Coping with pregnancy induced Hypertension

The increase in the blood pressure in the blood vessels above a certain medically fixed limit is termed hypertension. The oxygenated blood is pumped by the heart to the rest of the body where it is deoxygenated and returns back. The pumping exerts some pressure on the walls of the innumerable blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) which if increased can lead to major complications and may prove to be fatal too. It is unsettling that hypertension can lead to a number of other serious health disorders like coronary heart diseases, vision problems and can affect the kidneys too.

Stress is a major cause of high blood pressure and this rarifies the matter as the stress level during pregnancy is extremely high. This stress needs to be accepted, especially when one is pregnant as you do not have full control over your thoughts owing to the hormonal imbalance.

Hypertension in pregnancy is even riskier as it not only poses harm to the mother but also to the fetus. Many different forms of hypertension occur during pregnancy. Most women show an increased blood pressure during parturiency. This is an ugly situation and if not suitably countered and controlled, may have devastating consequences. One of the most severe aftermaths of hypertension in pregnant women is called pre-eclampsia. In this disorder, the blood pressure in the affected women becomes very high as compared to the normal standards. Other symptoms observed include pedal edema (or leg swelling) which makes it difficult for the expecting mother to do any sort of exercises (recommended by the doctor for the back and hip pains) and yoga. The swelling thus causes much inconvenience to the patient.

If this situation is left untreated, it can further give rise to eclampsia which can ultimately lead to coma during pregnancy. Many maternal deaths are a direct result of this disease. It is astonishing to see how a simple rise in the flow of blood can result in such disorders. This is why expectant women should be trained against the causes and prevention measures of hypertension.

The best way to reduce stress and thus hypertension is a technique called slow breathing. Slow and cadenced breathing is particularly good as it soothes the baby as well. This is its advantage over the other methods like yoga, drills and medications which are passive. Slow breathing is an active process and reduces high blood pressure in an effective way.

Thus, checking hypertension at the initial stages can be beneficial to you as well as your unborn. If it becomes severe then you might require medical delivery to control hypertension and its complications. A descriptive approach along with the expertise of a physician, an obstetrician and a neonatologist is generally required to ensure optimal care of a hypertensive mother.