Preeclampsia
High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Preeclampsia! What is it? Put simply it is high blood pressure during pregnancy that measures 140/90 and over.

There`s more details about this condition that you need to know about before you start worrying unnecessarily, and there are a number of risk factors that the doctor will look for before diagnosing it.

So the common contributing factors and signs that will determine if you may be suffering from it are:

  • Age 35+
  • A history of preeclampsia
  • First time pregnancy
  • Diabetic
  • A multiple pregnancy
  • Sudden weight gain
  • Sudden chronic hypertension (especially if none existed before)
  • Pain in the upper abdomen that persists even after taking painkillers
  • Vomiting
  • Sudden swelling of face, hands and feet

Less common signs are:

  • Headaches
  • Blurred vision
  • Seeing spots in front of the eyes.

Test would be done for other risk factors such as:

  • Kidney or Liver problems
  • Protein in the urine

The Stages of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy

It`s not a new condition. In the book, A Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth (2nd Edit.) by Kaz Cooke, it says that our mothers and grandmothers knew of preeclampsia by it`s older name Toxemia, and that it rarely gets a chance to develop into its more serious stage called eclampsia due to medical advancement. That is what a frightened mother-to-be needs to hear.

The initial elevated blood pressure is called pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) or Gestational hypertension. The systolic and diastolic pressures are the same 140/90 but at this stage there is no protein in the urine.

If the condition is not brought under control then the more serious condition, eclampsia can occur and an induced labor may be necessary.

What is The Cause?

A breakthrough in the research of the cause came in 2010 when Aiwu Zhou and his team discovered that women with preeclampsia had a higher level of oxidized angiotensinogen in their blood than normal pregnant women and that common enzymes could split these now bent proteins to release angiotensin which cause arteries and smaller blood vessels to constrict.

In normal circumstances the body copes with the level of oxidization but when too much oxygen is released in the placenta, and oxidization occurs at a higher rate, constriction of blood vessels presents a danger to both baby and mother. So free radical damage comes to the fore in yet another health complication. (See my page on antioxidants, free radical scavengers)

Anther branch of research that was investigated at The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh and University College in London has revealed that new blood vessels that are needed to cater for the volume of oxygenated blood to the growing fetus are fewer because special endothelial cells needed to form these new vessels are inhibited in growth than in healthy pregnancies.

As is my usual response to findings like this, I ask the question, “What is at the root cause of the malfunctioning cells?”

Anther branch of research that was investigated at The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh and University College in London has revealed that new blood vessels that are needed to cater for the volume of oxygenated blood to the growing fetus are fewer because special endothelial cells needed to form these new vessels are inhibited in growth than in healthy pregnancies.

As is my usual response to findings like this, I ask the question, “What is at the root cause of the malfunctioning cells?”

What Will Help Reduce the Risk?

Conventional research is still searching for the answer, and modern healthcare methods are all about drugs. Dr. Brewer was adamant that he had found the answer and acted upon it, reducing a 40% risk rate in specific populations to 0% through nutrition.

A lack of calcium can cause preeclampsia, so lots of food containing calcium like leafy green vegetables is a must in any healthy diet or supplementing with a balance of calcium and magnesium.

I think most would go along with the idea that nutrition is important, but it goes deeper than that. Oxidative stress seems to be an underlying problem. American Heart Association – Oxidative Stress and Preeclampsia. Nutrition may then seem to be the best approach with high emphasis of foods loaded with antioxidant properties.

Another way of bringing down oxidative stress in the body is to try using pure ingredients in cosmetics, personal hygiene and household products that avoid the absorption of harsh chemical ingredients, filter you drinking water, and balance rest and gentle exercise. Even if preeclampsia exceeds the normal blood pressure for women it can be brought under control if you act quickly when or if symptoms arise.