Alvin Hopkinson asked: Chronic hypertension is basically the equivalent of high blood pressure. Blood pressure is judged by the force of the constriction of the blood vessels as the heart pumps the blood into the arteries.
If the blood flow rate is elevated this is called hypertension or high blood pressure. Either term is equally serious, hypertension can lead to heart disease and heart attacks as well as strokes. Adult hypertension is defined by the blood pressure being:
- 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or above. Systolic pressure is when the blood is being pumped by the contraction of the heart muscle.
- 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure or above. Diastolic pressure is when the heart is between the beats of pumping the blood. Basically, the short period of time the heart seems to be resting.
Women that have been previously diagnosed with hypertension or have been diagnosed before they reach their 20th week of pregnancy it is considered to be chronic hypertension. This can be a very serious condition, however generally less than 3% of women are diagnosed with chronic hypertension while pregnant.
There are several risks that are associated with chronic hypertension in pregnant women. However, these risks are drastically increased if there are other problems. Such as PIH, which is pregnancy induced hypertension and diabetes.
Here is a brief list of the possible risks associated with chronic hypertension:
* Kidney failure in the mother.
* Bleeding from the mother’s brain.
* The mother can suffer from congestive heart failure.
* Continuous increase in the mother’s blood pressure.
* The blood does not clot properly in the mother.
* The placenta can detach itself prematurely from the uterus. This is usually referred to as placental abruption.
The unborn child can also be at risk. Here you will see a small list of some of the possible risks for the child:
* IUGR or intrauterine growth restriction. This is when the child is unable to grow properly because of the poor blood flow of the placenta.
* Stillbirth. This is when the child is unable to survive and is born deceased.
* Going into labor and giving birth to the child prematurely. Generally this is before the mother has reached 37 weeks of pregnancy.
In most cases a women will be required to continue taking medication to keep the chronic hypertension under control while she is pregnant. However, in some situations the doctor might prefer to change the prescription to decrease any possible negative reactions to the child.
In either case the doctor should monitor the blood pressure frequently throughout the entire pregnancy to ensure the baby and mother are as healthy and safe as possible.
The doctor should run lab tests frequently during the pregnancy. Some of the tests are urine and blood work. Here are a few of the tests that you might have to undergo during your pregnancy to monitor the baby and your condition:
* To keep an eye on the fetal growth the doctor might send you for several ultrasounds.
* Doppler flow studies. This is a test that can measure the blood flow by sound waves.
* The doctor will likely do a non-stress test to measure the fetal movement in connection with the fetal heart rate.
* A combination of a non-stress test and an ultrasound is another test called a biophysical profile.
For many women that want to become pregnant and have been diagnosed with chronic hypertension, they begin to feel they might not become a mother. However, you should consult with your medical care provider to determine whether or not you should become pregnant. Think about it and give yourself a few months before you actually make your final decision.
Alvin Hopkinson is a leading and avid researcher of various high blood pressure treatments. He runs a content-packed website that provides free tips to lower your hypertension and unbiased reviews on common blood pressure medications. Grab your FREE report on how to lower blood pressure naturally and visit his site at http://www.minusbloodpressure.com
Jeffery
