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What Causes High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy?

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Posted on Tue, 10 Jan 2017
Question: I had a vaginal birth on 12-10-16. I was induced because of gestational hypertension highest blood pressure reading was 140/90 during pregnancy. After delivery I was in the hospital for three days and monitored. My blood pressure didn't go above 137/80. Since coming home my blood pressure has gone all the way up to 168/110 and my resting heart rate is 51. Why do I have this? I went back to the ER twice on 12-16-16 and they did an EKG, ultrasound of my heart, blood work and checked my urine. Said everything was normal.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lilit Baghdasaryan (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please, find detailed answer below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The first and most important thing is try to keep calm as much as you can.
Delivery is a big stress for a women's organism, and after that your daily regimen is changed greatly by taking care of the baby and usually during that period women have little sleep. Also there are big hormonal changes in woman's organism after the delivery. All these factors may contribute of developing high blood pressure, especially when there was gestational hypertension. Usually it resolves in 1-6 months, especially in young women, so you have all chances to recover at all. If it doesn't resolve in a month, there may be a need to take medications for some time depending on the numbers of blood pressure.
I would advise you to stop panicing, try to keep calm, try to have as much sleep as possible and restrict the amount of salt intake.

Take care

Come back if you have any further questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Lilit Baghdasaryan (48 minutes later)
Why is my pulse so low? My pulse never went below 60 before and was usually in the 70-80's and now I've seen it go down to 46bpm! I don't understand why it's so low. While I was in the hospital it was running normal but ever since coming home I've had a slow pulse and high blood pressure.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lilit Baghdasaryan (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Welcome back

Detailed Answer:
I would advise you to check serum electrolytes. Its alterations may cause low heart rate. If it comes back normal and you have no dizziness and there is no episode of fainting, then just wait couple of days, it may be a consequence of delivery and may resolve gradually.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Lilit Baghdasaryan (4 hours later)
Would the blood work, ekg, heart ultrasound show if there were abnormalities with my heart or could I have developed barcarydia after giving birth?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lilit Baghdasaryan (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Welcome back

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

During the pregnancy, child birth and after that the woman's organism goes through big hormonal and structural changes, which may have different consequences, but usually all resolve in couple of weeks.
Bradycardia is also possible.
If you continue to have heart rates below 50 bpm in a week, then I would advise you to have an 24 hour holter ECG done and echocardiography.

Wishing you a good health
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Lilit Baghdasaryan

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 1536 Questions

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What Causes High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: Please, find detailed answer below Detailed Answer: Hi, The first and most important thing is try to keep calm as much as you can. Delivery is a big stress for a women's organism, and after that your daily regimen is changed greatly by taking care of the baby and usually during that period women have little sleep. Also there are big hormonal changes in woman's organism after the delivery. All these factors may contribute of developing high blood pressure, especially when there was gestational hypertension. Usually it resolves in 1-6 months, especially in young women, so you have all chances to recover at all. If it doesn't resolve in a month, there may be a need to take medications for some time depending on the numbers of blood pressure. I would advise you to stop panicing, try to keep calm, try to have as much sleep as possible and restrict the amount of salt intake. Take care Come back if you have any further questions