Pregnancy induced hypertension is the most usual problem to occur during your pregnancy. In fact two to three percent pregnant women have Pregnancy induced hypertension.
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Katie Hansen of El Monte, California had Pregnancy induced hypertension during her fourth pregnancy. She found out on her third prenatal checkup.
As she learnt, first pregnancy, a family history of preeclampsia in a first-degree relative, and time since your last pregnancy of less than 2 years or more than 10 years increase the likelyhood of Pregnancy induced hypertension.
Other factors that increase Pregnancy induced hypertension are chronic hypertension, diabetes with microvascular disease, renal disease, thrombophilia and obesity.
Pregnancy induced hypertension might not cause any symptoms. However, it can cause visual disturbances like scintillations (flashes of light) and scotomata (blind spots) - probably from spasm of cerebral arteries, upper abdominal pain from swelling and inflammation of the liver and rapid weight gain. Upper abdominal pain might suddenly occur and is usually constant and fairly severe. Headaches are often in the front, throbbing and similar to migrane headaches.
The danger of Pregnancy induced hypertension is that it can cause thromboembolism (blood clots), strokes, seizures, swelling of the liver which can cause liver failure, kidney failure, protein in the urine, placental abruption where the placenta detaches from the uterus and even death of the mother. In fact, from 1991 to 1999 over 15% of the deaths of women during pregnancy were caused by Pregnancy induced hypertension.
There are three forms of Pregnancy induced hypertension: Chronic Hypertension, Preeclampsia and Transient hypertension.
Chronic Hypertension
Most often occuring chronic hypertension has no other cause. But, it can be caused by kidney disease like polycystic kidneys, glomerular or interstitial disease, coarctation of the aorta, hormone problems such as adrenocorticosteroid or mineralocorticoid excess, pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, too much parathyroid hormone or even using oral contraceptives.
Preeclampsia
Nobody knows for sure what causes preeclampsia. One thing that we know is that it is caused by a problem with the inside lining of the blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to spasm. When the arteries get smaller, the blood pressure increases. The damage also causes the blood vessels to leak causing swelling. It can cause problems with the brain, lungs and kidneys. These changes also can cause lower blood flow to the growing baby.
Transient hypertension
The elevated blood pressure called transient hypertension just happens late in pregnancy. Then after delivery, the blood pressure goes back to normal. But, it probably increases your chances of getting high blood pressure later in life.
Pregnancy induced hypertension is one of the major reasons that you should keep your regular appointments with your doctor.
