Your most asked questions on preeclampsia, answered by Dr. Shruti Garg Indoriya, Specialist Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Dubai London Hospital
1.What group of pregnancy women are more vulnerable to high blood pressure?
Preeclampsia is a condition that typically occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is a combination of raised blood pressure and raised protein in the urine.
Preeclampsia may occur during pregnancy, but the patient is at high risk if:
- The blood pressure was high before pregnancy
- The blood pressure was high in the previous pregnancy
- There are some medical conditions like kidney disorders, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus
- What signs of high blood pressure do pregnant women exhibit?
Preeclampsia is usually asymptomatic, but it can be detected at the routine antenatal appointment when the blood pressure is checked or the urine is tested.
The patient may present with symptoms of severe preeclampsia like headache, visual disturbance, pain below the ribs, and vomiting. These will need immediate medical attention.
- What complications does high blood pressure have for mothers?
Preeclampsia, when severe, can affect organs like the kidney and liver, and there can be clotting disturbances. It might even progress to seizures, which can sometimes be life threatening. It can cause growth restriction in the foetus and be a cause of preterm delivery and low birth weight babies.
- What unhealthful behaviour put pregnant women at high risk of blood pressure?
Lifestyle factors like lack of physical activity, weight gain, and unhealthy eating habits play an important role.
- What advise do you have for lowering blood pressure in pregnancy.
Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, learning stress management, performing exercises, taking antioxidants and calcium, and adhering to the medications prescribed by the doctor with regular antenatal visits will help to keep the blood pressure under control.
For more questions on preeclampsia or if you have any other maternity related concerns, book a consultation with our gynaecologists today by calling 800 352.
