Tips to control hypertension in pregnancy

Hypertension is a disease that affects approximately 10-15% of pregnant women for several reasons: chronic hypertension, that which was already present before pregnancy, gestational hypertension, that appears during pregnancy, and pre-eclampsia. In addition, either of these can be mild, moderate or

Hypertension is a disease that affects approximately 10-15% of pregnant women for several reasons: chronic hypertension, that which was already present before pregnancy, gestational hypertension, that appears during pregnancy, and pre-eclampsia.

In addition, either of these can be mild, moderate or severe. The higher the pressure, the harder it is for the heart to pump blood, which can cause serious damage to the muscle. What to eat to avoid hypertension in pregnancy?

Hypertension in pregnancy

When hypertension is present before pregnancy, and if it is moderate or severe, it is likely that you are already taking medication. In this case it is advisable to consult the doctor, firstly because the pressure during the first months of pregnancy is usually lower and medication may not be necessary or the dose has to be decreased, and secondly because it may be contraindicated during the gestation period.

When hypertension is linked to pregnancy, it usually appears after 28 weeks of pregnancy, although you can do it before, and generally, the sooner you do it, the more serious it usually is. In approximately 2-5% of pregnancies, in addition to hypertension, mothers will have preeclampsia, and, although in most cases pre-eclampsia, closely monitored, is not serious, in some it may be, both for the mother and the baby. Although the origin of preeclampsia is not known with certainty, it seems that overweight is a factor to be taken into account, as well as the high weight gain during it, so it is advisable to take care of the diet carefully. Diet to control hypertension in pregnancy

Salt is the greatest enemy of blood pressure, so you should control the amount consumed. The most current recommendations suggest

not to exceed 5 g of salt per day in the case of adults. This amount includes the salt added and the one that contains the foods of natural form, reason why, in addition to controlling the salt that is added, it is useful to read the labels of the foods to verify how much salt they contain. Thus,

should be avoided bag snacks, cured meats and cheeses, pickles and anchovies, smoked products (salmon / trout and bacon in particular), fast food, sauces such as ketchup or mayonnaise or salted nuts. The amounts of bread, shellfish and well drained foods that are kept in brine should also be checked. In addition, and although its effect has not been demonstrated as preventive of hypertension,

there are some micronutrients that have a beneficial effect on blood pressure ayuda, helping to keep it within healthy limits. Magnesium, folic acid and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are within this group of compounds, and also fish, because of its content of healthy fatty acids, and garlic, present this property. In many cases the diet will not be enough to control hypertension, but alow sodium diet can guarantee that no extra pressure is added to the heart muscle.