Preeclampsia
High blood pressure during pregnancy is a risk for both mother and baby. Fortunately, preeclampsia and hypertension can be managed and treated with regular prenatal checkups. These checkups involve blood pressure monitoring and urine checks. In severe cases, blood pressure medication can be given to the expectant mother.
Hypertension is a condition that raises blood pressure. The environment can also contribute to increased blood pressure. Getting checked by a doctor can help you detect the signs of what hypertension causes early and prevent further damage to the body. Blood pressure levels vary throughout the day, so a blood test is a good idea. In addition, a doctor can look for the effects of elevated blood pressure on various organs.
Diagnosis for preeclampsia is based on two elevated blood pressure readings taken at least six hours apart. Blood tests are also done to assess kidney and liver function. High levels of creatinine in the blood can indicate preeclampsia. In addition, urine tests can evaluate the protein excretion rate.
If preeclampsia occurs in a pregnant woman, the pregnancy can cause a variety of complications, including damage to the placenta and blood vessels. Seizures and proteinuria are also common. In severe cases, preeclampsia can even lead to intrauterine fetal death.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease (www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms-causes), and stroke. It is also the leading preventable cause of death and disability worldwide. The healthy range of blood pressure is 120 to 80 mmHg. Blood pressure readings of 130 or more are considered high blood pressure and should be treated immediately.
High blood pressure is the result of the pressure of blood against the walls of the blood vessels and arteries. When this pressure becomes too high, the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It can even damage the blood vessels and cause vision problems.
High blood pressure is a common ailment that affects one in every nine Americans. It increases as a person ages, and a family history of high blood pressure increases your risk even further. Women tend to be more susceptible to developing high blood pressure during their later years than men.
Diastolic blood pressure
Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure inside the arteries when the heart rests in between beats. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80. But if your reading is higher than that, you may have a hypertensive crisis and should call your doctor.
Diastolic blood pressure can be lowered with lifestyle changes and medications. However, it must be part of the overall blood pressure reduction plan. Hence, it is important to consult a doctor to determine the best treatment plan for your condition.
One particular study, you can read about here, analyzed changes in blood pressure levels between hypertension and prehypertension patients over a period of five and ten years. The researchers found that a negative relationship was noted between diastolic blood pressure and plasma estradiol concentration.
Genetic predisposition to high blood pressure
Genetic predisposition to high blood pressure is a risk factor that is passed on from parents to children. While genetics cannot be controlled, it plays an important role in the likelihood of developing high blood pressure. Having a parent or a grandparent with high blood pressure significantly increases your risk.
In the study, participants with low genetic risk had lower SBP than those with high genetic risk. Similarly, participants with favorable lifestyles had lower SBP than those with high genetic risks. However, those with high genetic risk had significantly higher SBP and DBP compared with those with low genetic risk.
In the largest genetic study of blood pressure, Queen Mary University and Imperial College London analyzed over one million people to identify genes that increase the risk of high blood pressure. The researchers found that a significant number of genes are involved, explaining almost a third of the risk of high blood pressure.
Treatment options
During the early stages of hypertension, lifestyle changes can lower your blood pressure. In addition to lifestyle changes, certain medications may also be prescribed to lower your blood pressure. These include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and beta blockers.
However, these medications do not lower your blood pressure in the long term, and they are only useful to lower your pressure when you’re already at risk for cardiovascular complications. Depending on your condition, lifestyle changes may be the best way to reduce your blood pressure.
For instance, you may need to quit smoking and increase your physical activity. Similarly, you may need to limit your alcohol intake and decrease your salt intake. If you don’t want to stop smoking or reduce your salt intake, your physician may prescribe medications like beta-blockers and diuretics.
