Health Guide

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Article Content:
The diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure) is different in pregnant women in compare to general population. Blood pressure in a pregnant woman should be checked in sitting position, because if blood pressure is taken in lateral recumbent position, as is the practice in general, blood pressure may be lower than in sitting position. The diagnosis of high blood pressure in pregnant woman requires measurement of at least two elevated blood pressure of at least 6 hours apart. Blood pressure of 140/90 mm of Hg is considered very high blood pressure during pregnancy as generally blood pressure is low during pregnancy due to reduction in vascular resistance. 140/90 mm of Hg is considered only mild hypertension in a normal subject, but in pregnant women the same pressure is considered very high blood pressure.

High blood pressure in pregnancy may cause intrauterine growth retardation, increased perinatal mortality etc. Pregnant women with hypertension are also at risk of development of medical problems like preeclampsia and abruptio placenta. To prevent the complications of hypertension, women with chronic hypertension should be thoroughly evaluated for to identify the remediable causes of hypertension and also to prevent adverse effects of anti hypertensive drugs during pregnancy.

Treatment of hypertension:

Pregnancy is an extraordinary situation and requires meticulous care in treating high blood pressure. The normally prescribed drugs for hypertension (ACE inhibitors like enalapril, angiotensin-receptor blockers like losratan) can not be used due to fear of development of fetal abnormality. The most commonly use antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy are alpha-Methyldopa, labetalol, and nifedipine, which have very little if any effect on growing fetus and considered safe during pregnancy. If the hypertension is due to pregnancy it will normalize after delivery.

Renal function should be evaluated to find out the chance of developing preeclampsia and to treat and manage early, should preeclampsia develop.

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