Top seven Ways to Support Healthy Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Are you pregnant or planning to become pregnant? Even if you've never had high blood pressure, it's time to think about it. High blood pressure is linked to roughly half of all pregnancy complications, such as having a preterm baby. Complications from pregnancy also increase your risk of developing heart disease later in life. However, many pregnancy complications can be avoided. Even if you start your pregnancy with a healthy blood pressure of less than 120/80 mm Hg, you may develop a high blood pressure during or immediately after pregnancy. One complication is gestational hypertension, defined as blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. It usually happens around 20 weeks of pregnancy or near the end of the pregnancy. Preeclampsia is another condition that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy and combines high blood pressure with other signs that your organs aren't working correctly, such as high protein levels in your urine. Severe cases can result in life-threatening seizures or comas, known as clamps. Here are seven ways to keep you and your baby safe from high blood pressure problems. 1. Consult with your healthcare provider. Even if you aren't pregnant yet, knowing if you have high blood pressure can help determine if you are at a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications. Make a plan for a healthy pregnancy with your provider. This includes talking about:
What is a normal blood pressure range for you?
How to control or lower high blood pressure by living a healthy lifestyle that includes being physically active, eating heart-healthy foods low in salt and sodium, and not smoking.
You are taking medications. If you're already taking blood pressure medication, find out if the type you're taking is safe to use while pregnant.
Your family's medical history If you have a history of preeclampsia, your doctor may advise you to take extra precautions.
Other personal factors, such as age, location, race, or access to healthcare, may affect your risk of pregnancy-related complications.
2.  Keep an eye on your blood pressure.
High blood pressure is usually invisible. Your provider will check your blood pressure at each visit as part of your regular prenatal care. If it's too high, they may advise you to get a home monitor. If you require one, ask someone at your provider's office to assist you in ensuring that it is operational and that you are using it correctly. Then keep track of your statistics. Also, ask your doctor when you should call if your blood pressure rises.  3.  Recognize preeclampsia symptoms. At first, preeclampsia may not cause symptoms. You may, however, notice some minor symptoms, such as:

Swelling of the hands or face
gaining weight in a matter of one to two days
putting on more than two pounds per week can be
less frequent urination than usual
Preeclampsia is most common after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can also appear after delivery, usually within 48 hours. It's always best to call your provider if you have any symptoms or if something doesn't feel right. If you experience any of the following severe preeclampsia symptoms, go to the emergency room or dial 9-1-1:

Headache that does not go away or worsens.
Breathing difficulties
Right-side pain, pain below the ribs, or pain in the right shoulder
Nausea and vomiting
Vision shifts
4. Enlist the help of friends and family.
Inform your family and friends about any signs of pregnancy complications. Request that they assist you in keeping track of how you're feeling and obtaining medical care. When you're speaking with a health provider, these friends can ensure that you describe all of your symptoms and ask all of your questions, and they can advocate for you so that you get the care you require. 5. Make an effort to manage stress. Stress is harmful to your blood pressure. Turn on your body's built-in relaxation response (the opposite of the stress response). Relaxation techniques include guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing exercises. Moving more can help you relax your mind and body while improving your heart health. Try yoga or go for a brisk walk with friends. For some people, being in nature can be very relaxing. 6. Maintain your health after pregnancy. Maintain your self-care routines after your pregnancy, especially for your heart health. If you have preeclampsia, you'll need to take extra precautions to protect your heart. Sharing information about pregnancy complications with your healthcare providers is one of the most important things you can do. Tell them what happened and how you were treated. Three months after pregnancy, and then annually, a cardiovascular screening may be required. Your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight will be measured during the screening. Remember, you are familiar with your own body. Early detection and modification of cardiovascular disease risks can significantly reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke later in life. If your blood pressure rises or something doesn't feel right, inform your doctor.
7. Find out more. At nhlbi.nih.gov/hypertension, you can learn more about heart health and pregnancy and find resources for tracking your blood pressure numbers.
Your heart works harder than usual during pregnancy to pump blood to you and your baby. Extra stress can sometimes expose risks to your heart health before becoming pregnant. Stress can also lead to new problems during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or preeclampsia (high blood pressure with signs of damage to another organ system such as the kidneys). These issues can arise during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, or even a year after your child is born. Pregnancy-Related Heart Problems: Risk Factors
Every year, approximately 700 women in the United States die due to pregnancy-related complications, and over 50,000 women experience life-threatening pregnancy complications. The leading causes are heart and blood vessel conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiomyopathy. The good news is that most of these issues are preventable, which means you can take steps to improve your heart health before, during, and after pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Heart Health Statistics, Pregnancy-related heart problems can occur in any woman, but your risk is increased if you:
are over the age of 40.
Are you an African American, an American Indian, or an Alaska Native?
Are you overweight or obese?
Have heart issues?
Engage in a little physical activity.
Opioids and other illegal drugs.
Consuming alcoholic beverages
Smoke
Have a heart condition, such as congenital heart disease or heart valve disease?
Have a pre-existing medical condition, such as diabetes, hypertension, blood clotting disorders, sleep apnea, anemia, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCS).
What You Could Do
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you can help manage your heart health by doing the following:

Recognize your risks. Understand your BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. The Heart Truth® website contains information and tools to help you take action to improve your heart health.
Discuss your risk with your doctor, including how it affects this pregnancy and your risk in future pregnancies. Keep all of your medical appointments during and after pregnancy, and inform your doctor about any medications.
If you are not yet pregnant, start developing heart-healthy habits to ensure a healthy pregnancy. This includes eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, getting enough good quality sleep, and quitting smoking if you smoke.
Keep an eye out for signs of a problem during and after pregnancy. A worsening headache, overwhelming tiredness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chest or belly pain, swelling, or nausea are signs of a heart problem during or after pregnancy. If you suspect something is wrong, contact your doctor or seek medical attention immediately. The CDC has more information on other warning signs.
How to Protect Your Heart After Your Child Is Born
During pregnancy, heart and blood vessel problems can have long-term consequences for your heart health, even decades after your child is born. Women with gestational diabetes or any pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorders, such as gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, have a higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems.

Working with your doctor during the first year after birth is especially important. Some pregnancy-related severe problems can occur up to a year after delivery. Your doctor can also advise you on how to develop lifelong heart-healthy habits.

Your Doctor's Questions
It is critical to see your doctor before and during pregnancy to manage your risks. Your doctor can see how your body adjusts to pregnancy changes by taking regular height, weight, and blood pressure measurements. Use this opportunity to inform your doctor of any changes or symptoms you've noticed. Here are some questions to ask your doctor.

Is my blood pressure reading normal? Find out what other questions you should ask about your blood pressure.
Is there a chance I'll have problems during or after my pregnancy?
Will my prenatal care or birth plan be affected if I am at risk?
What can I do to reduce my chances of having problems during pregnancy?
Is there a test I can take to rule out a significant issue?
When should I think about going to the emergency room or dialing 9-1-1?
Will my baby be affected if I have health issues during pregnancy, and how will this affect my future heart health?
What should I keep in mind after the delivery?
Will any heart problems during this pregnancy have an impact on future pregnancies?
Maternal Health Research at the NH LBI
Researchers funded by the NH LBI have raised awareness about the dangers of heart and blood vessel problems in pregnancy and the long-term effects on women's health. We also hold regular expert meetings to help us prioritize research on preeclampsia, sleep deprivation as a risk factor for disease, and disparities in women's health during pregnancy. Eliminating racial disparities in pregnancy-related illness and death is especially important. Our research is also looking into ways to prevent and treat heart and blood vessel problems in the future.