Causes of pregnancy-induced hypertension

Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
Updated on September 27, 2024
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There are many reasons that can lead to the occurrence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Normally, due to reasons related to the mother herself or being under the age of 18 or over 35, the risk of developing hypertensive disorders during pregnancy may increase. Additionally, dietary and environmental influences such as a high-salt diet, excessive fatigue, and mental stress can lead to the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension. In some cases, after the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension, it may trigger diseases in other organ systems, leading to severe issues with the placenta, causing complications such as placental abruption, hypoalbuminemia, and cerebrovascular accidents.

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How to monitor blood pressure in hypertensive crisis

If a patient experiences a hypertensive crisis, it is recommended that they use an electrocardiogram monitor. This can effectively monitor changes in the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse. If there is a rise in blood pressure, it can be immediately observed. The occurrence of a hypertensive crisis is very dangerous and can lead to complications, potentially causing damage to liver and kidney functions, and leading to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. In particular, it is prone to causing cerebral hemorrhage or coronary heart disease. In such cases, it is crucial to actively use antihypertensive drugs to control symptoms. Regarding diet, it is important to maintain a light diet, especially limiting sodium intake, in order to control the phenomenon of high blood pressure in patients.

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What is hypertension?

Hypertension is characterized by elevated arterial blood pressure in the systemic circulation, and may be accompanied by functional or organic damage to organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Hypertension can be divided into primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension is due to certain identified causes or etiologies, leading to increased blood pressure, accounting for about 5% of all hypertension cases. Conditions like primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, renovascular hypertension, and renin-secreting tumors are examples, and cases where the cause of increased blood pressure cannot be found are also referred to as primary hypertension and hypertensive disease. Currently, the classification and standard for blood pressure in China mostly use a systolic pressure of greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic pressure of greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
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Emergency treatment for high blood pressure

Hypertension is currently a common and frequent disease, especially among middle-aged and elderly people. It requires the use of proper antihypertensive drugs to lower blood pressure back to a normal range to ensure the blood supply to the heart and brain. If medication is not taken on time, or due to emotional excitement or excessive fatigue, there can be a sudden increase in blood pressure. Immediate use of effective antihypertensive drugs is necessary to lower the blood pressure to a safe range to prevent accidents. In case of a hypertensive emergency, one should go to the hospital for active treatment to avoid life-threatening risks.

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Normal blood pressure, high blood pressure, and low blood pressure ranges.

Normal adult systolic blood pressure is between 90-139mmHg, and diastolic pressure is between 60-89mmHg. When the systolic pressure exceeds 140mmHg and the diastolic pressure exceeds 90mmHg, this condition is medically referred to as hypertension. When the systolic pressure is below 90mmHg and the diastolic pressure is below 60mmHg, this condition is medically referred to as hypotension. Regardless of whether it is hypertension or hypotension, it often causes symptoms in patients, such as headache, dizziness, and fatigue. Therefore, whether it is hypertension or hypotension, one should visit the hospital's department of cardiology for a formal examination. The doctor will assess the situation on-site to determine if treatment is necessary and how to administer it.

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Difference between hypertensive encephalopathy and malignant hypertension

The difference between hypertensive encephalopathy and malignant hypertension can be discerned from their names, indicating they are different conditions. Hypertensive encephalopathy refers to a condition where blood pressure rises sharply in a short period, with diastolic pressure exceeding 120 mmHg and systolic pressure exceeding 200 mmHg. This dramatic increase in blood pressure causes cerebral vasospasm and increased cerebral perfusion pressure, leading to various manifestations of cerebral edema, primarily severe headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and even brain herniation. The emphasis is on the rapid rise in blood pressure over a short term and its impact on the brain, specifically cerebral edema. Malignant hypertension also involves a rapid increase in blood pressure to extremely high levels over a short period. However, the focus of malignant hypertension is on the impact on multiple organs throughout the body, including the brain, but also severely affecting the heart, potentially causing acute left heart failure and pulmonary edema. In the kidneys, it can lead to acute renal failure, characterized by reduced urine output or anuria. Thus, malignant hypertension emphasizes the effects on multiple vital organs, whereas hypertensive encephalopathy focuses primarily on the impact on the brain and central nervous system. Hence, there are some distinctions between the two conditions.