Severe Hypertension During Pregnancy: Considerations for Preventive Measures by Health Care Providers

Abstract

Medical professionals advocate that getting good health care before, during, and after pregnancy (which occurs when a sperm fertilizes an egg after it is released from the ovary during ovulation) is very important. This practice can help baby grow and develop sound physical and mental health during later stages of their life. Further, it is equally important to ensure that pregnant women are not subjected to hypertension situations. Furthermore, severe hypertension (defined as severely elevated blood pressure) can be risky from reproductive health (RH) point of view. However, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is common among pregnant women in many countries, especially in regions characterized by acute poverty and resulting malnutrition situations. It has been reported that the PIH, a form of high blood pressure (BP) in pregnancy, occurs, on an average, in about 7–10% of all pregnancies. It has also been found that many women are confronted with another type of high BP: chronic hypertension, a medical condition, wherein high BP prevails before pregnancy begins. These situations make it significant that the issue of severe hypertension during pregnancy is addressed adequately. It is in this context that the present research paper has been authored, wherein attempts have been made to investigate into strategic interventions that health care providers need to envisage, while treating pregnant women with severe hypertension conditions. This forms the specific objective of this research. With regards to general objectives, this review paper will briefly (a) address the important considerations in management of hypertension during pregnancy, and (b) discuss the future directions in this field. In terms of research mythology employed here, the author has collected secondary data from sources, such as books, book chapters, journal articles, government publications, as well as publications (and policy documents) brought out by the inter-governmental organizations. Data sources are quoted under reference section of the research. Data used are largely ‘qualitative’ in nature. Method of data analysis is ‘descriptive’. It involves desk-based research, as various research reports and other documents (including policy review reports) on subject areas related to hypertension during pregnancy have been studied by the author in order to derive conclusions and key findings (in accordance with objectives). This paper concludes that health care providers should ensure that women with chronic hypertension undergo a pre-pregnancy evaluation, with a focus on medication profile.