Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

According to the American Pregnancy Association, high blood pressure affects about 6-8% of pregnant women. A blood pressure above 140 mmHg systolic (top) or 90 mm Hg diastolic (lowest) is a sign that you have high blood pressure or high blood pressure. Some of the risk factors for high blood pressure during pregnancy include obesity, having high blood pressure before pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, having a chronic illness, and / or a poor diet (high salt intake and lots of fat). Since high blood pressure can cause complications (low birthweight, kidney problems, premature birth and pre-eclampsia), you should take steps to lower your blood pressure during pregnancy.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Lower blood pressure through lifestyle changes

1. 

   
   
   Stay moving. Women who are not active have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure than those who exercise. So whether you are already pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about starting to exercise.
   • Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day or most days of the week.
   • If you are just starting out, try walking or low intensity swimming exercises.
   • Always talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program and ask about the safety of participating in certain activities.

2. 

   
   
   Weight control. Being overweight is a risk factor for high blood pressure, so you need to take care to keep your pregnancy weight within healthy limits. Eating the right diet and exercising regularly is one way to control weight gain during pregnancy.
   • Preeclampsia is a form of high blood pressure in pregnancy that can happen when you gain too much weight during pregnancy. This can lead to kidney and liver problems in mother and complications in the baby.
   • Being overweight also increases your risk of other conditions during pregnancy such as back pain, exhaustion, leg cramps, hemorrhoids, gestational diabetes, heartburn and joint pain.

3. 

   
   
   Reduce stress. Stressful conditions can lead to high blood pressure whether you are pregnant or not. So try eliminating risk factors if you can.
   • Do not work too hard during pregnancy. Working time more than 41 hours per week can increase the risk of high blood pressure.
   • Try relaxation techniques like meditation, visualization, or yoga. These methods can help calm your body and mind and help reduce stress levels.

4. 

   Practice controlled breathing. Breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing, can help soothe body and mind and reduce stress. In addition, by using the diaphragm (the muscle in the bottom of the lung), breathing becomes stronger and fatigue is reduced for the other muscles of the neck and chest.
   • Lie comfortably or sit in a chair. Place a pillow under your knees so that it bends a bit if you choose to lie down.
   • To feel your diaphragm move, place your hands above your chest and under your rib cage.
   • Slowly inhale through your nose to feel your abdomen move up.
   • Slowly exhale through your mouth while counting to five and let your stomach sucked in.
   • Repeat and keep the breath steady, slow.

5. 

   Listening to music. Research has shown that listening to the right music while breathing slowly for at least 30 minutes a day can help lower blood pressure.
   • Soothing and relaxing music like Celtic music, classical music, or Indian music, or a favorite slow track can inspire and relax you.
   • Avoid listening to loud and pounding music like Rock, Pop, and Heavy mental music as they can have the opposite effect.

6. 

   Quit smoking. Not only is it a danger to the fetus, smoking can also increase your blood pressure. If you are pregnant, you should quit smoking immediately.
   • Talk to your doctor about methods to help stop smoking that are safe for both mother and fetus.
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Method 2 of 3: Reduce blood pressure through diet

1. 

   Avoid salt and high sodium foods. Although the body needs small amounts of sodium, consuming too much sodium is harmful and can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. If you have high blood pressure, take the following steps to lower your sodium intake:
   • Do not add salt to foods when cooking, but use other spices instead (dill, green pepper, herbs).
   • Wash canned foods to remove sodium.
   • Buy foods that are labeled "low sodium" or "sodium free".
   • Avoid processed foods like cookies, fried foods and baked goods as these are often high in sodium.
   • Also, avoid fast food and ask the chef to reduce sodium (salt) when ordering at restaurants.

2. 

   Eat plenty of whole grains. Whole grains are rich in fiber and research has shown that adding fiber to your diet can lower blood pressure.
   • Make sure you have at least 6-8 servings of grains per day.
   • Replace refined grains with whole grains like brown rice, pasta, and whole wheat bread.

3. 

   Add potassium-rich foods to your diet. Diet to help control hypertension should be fortified with foods rich in potassium. Foods to supplement include: sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kidney beans, orange juice, bananas, beans, potatoes, dried fruits, melons and cantaloupe.
   • Consume potassium in moderation (about 2,000-4,000 mg per day).

4. 

   Eat plenty of dark chocolate. According to clinical research, dark chocolate is actually helpful in reducing blood pressure.
   • Eat 15 grams of dark chocolate containing at least 70 percent cocoa per day.
   • Dark chocolate is high in calories, so don't overeat.

5. 

   Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages. Not only is it bad for blood pressure, caffeine and alcohol also negatively affect the health of mother and fetus. Therefore, you should avoid consuming both of these foods, especially if you have high blood pressure.
   • Drinking coffee during pregnancy reduces blood flow through the placenta and increases the risk of miscarriage. Although more research is needed on the effects of caffeine during pregnancy, it's best to drink decaffeinated coffee.
   • Drinking a lot of alcohol not only increases blood pressure but also affects the fetus. Before you want to drink alcohol, even just a glass of wine, consult your doctor.

6. 

   Add soy and low-fat dairy products to your diet. Clinical research has demonstrated that including these foods in the diet can reduce systolic hypertension.
   • Add low-fat or fat-free dairy products (such as milk, cheese, or yogurt) to your diet.
   • If you have lactose intolerance, try soy products instead.
   • Eat in moderation (even low-fat cheeses) due to their high sodium content.
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Method 3 of 3: Find medical treatment

1. 

   Ask your doctor if the medications you are taking are safe during pregnancy. High blood pressure is a side effect of some medications. Talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking to see if they are safe. This will help you make the best decision to manage your health during pregnancy.
   • Do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor.
2. See your doctor if you have frequent high blood pressure. If you know you are prone to high blood pressure during pregnancy, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly. You can take your blood pressure at a local pharmacy or use a blood pressure monitor. If your blood pressure has been consistently high for a week, you should see your doctor to have it checked.
   • Blood pressure is considered high if the systolic pressure is between 130-139 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is between 80-89 mmHg.
3. See your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of pre-eclampsia. Don't worry because your doctor will treat you if you have real pre-eclampsia. However, it is important that you get tested as soon as possible. Your doctor will help you feel more secure and take the necessary treatment. Call them at once if you experience the following symptoms:
   • Severe headache
   • Blurred vision, or temporary blindness
   • Pain in the right lower rib
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Sudden swelling in the face and hands (it may be normal)
   • Rapidly breath
4. Ask if you need medication to treat high blood pressure. If the lifestyle changes aren't enough to lower your blood pressure, you can take medication. Your doctor will decide which medicine is safe for you, as some high blood pressure medications are not safe for pregnant women. Take it exactly as directed, and do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
   • Traditional drugs such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and renin inhibitors are generally considered unsafe for pregnant women. However, there are a number of other medications that can be used.
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Advice

• Full rest. Lack of sleep can lead to health problems.
• Drink plenty of water to replenish the required amount of water. You need to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.

Warning

• Always consult your doctor if you have high blood pressure.