High blood pressure during pregnancy: what you need to know

A woman’s body works hard during pregnancy. For most moms-to-be, this stress is a natural part of pregnancy and well tolerated. But for others, a serious type of high blood pressure called preeclampsia can develop, which, if not properly managed, can become life-threatening for both mother and baby.

Monitoring your blood pressure during pregnancy

An obstetrician monitors your blood pressure at each prenatal visit. In addition to elevated blood pressure, symptoms such as headaches, blurry vision, swelling, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath are additional symptoms that can signal the development of preeclampsia. Women must also know that preeclampsia can develop after they’re discharged from the hospital. So, any unusual symptoms need to be reported immediately to their health care team.

“Because preeclampsia can lead to serious life-threatening complications, it is imperative for women to tell their doctor about any symptoms during and even after pregnancy,” says Dr. Amy Ahnert, MD, director of the Women’s Heart Program for Atlantic Health.

Long term risk for women with preeclampsia

Dr. Ahnert explains that women with preeclampsia can have up to a two-to-four-times greater risk of developing chronic hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes in their lifetime—particularly within ten years of giving birth.

“New research shows that preeclampsia can lead to a lifelong increased risk of cardiovascular disease for mother and baby,” says Dr. Ahnert. “We used to think that preeclampsia only affected a woman’s risk during pregnancy, but now we know it actually carries residual risk for women beyond pregnancy.”

Dr. Ahnert recommends that any woman with a history of preeclampsia get regularly screened throughout her lifetime under the guidance of a cardiologist.

“Many women know the traditional risk factors for heart disease like smoking, high cholesterol, or diabetes,” she says. “But unfortunately, many women are not informed that preeclampsia is also a risk factor for heart disease. The good news is that with proper surveillance and treatment, heart disease is preventable.”

The team at Atlantic Health is working to educate and treat all women who have experienced preeclampsia. Dr. Ahnert emphasizes, "Heart disease is preventable and we want to help women to learn the tools and strategies to keep their hearts healthy"