High Blood Pressure Q's

[Ngala]

Hi everyone

Well as some of you may or may not know I have had a stressful week (rash, high BP, being admitted to hosp etc). The highest my BP went up to was 160/100 and I was admitted in to hospital straight away. I think that my BP was due to stress tho because no one knew what my rash was and I was treated like I had the plague or something. In the hospital for 24 hrs, BP was fine and within an OK range (around 130/80).

Since coming out of hospital I have borrowed my dad's BP monitor and my BP at home is within the OK range for me. Today I went to the ANC, and I was a little nervous so my BP was 150/78. I went in to see a dr and she pretty much explained what the risks are of having a high BP and if it keeps going higher, bub's will need to come early. I think she also thinks that I am borderline PE except I got no protien in urine (atleast I hope I dont, next appt might get them to check), no headaches or any of the usual symptoms of PE. She said that if I dont feel well to go to hospital straight away. She also said that I have odema and wants me to rest as much as possible. I thought sitting in front of the computer was rest enough, but she wants me to lay down!!

So just got a few questions from my appt this morning...

~ Can a higher BP be caused by the extra weight I am carrying around?? I have gained 20+kg so far!!
~ Does having odema cause your BP to be higher? If the swelling was to go down would my BP go down too? What can I do to get rid of some swelling?
~ Obviously emotions effect your BP, what can I do before each visit to stay calm and not make my own BP rise?
~ I like to exercise. I have a preggie bellies dvd that I like to do a couple of times a week, I would say that my heartrate increases, the most for 20 mins. Can I still do my exercise or is it better not to? I check BP after exercising yesterday and it was at 134/81.. alot lower than I thought it would be.

Ummm thats all the questions I have at the moment, there were more this morning but I have forgotten!!

Thanks in advance

[Alan]

Hi Ngala
You poor thing you are having a rough time.
Ok to answer your questions
Yes extra weight can cause your BP to go up because the heart has to work harder to pump the blood around your body.
Ye oedema can cause your BP to go higher because your heart has to work harder to pump all that extra fluid.
The only thing I can think of to help lower your BP at each visit is to get them to take your BP just before you leave and not just after you enter.
Exercise can lower your BP because it strengthens the heart and makes it work more efficiently.

PS How’s the rash?

[August]

Yes I have been following your progress and ups and downs sweet love. Oh, and yay to us 20+kg'ers, I hit +20kg this week.

My mums BP has been shocking of late and something that has made a HUGE difference is cutting out salt in her diet. So you could try until the baby is born too.

[Ngala]

Alan - thank you for you answers! I had a feeling the extra weight and odema could cause BP to be higher, plus my nerves when going to the clinic! I may suggest that my BP get checked on the way out, just the way the clinic works is you go in check your weight, check BP, and then go sit down and get called in to see the doc. I will see if I can break that cycle. Oh and the rash is slowly going away!! Hopefully in a week, it will be all gone

Yes I have been following your progress and ups and downs sweet love. Oh, and yay to us 20+kg'ers, I hit +20kg this week.

LOL Dont you just love it!! I am just hoping that all mine is from fluid retention and it nearly all disappears once bub is out as I am getting married in December!!
Yes I am planning to cut the salt out of my diet from now on and drink even more water. And rest! Hopefully that will help in the last few weeks.