Can High Blood Pressure In Pregnancy Lead To Preeclampsia?

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For Zahra Aliakbar, pregnancy came with a lot of trouble. Little did she know that the joy of having a child would come with so many difficulties and health issues. The onset of third trimester brought with it new pregnancy symptoms, she knew little about.

Her blood pressure was high and she developed swelling in the legs and water retention also known as edema. Her family history of hypertension and diabetes may have caused gestational hypertension.

“I had high blood pressure in my 9th month. But luckily it was not that serious”, says Zahra. “I was even admitted for a few days and kept under observation”.

High blood pressure during pregnancy or gestational hypertension can be a problem and needs to be monitored. Around 10 to 25 percent of women with gestational hypertension can progress to having a condition called preeclampsia which damages organs. High blood pressure and protein in the urine are the main reasons which cause preeclampsia.

“In my last trimester, I had a lot of swelling and water retention on my face, hands, and feet. I was on medication to lower my blood pressure till I delivered my baby. This could have led to more complications, but thankfully it did not.”

– Zahra Aliakbar

Symptoms and Complications of Preeclampsia

It is characterized by swelling in the legs and water retention, but this can be hard to distinguish from a normal pregnancy. If preeclampsia is not treated it can develop to eclampsia, in which the mother can experience seizures, go into a coma, and can even die.

Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious complications for mother and the baby. Delivery of the baby is the best way to treat this condition but in some cases, it may take time for the mother to get better even after childbirth and in rare cases leads to a condition known as postpartum preeclampsia.

Swelling in feet — Swelling in the feet of a pregnant woman due to water retention

Blurry vision, sometimes seeing flashing lights, headaches, breathlessness, weight gain due to edema, vomiting, decrease in urine output are some of the symptoms to look out for if you are already having gestational hypertension.

The doctor may order blood tests, fetal ultrasound or non stress tests to check if there is decrease in platelets in the blood or impaired liver function or any restriction in fetal growth due to decreased blood supply to the placenta. Urine samples are collected over 12 hours or more, and the amount of protein is assessed to determine proteinuria. This can indicate the severity of the condition.

Causes and Cures

Though the exact causes of this condition are not known, experts say that the main reason is due to the narrowing of the blood vessels which may be caused due to a variety of reasons like damage to the blood vessels, insufficient blood flow to the uterus, immune system problems, genetic factors.

Though in most cases, delivering the baby is the best treatment, if you’re diagnosed with preeclampsia too early in your pregnancy, treatment or management protocol may include administering antihypertensive drugs, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids.

The doctor may also restrict physical activities and recommend bed rest to keep the blood pressure in control. Towards the end of pregnancy delivery may be hastened and labor is induced or a cesarean delivery is performed. Magnesium sulfate may also be given to improve uterine blood flow and prevent seizures.

Who is more at risk?

Family history, personal history of preeclampsia, women over 40 and teenagers are more likely to develop preeclampsia. Also certain conditions and illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, migraines, kidney disease and obesity, increase the risks. If a woman is expecting two or more babies, the risk is more.

Diet modifications

“Because blood pressure affects circulation, it can affect the amount of nutrients that are reaching the baby”, says Zahra who is also a nutritionist. “Therefore it is important to eat a nutrient-rich diet.Also include plenty of healthy foods like wholegrains, fish, nuts, legumes, fruit, vegetables and dairy products and foods rich in omega 3 are particularly important if someone has preeclampsia. Also abstain from fatty foods which may result in weight gain and oily foods which may cause indigestion, bloating and acidity”.

“Apart from some underlying causes for pre-eclampsia, the inevitable urges for certain kinds of food during pregnancy like spicy, sweet, sour, very often leads us to indulge in eating less nutritious food which triggers many gestational induced disorders like weight gain, gestational diabetes, and hypertension. So it’s best to curb the cravings and make conscious efforts to eat a healthy diet high in calcium magnesium Vitamin B and Vitamin D. Take regular supplements of the same. Avoid high salt foods like pizzas, pickles, potato chips, and such other processed foods, But it’s not recommended to follow a super low salt diet which may lead to water deficiency to the growing fetus”.

