High blood pressure disorders associated with pregnancy

High blood pressure disorders associated with pregnancy are often referred to as preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious condition that can affect pregnancy and the health of pregnant women. With 50,000 maternal deaths per year, the incidence of eclampsia in developing countries is 1:100 – 1:1700. The shift in the main cause of death in Central Java was 31.29% in 2011. Magnesium sulfate was determined to be the most effective drug for treating eclamptic seizures (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010).

The basic principle of preeclampsia involves pathological changes in the blood vessels and placenta during pregnancy. Some basic principles related to preeclampsia, namely:

1. Women who are pregnant or have just given birth complain of severe headaches or blurred vision.
2. Women who are pregnant or have just given birth suffer from seizures or lose consciousness/coma.

These basic principles reflect the complexity of preeclampsia, which involves interactions between genetic, immunological, vascular, and placental factors in its development.

The clinical assessment of preeclampsia includes a series of evaluation measures performed by a doctor to determine whether a pregnant woman suffers from the condition. Following are some important components of the clinical assessment of preeclampsia:

1. Blood pressure check The doctor will measure the blood pressure of pregnant women regularly. Hypertension, especially if the systolic blood pressure is ≥ 140 mmHg or the diastolic blood pressure is ≥ 90 mmHg, is one of the main signs of preeclampsia.
2. Urine examination for proteinuria The doctor will check the urine to see if there is proteinuria, namely the presence of protein in the urine.
3. Evaluate symptoms. The doctor will ask about and evaluate symptoms that a pregnant woman may experience, such as severe headaches, visual disturbances (such as blurred vision), upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and unusual edema (swelling of the hands, feet, or face).
4. Physical examination The doctor will perform a physical examination to detect signs of preeclampsia, including checking blood pressure, an abdominal examination to assess the size of the uterus and position of the fetus, and examinations to detect signs of other organ disorders.
5. Blood test Blood tests will be performed to check platelet count, liver function, and kidney function. Elevated liver enzymes and decreased platelet counts can be serious signs of preeclampsia.
6. Ultrasound In some cases, ultrasound may be performed to assess fetal growth and development as well as to evaluate placental blood flow.
7. Fetal monitoring: The doctor will monitor the health of the fetus using cardiotocography (CTG) or ultrasound to check the fetal heart rate and fetal movement activity.

Several preventive steps can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure disorders associated with pregnancy:

1. Restricting calories, fluids, and a low-salt diet does not prevent hypertension in pregnancy and can even harm the fetus.
2. The benefits of aspirin and calcium have been proven.
3. Early detection and quick treatment.

Taking these preventative steps can help reduce the risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorders and improve the safety and health of the mother and fetus.

Download the Hermina Mobile Apps application to facilitate health access and registration at Hermina Arcamanik Hospital.

Reference:

• Jaringan Nasional Pelatihan Klinik - Kesehatan Reproduksi (JNPK-KR)