Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a form of high blood pressure that occurs in pregnant women. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is also termed toxemia or preeclampsia. This condition is common and occurs in about 7 to 10 percent of all pregnancies. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is caused due to various factors: Pre-existing hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney disease , diabetes, previous pregnancy with PIH, mother under 20 or over 40 years of age, multiple fetuses (twins, triplets). Each woman experiences different symptoms of PIH, however, some common symptoms of PIH include : High blood pressure, protein in urinary fluid, edema (swelling), rapid weight gain, visual changes such as blurry or double vision, nausea , vomiting, right-sided upper abdominal pain or stomach pain, urinating small quantities, liver or kidney function changes.
During high blood pressure the resistance of the blood vessels is increased. This can obstruct blood flow in the expectant mother’s many different organ systems including the liver, kidneys, brain, uterus, and placenta. So it’s harmful not just to the mother but to the baby too. It is commonly found that PIH can lead to many complications for kidneys resulting in kidney failure. Preeclampsia is also associated with urinary fluid retention and protein excretion, and is a risk factor for the development of kidney failure and renal disease in the end stage. Pregnancy tends to cause physiological changes in renal health that lead to changes in acid-base, electrolyte and function of the kidneys. Not only this, but hypertension during pregnancy can also later in life lead to chronic kidney disease ( CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
When you are diagnosed with PIH then your well-being and baby’s health should be given special care. Measuring blood pressure on a daily basis is essential; you do need to check regularly for proteinuria, opt for blood tests that will help determine your kidney and liver health. The extent of PIH depends on the amount of damage to other organs. In addition, you can follow your doctor’s advice and avoid over-the-counter drugs. If you have a kidney disorder already during pregnancy then you need to take the appropriate precautions. Because of the correlation between hypertension during pregnancy and renal health, it is very important that even after birth, mothers who have hypertension during pregnancy continue to be monitoring their renal function.
