The amount of blood pumped by your heart and the amount of resistance to blood flow found in the arteries is defined as blood pressure. Your blood pressure is going to be greater if you have narrow arteries and high blood volume. Statistics reveal that about 5% to 10% women are known to have high blood pressure at some point in their pregnancy. This can pose significant health risks such as premature delivery, decreased blood flow to the placenta and increased chances of developing cardiovascular disease and placental abruption. Doctors check and monitor your blood pressure during your pregnancy, but you also need to keep track of it.
You can get a blood pressure monitor from a pharmacy and keep it at home for monitoring your blood pressure. These devices usually go on your upper wrist or arm and it is best that you take readings on a daily basis at the same time. There are websites, such as Deal Voucherz, where you can find coupons to buy medical devices on reasonable discount. Meanwhile, there are also some natural tips you can use for keeping blood pressure controlled in pregnancy and they are outlined below:
Get active
Hypertension or high blood pressure is more common amongst pregnant women who are inactive so it is time to get moving. You should take out some time and exercise for about half an hour on a daily basis or on most days. When you are just beginning, always stick to something that’s low-intensity like swimming or walking. Also, don’t start an exercise program before consulting your doctor.
Keep track of your weight
Being obese is another reason why you might be at risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy, which means you need to monitor your weight. Regular exercise and proper diet are great ways for managing your weight. It is crucial to avoid gaining too much weight during pregnancy because it can lead to preeclampsia, which can lead to kidney and liver problems for both mother and baby. Furthermore, if you don’t control your weight during pregnancy, you also risk other health conditions such as exhaustion, leg cramps, hemorrhoids, heartburn, aching joints, back aches and gestational diabetes.
Reduce stress
Your blood pressure is going to become elevated when you are stressed, which makes it necessary to eliminate any triggers for stress. You need to cut back on your workload as overworking can lead to stress. You should also use relaxation techniques such as yoga, visualization and meditation because they can bring serenity to your mind and body and prevent stress.
Listen to music
Studies have been conducted and they show that listening to the right type of music and breathing slowly for at least half an hour every day can actually bring down your blood pressure. Opt for relaxing and calming music such as classical, Celtic or if you have a favorite kind of music that inspires and relaxes you, go for that. Fast and loud music like pop, rock and heavy metal should be avoided because they have the opposite effect.
Check your medications
Discuss the medications you are taking with your doctor. There are some medicines that can increase your blood pressure and you need to ensure they can be used safely in pregnancy. Some alternate medications can be prescribed by the doctor if you really need them.
Watch your diet
You need to avoid high-sodium foods and salt because this can lead to heart disease, hypertension and stroke. Yes, your body needs sodium, but only in small amounts. If you are suffering from high blood pressure, you need to reduce your sodium intake and avoid processed and fast foods. You should also eat more whole grains as they are loaded with dietary fiber, which can reduce hypertension. Indulge with dark chocolate as it can actually assist in lowering blood pressure.
Cut back on bad habits
Being pregnant means you are also responsible for your child. Therefore, you need to deal with your bad habits of smoking or drinking alcohol because this puts stress on your heart and can be dangerous. In fact, you should also cut back on your consumption of coffee and other caffeinated beverages as they are not good for your health.
These tips can be immensely effective in keeping blood pressure controlled in pregnancy.