Why Heart Health is Important During Pregnancy
About 5% of all pregnant women experience a rapid rise in their blood pressure to levels we would diagnose as hypertension (BP > 140/90 mmHg) during the last few months of pregnancy. This condition is called preeclampsia or toxemia of pregnancy.
Pregnant mothers usually have symptoms of edema, protein detected in urine, headaches that don’t respond to medications, seizures, blurry vision, stomach pain, shortness of breath, chest pain and pulmonary edema. Preeclampsia can also have a potential decrease of blood flow to the placenta which may impact fetal growth and risk of placental abruption.
Risk Factors for developing preeclampsia include maternal age >40, existing hypertension before pregnancy, kidney disorders, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, family history, multiple births, and higher BMI (Body mass index).
A serious emergent consequence if left untreated or monitored can be eclampsia, which is an extreme form of preeclampsia that may lead to clonic seizures in mom and severely compromised kidney and liver function, which requires immediate attention.
Some key treatments that can help prevent or reduce the risk of preeclampsia are:
Diet: essential fatty acids, berries, olives, dark leafy greens, pomegranate
Lifestyle: mild-moderate daily exercise, yoga, meditation, stress management
Acupuncture
Herbs: Hibiscus, motherwort, avoid licorice (most herbs are not safe in pregnancy)
Supplements/neutraceuticals: CoQ10, Magnesium, methyltetrafolate, calcium, arginine, selenium
If you have any of these signs or been told by your MD or midwife that you may be at risk, or have any questions on your treatment options, come and talk to one of wellbe’s Naturopathic Doctors about how we can support you and tailor a treatment plan that suits you.
This post was written by wellbe naturopathic doctor Janice Wu, ND.