Blood pressure (hypertension) is the pressure of the blood on the walls of the arteries. It is measured using a special device - a tonometer. There are certain norms of indications for certain categories of people: children, the elderly, pregnant women, etc. Expectant mothers are required to use a tonometer daily. Indeed, increased pressure during pregnancy is a threat to both her health and her baby.
Generally accepted indicators
The tonometer indicators will help establish what pressure a person has at a particular moment. There are generally accepted values for this:
- 110/70 -120/80 - the absolute norm.
- Below 110/70 - low blood pressure (hypotension).
- 120/80 - 140/85 - hanging pressure.
- From 140/85 - high blood pressure (hypertension).
Any deviations from the norm is a pathology. The patient needs the control of specialists and the most relaxed lifestyle. Often, pregnant women with high or low pressure are examined in a hospital and take medications.
Pressure indicators
People who use the tonometer know that after measuring the device displays three digital values.
The first digit is systolic pressure. In the people it is better known as the “upper” It characterizes the blood pressure during contraction of the heart and when released into the vessels.
The second digit is diastolic or lower pressure. This indicator characterizes the pressure at the moment when the heart is already filled with blood and is in a relaxed state.
The third digit is the pulse.
How to determine the pressure?
It is possible to determine the increased pressure during pregnancy only with a special device - a tonometer. There are two equipment options:
- The electronic tonometer has an automatic mechanism. Allows you to determine the pressure with maximum accuracy. To measure it, just put the camera on your hand and press the button. After about a minute, the value appears on the screen.
- The mechanical device is widely used in state medical institutions. Measurement is required to be carried out independently, listening to the beat of the heart in the interval between the upper and lower values.
Hypertensive patients can determine a deviation from the norm on their own without taking measurements for characteristic symptoms.
Symptoms
With the appearance of such a pathology, the patient's health noticeably worsens. There are several symptoms that appear with high blood pressure during pregnancy:
- Light dizziness. Many patients feel like they are passing out.
- Noise in ears. Often this symptom appears simultaneously with black dots in front of the eyes.
- Severe pain in the occipital region.
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the limbs.
- With high blood pressure, nasal blood and nausea may appear.
High blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to serious consequences for mom and her baby. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, it is necessary to check your suspicions with a tonometer and consult a specialist.
Causes of hypertension in the 1st trimester
Increased pressure during pregnancy in the early stages occurs only in units of patients. Such a disease can be associated with severe stress, overexertion, or insomnia. Many expectant mothers begin to worry about the upcoming birth.
In most cases, patients during the first trimester experience the opposite phenomenon - hypotension. The walls of blood vessels and muscle tone weaken due to the action of the hormone progesterone, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure.
Causes of hypertension in the 2nd trimester
Increased blood pressure during pregnancy in the second trimester can also be associated with excessive feelings and insomnia. The load on the body has increased slightly, so the disease can manifest itself in overweight people and those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Improper nutrition can also trigger a deterioration in health. The more the patient during the gestation period will consume fats and complex carbohydrates, the higher the likelihood that she will form hypertension.
Causes of hypertension in the 3rd trimester
Increased pressure during pregnancy in the later stages is far from uncommon. During this period, the load on the body increases exactly twice. Accordingly, the vessels narrow, and the heart begins to work in an enhanced mode. All this can provoke hypertension.
It is proved. In most cases, pressure rises in mothers with bad habits: smoking, alcohol.
What is dangerous?
Unfortunately, not all expectant mothers are anxious about their health. It is in vain! High blood pressure during pregnancy at any time may not lead to the most favorable consequences.
- High readings on the tonometer suggest that the vessels have noticeably narrowed, therefore, blood circulation in the body is difficult. The fetus receives less oxygen than it needs for full development. If hypertension is not treated for a long time, then gross pathologies can form.
- Due to impaired blood circulation, uterine cramps may begin. In most cases, this provokes premature birth.
- Elevated blood pressure can also lead to placental abruption.
- At high pressure it is very dangerous to give birth. Retinal detachment may occur due to a jump. The patient can instantly go blind.
If the pressure is increased from 38 weeks of pregnancy, then the specialist may decide to have an artificial birth in order to ease the state of health of the mother and baby. If it is possible to postpone labor, then until the baby is born, the mother will be under the constant supervision of medical specialists.
Inpatient or home treatment
What to do with high blood pressure during pregnancy? Of course, hypertension needs to be treated. And the sooner medical procedures are performed, the greater the patient's chances of avoiding adverse effects. Treatment can be carried out at home or in a hospital.
Cases when the patient is treated at home:
- If the pressure is not much higher than the permissible norm, it ranges from 120/80 to 140/85.
- If a pressure surge occurs once (due to emotional or physical overstrain). After a while, the indicators returned to normal.
Cases when a patient undergoes treatment in a hospital:
- The increased lower pressure during pregnancy is more than 85, and the upper is more than 140.
- The appearance of concomitant symptoms: numbness of the limbs, nausea, dizziness, or the appearance of blood from the nose.
- Repeated increase in pressure.
- Hypertension in the later stages.
If increased pressure is detected during pregnancy, in most cases the patient is hospitalized to reduce the risk of a miscarriage.
Non-drug methods
With increased pressure, it is necessary to ensure complete calmness for the patient. Ideally, she should take a horizontal position and sleep a little.
Any stress and emotional outburst can greatly aggravate the situation. You need to think only about the good. To get a positive charge it is recommended:
- Watch a good movie.
- Chat with positive people.
- Listen to classic tunes.