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PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), is a hormonal condition that can affect a women’s ability to have a child. It causes irregular periods, facial hair, acne, weight gain, and infertility. For women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), losing weight can become a constant struggle. A good way to deal with PCOS is to eat well and exercise regularly. Losing some body weight may ease some symptoms and regularise periods and manage blood sugar levels and ovulation. A good idea of what superfoods to choose and avoid in PCOS can help tremendously.

PCOS typically causes a rise in insulin in the blood. Insulin helps control blood glucose levels by signaling the liver and muscle and fat cells to take in glucose from the blood. An increase in insulin levels does not remove glucose from the blood, the body will store it in the tissues as fat. Eating more calories than the body needs will lead to excess glucose levels. Therefore approaching PCOS nutritionally is very important in managing it. With the right diet and exercise, one can combat the condition successfully.

There are certain foods known as superfoods that are not only healthy but also beneficial as they help in controlling PCOS may be due to their anti-inflammatory nature or because of their insulin-reducing properties. Some are rich in antioxidants which are required to fight this condition and including these in the diet is greatly beneficial.

Let’s take a look at some of these Superfoods that help manage PCOS

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been found to have an insulin-sensitizing effect and improve menstrual cyclicity in women with PCOS. It increases insulin sensitivity, improves menstrual cyclicity, acts as an effective appetite suppressant by improving satiety and delaying gastric emptying

Turmeric & Ginger

CURCUMIN, the active yellow pigment found in turmeric is an anti-inflammatory agent, has anti-depressant effects, and decreases insulin resistance. Ginger covers so much ground when it comes to PCOS – from inflammation to insulin resistance to hormone balancing.

Low GI foods and fruits

Consuming fruits and vegetables with a lower Glycemic Index can help as it causes a smaller spike in insulin and blood glucose levels compared to other carbs. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets, oats, pasta, and rice- when these carbs are cooked, the starch becomes more digestible, causing higher levels of insulin and blood glucose. Berries, apples, papayas, avocados, beans, greens are better choices.

Vitamin D, Calcium-rich food, or supplements

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to insulin resistance, difficulty ovulating, hirsutism (unwanted facial and body hair), high androgens, weight gain, and depression. Calcium helps to absorb vitamin D optimally so make sure you are taking enough of these in your diet and in case you are deficient, add them as supplements.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has a unique fat profile: its saturated fats are made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). It aids in weight loss; fats are broken down quickly to be used as energy rather than being stored. It contains lauric acid which has anti-inflammatory properties.

Aloe vera juice

This helps restore hormonal balance and improves insulin sensitivity and reverses impaired fasting and impaired glucose tolerance. It works to soothe inflamed tissues in the inner skin or the lining of the digestive tract.
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Nuts and seeds

Flaxseed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds pumpkin, and chia seeds are used in seed cycling for PCOD. It also helps stabilize blood sugar levels and helps control hunger by making us feel fuller. Nuts and seeds are also great sources of fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, and essential amino acids. The plant-based estrogens or lignans present in them help balance out excess androgens and help control abnormal hair growth in PCOD.

Zinc-rich foods

Zinc is beneficial for the reproductive system and immune system and helps control abnormal hair growth or hirsutism which is one of the symptoms of PCOD. Some foods which are naturally rich in zinc are beans, nuts, seafood, eggs, dairy, and seeds.

Fermented foods and Probiotics

Apple cider vinegar improves glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity by preventing any sharp spikes in blood sugars and aids in weight loss. PROBIOTICS are live cultures of healthy gut bacteria which improve gut health, reduce inflammation, and balances hormones. It normalizes the menstrual cycle, lowers androgen levels (like testosterone), and improves insulin resistance.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information and is not a substitute for a qualified medical opinion.