Is pregnancy hypertension dangerous?

Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
Updated on May 31, 2025
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Pregnancy-induced hypertension is a relatively dangerous disease because it has a significant impact on both the pregnant woman and the fetus. Firstly, it can cause the pregnant woman to have proteinuria, edema, and high blood pressure. If the blood pressure rises further, it may lead to cerebral hemorrhage, brain herniation, convulsions, etc. Additionally, if there is a lot of proteinuria, the whole body can become swollen, and as the protein is lost with the urine, the fetus's growth and development can be restricted, leading to reduced weight. Furthermore, the fetus may also experience hypoxia, changes in fetal heart rate, and intrauterine fetal demise.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Causes of pregnancy-induced hypertension

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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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Hypertensive crisis blood pressure values

At any stage of hypertension development and other disease emergencies, severe life-threatening blood pressure increases can occur, requiring emergency treatment. Hypertensive crises include hypertensive emergencies and hypertensive urgencies. Hypertensive emergencies refer to severe blood pressure increases within a short time—hours or days—with diastolic pressure greater than 130 mmHg and/or systolic pressure greater than 180 mmHg, accompanied by severe dysfunction or irreversible damage to critical organs and tissues such as the heart, brain, kidneys, retina, and major arteries. Hypertensive urgencies may present as increased blood pressure but without obvious target organ damage.

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Written by Liu Ying
Cardiology
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How to lower high blood pressure?

Hypertension is divided into primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. If it is secondary hypertension, removing the factors that cause high blood pressure can cure it. For example, if the hypertension is caused by an adrenal tumor, removing the tumor can normalize blood pressure. However, if diagnosed with primary hypertension, lifelong medication is required. There are many types of medications available, which need to be specifically analyzed based on the individual situation. If the patient primarily has high systolic pressure, it is recommended to use some calcium channel blockers, which are commonly used for elderly patients who primarily exhibit high systolic pressure. If it is primarily high diastolic pressure, some ACE inhibitors or ARBs are suggested. If sympathetic excitement is predominant, some β-blockers can be used. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Which is more dangerous, low blood pressure or high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is a crucial indicator for maintaining human life. Both low blood pressure and high blood pressure can pose significant risks to the body. High blood pressure can lead to arteriosclerosis, and prolonged high blood pressure can cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with severe cases leading to cerebral ischemia and myocardial infarction. Low blood pressure affects the blood supply to vital organs and also brings negative factors to the body. Extremely low blood pressure can also endanger human life. Therefore, whether it is low blood pressure or high blood pressure, it should be correctly treated and improved under the guidance of a doctor to ensure the health of the body.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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How is hypertensive nephropathy treated?

Long-term hypertension can lead to abnormal kidney structure and function, also known as hypertensive nephropathy. Once hypertensive nephropathy is diagnosed, comprehensive treatment measures are often adopted, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. In terms of non-pharmacological treatment, patients should maintain a low-salt diet in their daily life, focusing on a light diet, with a daily salt intake of about 4 grams. Regarding pharmacological treatment, the main goal is to control the patient's blood pressure and reduce urinary protein. Medications that can be used include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Any of these medications can be chosen and used long-term to control blood pressure, protect kidney function, and reduce urinary protein. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a physician, and self-medication should be avoided.)