High blood pressure, is it serious?

I am 5 months pregnant and Dr. Betay measured my blood pressure on my routine visit and it was 140/90. He told me that I have high arterial pressure associated with pregnancy. What does that mean? 

High blood pressure during pregnancy should be carefully monitored, with following a strict diet and going on regular medical examinations, you must also be able to stay away from anything that could cause complications. You should focus on those 10 important basic points. 

1. The type of high blood pressure. 

• If you normally have high blood pressure, it will increase during pregnancy. 

• Blood pressure can be high during the entire pregnancy period but will return to its normal levels after giving birth.  

• High blood pressure occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy (usually in the fifth or sixth month). Often this type causes complications. 

2. Your doctor can detect pregnancy-related high blood pressure simply by measuring your blood pressure while you are lying down. Once high blood pressure is diagnosed, the risk to the mother and baby will be reduced, as the pregnancy will be monitored better. And if the matter is urgent, the doctor can arrange an additional visit for you to know more about this topic, take a blood sample and perform a Doppler ultrasound. 

3. Symptoms that indicate the possibility of high blood pressure: swelling of the feet, headache, dizziness, seeing black spots, hissing sounds, and a noticeable increase in weight. Despite this, in most cases, high blood pressure is not observed. 

4. Pregnancy-related high blood pressure often affects young pregnant women during their first pregnancy or when mothers are pregnant with twins. Other risk factors to consider are obesity, a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. 

5. The risks to the child: continuous suffering of the fetus, growth retardation, low birth weight of the child, and premature birth. However, when carefully treated and monitored, the risks of high blood pressure may be greatly reduced. 

6. The risks to the mother may lead to kidney or liver failure and strokes. If the levels of protein in the urine increase and swelling suddenly appears, then high blood pressure is a serious problem known as Preeclampsia or Pregnancy Toxemia. 

The last stage is Preeclampsia, a type of epileptic seizure that can cause a coma. Fortunately, this phenomenon is very rare now because high blood pressure can be monitored carefully. 

7. Pregnancy-related high blood pressure may cause the doctor to opt for a caesarean delivery. 

8. To prevent any complications, you must modify your diet, and reduce the intake of fats and sugars. If you are overweight, do not hesitate to discuss this with your doctor or consult a nutritionist, because they can guide you correctly. You should also drink large amounts of water, no less than 1.5 liters each day (non-carbonated water). 

9. Of course, we advise you to rest completely. Because pregnancy-related high blood pressure can cause fatigue. 

10. Don't worry! Pregnancy-related high blood pressure is a well-known phenomenon nowadays, and all people who work in the medical field are familiar with it. If you follow your doctor’s advice, you will have a worry-free pregnancy!