How to control high blood pressure in pregnant women

With the introduction of the national two-child policy, the number of pregnant women in our country has increased significantly. Because the growth and development of the fetus and the nutrients it needs are all absorbed by the mother, the nutritional health of the pregnant woman during pregnancy is very important for the fetus in the belly. However, if a pregnant woman accidentally contracts a disease during pregnancy, measures must be taken to control it and minimize the impact on the fetus. If a pregnant woman's blood pressure rises during pregnancy, how should it be controlled?

Because many expectant mothers lack exercise during pregnancy and have an overly rich diet, they are prone to gestational hypertension. Gestational hypertension is a common disease unique to pregnant women. However, if this phenomenon occurs during pregnancy, it will have a certain impact on pregnant mothers throughout the pregnancy. At the same time, it will also affect the health of the fetus. So, how to control high blood pressure in pregnant women?

1. Control heat and weight

Excessive energy intake during pregnancy can easily lead to obesity, which is an important risk factor for gestational hypertension. Therefore, the amount of food should be properly controlled during pregnancy. It is not an uncontrolled eating of "as much as you can eat" but the amount of food should be adjusted based on the normal weight gain during pregnancy. Especially for pregnant mothers who are overweight before pregnancy, try to eat less or no candy, snacks, sweet drinks, fried foods and high-fat foods. It is advisable for pregnant mothers to not exceed 12 kilograms during the entire pregnancy.

2. Reduce saturated fat intake

The energy ratio of dietary fat should be controlled at around 25%, and should not exceed 30% at most. In addition, the intake of saturated fat should be reduced, and the intake of unsaturated fat should be increased accordingly. That is, eat less animal fat and replace it with vegetable oil, using about 20 grams of cooking oil per day. This not only provides the fetus with the essential fatty acids needed for growth and development, but also increases prostaglandin synthesis, which helps eliminate excess fat.

3. Prevent insufficient protein intake

Poultry and fish protein can regulate or lower blood pressure, and soybean protein can protect the cardiovascular system. Therefore, eating more fish, poultry and soy products can improve blood pressure during pregnancy. However, pregnant mothers with abnormal renal function must control their protein intake to avoid increasing the burden on their kidneys.

4. Ensure calcium intake

The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends that the daily calcium intake during early, middle and late pregnancy, as well as during lactation, is 800 mg, 1000 mg, 1200 mg and 1200 mg respectively. Pregnant mothers should ensure that they drink milk every day. Milk and dairy products are rich in easily absorbed calcium and are good foods for calcium supplementation. Low-fat or skimmed dairy products are preferred. Studies have shown that increasing dairy product intake during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Pregnant mothers should also eat more soybeans, soybean products, seafood, etc. Soybeans and soybean products are not only high-quality proteins, but also foods rich in calcium and should be consumed every day.

5. Salt intake should be moderate

If you consume too much salt, it will easily lead to water and sodium retention, which will increase the blood pressure of pregnant mothers, so you must control your salt intake. It is generally recommended that pregnant mothers should consume less than 5 grams of salt per day, which helps prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension. Don't consume too much soy sauce. 6 ml of soy sauce is approximately equal to 1 gram of salt. If you are accustomed to salty tastes, you can use some potassium salt instead of sodium salt, which can improve the taste of low-salt cooking to a certain extent. You can also use onions, ginger, garlic and other ingredients to season the food.

6. Do some exercise

Women who lack physical activity are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than those who exercise regularly. So whether you're already pregnant or trying to conceive, talk to your doctor about starting an exercise plan.

◇Exercise for more than 30 minutes every day or most days of the week.

◇If you are exercising for the first time, you can choose low-intensity walking or swimming.

◇Consult your doctor before starting an exercise program to confirm whether certain activities are safe.

7. Reduce stress

Whether you are pregnant or not, mental stress can cause your blood pressure to rise. Eliminate known stress triggers as much as possible.

◇Don't overwork during pregnancy. Working more than 41 hours per week increases the risk of high blood pressure.

◇Try relaxation techniques such as meditation, visualization, and yoga, which can calm your body and mind and help reduce stress

8. Try to control your breathing

Breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing, can help calm your body and mind and relieve stress. Additionally, using your diaphragm (the muscle below the lungs) can make your breathing more powerful and reduce stress on other muscles in your neck and chest.

◇Lie down comfortably or sit on a chair. Place a pillow under your knees to keep them bent while you lie down.

◇Place your hands on your chest below your rib cage and feel the movement of your diaphragm.

◇Breathe in slowly through your nose and expand your abdomen.

◇ Contract your abdomen inward and exhale slowly through your mouth while counting to five.

◇Repeat the above steps and keep your breathing regular and smooth.