- Make light exercises (if there is no threat of miscarriage)
- Drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Eat your favorite meal or treat yourself to a slice of chocolate.
The most important rule is to try to relax and completely clear your head of unnecessary thoughts.
Medical methods
If non-pharmacological methods have not helped to improve the state of health, then the specialist is already choosing an effective therapy for a patient with hypertension. There are several maximally safe pills for high blood pressure during pregnancy:
- "Dopegit" - the drug is prescribed for abnormalities up to 28 weeks. It can be used further, but it will be less effective.
- If the health condition worsened after the second trimester, then it is allowed to take emergency medications that contribute to the normalization of well-being in a short period of time. These include: "Normodipine", "Nifedipine" or "Verapamil."
- In rare cases, Atenolol is prescribed. This drug is not safe, as it negatively affects the baby’s heart. It can be taken strictly under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist.
It is dangerous to treat high blood pressure during pregnancy in the early stages. Any drug can adversely affect the formation of important organs of a man. Therefore, many experts at first recommend improving their well-being in a non-drug way. But in the absence of a positive effect for several days, nevertheless, sparing therapy is selected.
Nutrition correction
In most cases, hypertension is formed due to increased stress on the body. An excellent preventive and curative measure is competent nutrition correction:
- Rule number 1. Do not overeat. Normally, a pregnant woman should gain 300-400 grams per week. The larger the increase, the more negative it will affect her health.
- Rule number 2. Food should be slightly salted. Salt retains fluid in the body, which leads to narrowing of blood vessels, numbness of the limbs and the appearance of swelling.
- Rule number 3. It should facilitate the work of the heart. Only vegetable fats and light carbohydrates should be ingested. Complex carbohydrates and saturated fats are the most dangerous enemy for any organism. A person eating high-calorie foods is prone to diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
- Rule number 4. Potassium and magnesium have a beneficial effect on the joints. It is required to use products that contain these substances.
Folk recipes
Increased pressure during pregnancy appears not only in the modern generation. Our grandmothers, great-grandmothers and further ancestors also experienced similar ailments. Of course, several decades ago there were no safe drugs suitable for women awaiting a baby. Expectant mothers restored their health with folk remedies. The most popular among them have survived to this day.
Herbal decoction
- Prepare a deep storage container.
- Grind and pour into it in equal shares the following components: rosehips, red viburnum, hawthorn; flowers of viburnum, calendula; shoots of blueberries, heather; motherwort.
- Take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of the prepared mixture.
- Pour them with 2 cups of boiling water.
- For 15 minutes, rinse the infusion in a water bath.
- Let it brew for 20-30 minutes.
- Strain through a sieve or cheesecloth.
Useful herbal infusion can be taken daily at 100 ml 4 times a day. It’s best to do this after eating. If desired, you can add honey to it. The general course of treatment can last up to 1.5 months.
Cranberry Honey Blend
- Cook cranberry juice without added sugar.
- Measure from the total number of half a glass and pour into a free container.
- Mix with the same amount of honey.
3 teaspoons of this remedy should be consumed during the day. It is recommended to drink plenty of water with it. The total duration of treatment is 14 days.
Dill broth
- Grind fresh or dry dill.
- Transfer two tablespoons of fragrant grass to the bottom of the thermos.
- Pour the contents of 500 ml of boiling water.
- Close the thermos lid. Let it brew for 3 hours.
- Strain the broth.
Such dill water should be drunk 6 times a day for ½ cup. The general course of treatment lasts 14 days.
Healthy tea
- Pour into a mug 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dried leaves of chamomile, sage, mint or lemon balm.
- Pour boiling water over the container.
- Insist for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Gently strain.
Ready-made herbal tea can be bought at the pharmacy. You can combine the main components. A healthy drink should be consumed 2-3 hours before bedtime. The general course of treatment is 1-2 months.
Alternative methods are not always safe. It is mandatory to inform the doctor about the intention to be treated in this way.
Preventative measures
Arterial hypertension is an adverse disease that many pregnant women have to face. Is it possible to insure yourself against its appearance? There are several preventive measures that prevent vasoconstriction.
- Expecting a child is not a condition when a woman must constantly be in a lying or sitting position. If there is no threat of a miscarriage, then you need to move more: walk in the fresh air, swim, do morning exercises, do yoga.
- Be sure to get enough sleep. For normal health per day, you need to sleep from 7 to 8 hours.
- It is worth protecting yourself from the use of high-calorie foods.
- Strong drinks are not recommended: black tea, coffee.
- Before going to bed, you need to ventilate the room.
- It is necessary that the food be fractional. It is required to divide the entire volume of food into 6 parts.
- Give up bad habits. Forget about taking alcohol and smoking for 9 months.
On forums of young and expectant mothers, you can often find reviews about high blood pressure during pregnancy. Many women claim that they followed the recommendations of specialists and, thus, were able to protect themselves from the appearance of hypertension.
As for the treatment of the disease, almost all the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity trust modern medicine (tablets) more than folk remedies. The opinions of the second method are mixed. Units of forum visitors believe that it is possible to take healing tincture with increased pressure during pregnancy and the disease will recede. The bulk of users of social networks claim that this is a safe method of treatment, but it is not effective.
Pregnancy is the most wonderful moment in the life of every woman. Unfortunately, the happy expectation of the birth of a baby is often accompanied by the appearance of ailments. One of the most frequent and dangerous is high blood pressure. Take care of yourself and your baby. If the first symptoms of hypertension appear, immediately seek help from a specialist and take a course of treatment selected by him.