New research has just come out that shows there’s an increased risk of elevated blood pressure if a woman suffers pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Actually, this medical condition could be experienced as early as a year after birth.
About Pre-Eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which a woman develops high blood pressure when she is pregnant. The amount of protein increases in the urine when a woman becomes pregnant, and this can cause elevated blood pressure. If it is not controlled, it could be life threatening to the baby and mother.
However, even if the blood pressure is controlled, the after effects of condition can lead to problem later after birth.
The problem is that blood pressure is usually not checked a year after birth. Most new mothers stop seeing the doctor after their follow up appointment shortly after delivery.
This means that high blood pressure goes unnoticed for as long as they don’t see a doctor.
A person with high blood pressure is seven times more likely to suffer from heart disease.
The percentage of women with high blood pressure after birth is high – 41 percent. This is a huge concern that needs to be addressed.
The other issue is that the blood pressure can increase and decrease. When woman had their blood pressure read inside of the clinic, it could be normal. When they left the clinic, it could be high. The sustained readings was only seen in 14.5 percent of the women. If in-clinic readings were looking at more than half of women’s high blood pressure reading would go unnoticed.
Going Forward
The researchers have this to say:
“Our findings suggest women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy should continue to monitor their blood pressure long after they’ve delivered their babies,” “It’s not only important to monitor blood pressure in the doctor’s office, but also at different times of the day and night, at home.” – Source
With this information, it will be easier to find women who are suffering from high blood pressure after delivery. This can save women’s lives.
If you’re a woman who has recently given birth or you have in the last year or more, have your blood pressure check regularly throughout the day. If you notice high blood pressure signs:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
If you notice any of these signs of high blood pressure, contact a medical professional as soon as possible. The effects of high blood pressure can damage your kidneys and heart. Take care of yourself, so you can take care of your baby.