose veins.
During pregnancy, you increase your blood volume by up to 45%. As a result, your heart has to work harder to circulate that extra blood. Your heart rate increases during pregnancy by 10 to 20 beats per minute, a 20% to 25% increase. Hormonal changes dilate and relax your veins. This causes your blood pressure to decrease early in your pregnancy through the second trimester. Then increase in the third trimester and postpartum.
Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
While some changes in blood
United States
